Easy Prey by Catherine Lo

Three students are brought together to do a school project for their most despised class. Each has a history with the other.

Jenna ran with the popular crowd until nude photos of her were sent sent out to the whole school last year. People tell her to get passed it, but they have never been through it so what do they know.

Matthew (aka Mouse) is a computer guy hoping to get into MIT. His grades do not mean anything to his dad who wishes Mouse were a star athlete like his cousin Troy (who was also Jenna's boyfriend until she accused him of posting the photos). Mouse was Jenna's best friend; now his father wants him to stay way from the girl that tried to ruin Troy's life.

Drew is a jock and a player (as in girls). He is Troy's best friend, and flirts with Jenna even though he knows he cannot date his best friend's ex (not that Jenna would date Drew).

So their little group finds themselves in the principal's office facing serious allegations of leaking nude photos of a teacher. The three of them are the only ones who had access to the photos, so one of them must be guilty but is not saying anything. How did they get access to the photos? That's half the story and is a frustrating exercise in asking (sometimes out loud) what the characters are thinking.

It is an story that is timely and suspenseful which makes for an interesting story but a sad commentary on what teens face in real life.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and author's site.

Thousand Words by Jennifer Brown

Ashleigh did something stupid. Her boyfriend, Kaleb, is headed off to college soon, but instead of being with her at the big end of the summer party he is with his baseball buddies. It's happened a lot lately and Ashleigh just wants to get his attention, so her friends talk her into texting him a nude photo of herself. He's the only one who will ever see it, right?

Several months later we find Ashleigh spending time after school doing community service for her 'crime' (did I mention she was underage?). She must research the topic of her indiscretion and write a pamphlet that will be used to dissuade others from doing the same thing she did.

Her life is kind of mess. Her best friend isn't speaking to her. Her mom is disappointed. Her dad is furious (he's the superintendent and now has parents calling for his resignation over the texting scandal). And the kids who are not straight out bullying Ashleigh are talking about her and looking at the picture.

One mistake and Ashleigh's life has totally changed. Is it fair, probably not. Is it a lesson for others, yes.

For more info, check out the Indianapolis Public Library catalog and the author's site.