National Network for Equitable Library Service

Written for young adults, the Urban Underground series confronts issues that are of great importance to teens, such as friendship, loyalty, drugs, gangs, abuse, urban blight, bullies and self-esteem to name a few. More than entertainment, these books can be a powerful learning and coping tool when a struggling reader connects with credible characters and a compelling storyline. The highly readable style and mature topics will appeal to young adult readers of both sexes and encourage them to finish each eBook. Cesar Chavez H.S. Series — Mona Lisa is average. Not pretty. Not ugly. She's very insecure and lacks self confidence. Mona's mom harps on her to start dating. Then Julio begins to show an interest in her. He's on the track team and a close friend of Ernesto's. When Mona returns Julio's interest, though, her mom is upset because Julio is not from a good family. He's poor. His father is practically a bum. They live in a mobile home, and not the plush kind. Not the type of "people" Mrs. Corsella approves of. And she hatches a plan to get her daughter to date someone more socially acceptable. Mona becomes defiant, running away from home. Her mom is convinced she's been kidnapped by Julio. But Julio turns out to be the hero when Mona calls him to rescue her in Phoenix after she is approached by a smarmy guy and loses all of her cash.