by Virginia Euwer Wolff
Re-read. Strong and believable characters make this novel in verse stand out. There's a strong undercurrent of love which redeems the grimmer moments. I liked the subplot about LaVaughn's friends being drawn into a Christian chastity movement, and I found the rest of it right on.
Re-read. It's so easy to tip over the edge, writing books in verse. VEW does not, she stays close to the bone, spare and even grim but always hopeful.