Willa Jaffrey is beautiful, rich, dating the perfect guy and determined to have a fabulous senior year. Enter Keegan Fraser, a handsome new student who wants no part of the games everyone plays at Willa's school. Despite a rocky start, Keegan and Willa gradually become closer, even as Willa's carefully constructed universe begins to fall apart. But little does Willa know that Keegan's past holds the darkest of secrets—and it's about to catch up to him.PRAISE FOR DON AKER"Aker is a master at creating appealing characters and powerful relationships . . . and almost unbearable tension." —CANADIAN CHILDREN'S BOOK NEWS"Aker's sure and swift style drives the story with vigour . . . before bringing it to a resounding climax." —QUILL & QUIRE"Running on Empty . . . really shines at showing how a boy reckons with ideals, and what he has to do when they slip out of his grasp by his own actions." —NATIONAL POST

All Ethan Palmer wants is wheels of his own, and he's finally saved enough money to buy his dream car . . . when he accidentally rams his dad's Volvo into their garage. It's not like his lawyer/politician father can't afford to pay for the damage, but of course his old man is going to turn this into another Big Life Lesson.With all of his hard-earned cash going into repairs, Ethan won't be sliding behind the wheel of that Mustang Cobra any time soon. Or will he? He thinks he's found a way to make some easy money, and suddenly nothing is more important. Not school, not the girl he loves, not even the secrets that divide his family. For Ethan, it's all about payback. But he has no idea what his choices will cost him.

A riveting story of a pivotal battle in the Seven Years' War that changed Canadian history forever.Seventeen-year-old Sébastien de L'Espérance and his friend Guillaume have fought to keep the British from getting a foothold in Île Royale (now Cape Breton Island) ever since the young men came from France two years ago. Britain has blockaded Louisbourg, and supplies for the 4000 inhabitants are running short. Despite Louisbourg's massive defences, if cut off from supplies provided by France, it cannot survive.Both young men are members of the Compagnies Franches de la Marine. They are sent out on scouting missions that provide valuable information about the British troops — troops which outnumber the French three to one. When British warships arrive in force, Sébastien vows to defend the town, his friend Guillaume, and the woman he loves.

All 11-year-old Jared St. George can think about is making his school basketball team. What Jared refuses to think about is math, and the fact that he' s failing it. The problem is tough: a poor math grade plus an unsympathetic coach equals no basketball team. Jared' s only hope is peer tutoring from Ellie Brejovic, the weirdo classmate whom everyone teases. To his surprise, Ellie makes math make sense, except that Jared would rather admit to cheating than let the guys know about her. Turns out that' s the really big mistake, one that could cost Jared not just a spot on the team, but something far more valuable. One on One is Don Aker' s new novel for middle readers, a story that taps into the classic "making the team" dilemma with authentic characters, intelligent plotting and terrific writing. Kids who live to play basketball will love this book; kids who live to read will love it too.

Just dumped by his girlfriend, Jace Antonakos has recorded a proclamation in a notebook his English teacher made him take on his winter vacation to the Mayan Riviera: I' m going to Mexico to get laid. The fact that he' s only days away from turning 18 and still a virgin has Jace spooked, and he figures that Playa del Carmen' s golden beaches draped with equally golden girls should increase his odds of success. On the other hand, the fact that he' s travelling with his mother, his aunt and his nine-year-old autistic brother just about kills that bet. Then he meets Kate, who he thinks might be just the person to help him with his " problem." If only he knew what to say to her. Nothing new there -- no one in his family has been talking much after what happened to his older brother, Stefan. Until now, the no-talking thing has been working for Jace, who has kept a secret from everyone -- including himself -- for nearly a year. Opening up to someone may be way...

Reef is an embittered young offender, hardly able to contain his anger at the world over the death of his grandmother, the only person who had shown him any love. Seventeen-year-old Leeza is mourning the death of her older sister. A stone hurled in rage shatters both their lives and throws them together in the most unexpected way— and offers them a chance at healing.