Bleed

Over the course of a single summer day, ten teenagers in Salem, Massachusetts, will discover important truths about themselves and one another. Among them are Nicole, whose decision to betray her best friend will shock everyone, most of all herself; Kelly, who meets the convicted felon she has been writing to for years; and Sadie, a chubby eleven-year-old whose mother forces her to wear a "please don't feed me" sign stapled to her shirt. Joy, a fifteen-year-old waitress hoping for true intimacy, narrowly escapes a very dark fate; while Derik discovers that his usual good looks and charm won't help him hold on to the girl he wants. Seamlessly woven together, this incredibly powerful and compelling collection of stories paints a portrait of today's teen experience that is at once funny, moving, and haunting.