National Network for Equitable Library Service

As both a global learning company and award-winning publishing house, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt sought to weave together its educational and literary expertise to inspire young writers across the United States and celebrate their work. HMH launched the first-ever Spark a Story writing competition for high school students, and received submissions from teens across the country. In the spirit of HMH's Best American series, the Spark a Story collection includes twenty short stories from this competition, as selected by HMH editors.

REDEMPTION IS NEVER FREE When Reece Murphy is forcibly dragged into the Rose Riders gang because of a mysterious gold coin in his possession, he vows to find the man who gave him the piece and turn him over to the gang in exchange for freedom. Never does he expect a lead to come from an aspiring female journalist. But when Reece's path crosses with Charlotte Vaughn after a botched train robbery and she mentions a promising rumor about a gunslinger from Prescott, it becomes apparent that she will be his ticket to freedom-or a noose.

Janey King's priorities used to be clear: track, school, friends, and family. But when seventeen-year-old Janey learns that her seemingly happy parents are getting divorced, her world starts to shift. Back at school, Luke Hallstrom, an adorable senior, pursues Janey, and she realizes that she has two new priorities to consider: love and sex. Inspired by Judy Blume's classic Forever, I Never features a perfect, delicious, almost-to-good-to-be-true high school relationship...'nd it doesn't shy away from the details.

When Lily Michaels-Ryan ditches her ADHD meds and lands in detention with Abelard, she's intrigued-he seems thirty seconds behind, while she feels thirty seconds ahead. It doesn't hurt that he's brilliant and beautiful. When Abelard posts a quote from The Letters of Abelard and Heloise online, their mutual affinity for ancient love letters connects them. The two fall for each other. Hard.

In this suspenseful, gripping novel, teen twin girls raised separately meet for the first time at their mother's funeral. Quinn has been trained to never tell a lie. Piper is a practiced liar. Narrated in both voices, the story of their quest to learn truths that have been concealed from them is shadowed by a dark spell that beckons them to run at night with a pack of murdering ghost hounds. Suspense, menace, mystery, witchcraft, family secrets, mistaken identity, and romance are interwoven in a brilliantly written page-turner that will grab and thrill teen readers.

"Jane Sinner snarked her way into my heart, and she's never leaving. Prepare to fall hard for this hilarious, heartfelt gem of a book."-Becky Albertalli, author of Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens AgendaIt's Kind of a Funny Story meets Daria in the darkly hilarious tale of a teen's attempt to remake her public image and restore inner peace through reality TV. The only thing 17-year-old Jane Sinner hates more than failure is pity. After a personal crisis and her subsequent expulsion from high school, she's going nowhere fast.

Whether or not you believe in fate, or luck, or love at first sight, every romance has to start somewhere. MEET CUTE is an anthology of original short stories featuring tales of "how they first met" from some of today's most popular YA authors.

Skye Thorn has given tarot card readings for years, and now her psychic visions are helping the police find the town's missing golden girl. It's no challenge-her readings have always been faked, but this time she has some insider knowledge. The kidnapping was supposed to be easy-no one would get hurt and she'd get the money she needs to start a new life. But a seemingly harmless prank has turned dark, and Skye realizes the people she's involved with are willing to kill to get what they want and she must discover their true identity before it's too late.

Seventeen-year-old Zeb Holloway is happy to work in his uncle's auto repair shop and cruise through school without much effort. He's a quarterback on his high school's undefeated football team, but he never plays. Why would he when T.T. Munroe-a walking, talking highlight reel-is around' That is, until T.T's injured a week before the state championships. Now Zeb is starting. As he assumes the role of QB and team leader, the entire town is watching him.

The sequel to Ever the Hunted, whichSarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author of the Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses series called "absolutely marvelous." After saving King Aodren with her newfound Channeler powers, Britta only wants to live a peaceful life in her childhood home. Unfortunately, saving the King has created a tether between them she cannot sever, no matter how much she'd like to, and now he's insisting on making her a noble lady. And there are those who want to use Britta's power for evil designs.