Chelsea Gang

In the first book in the series, the Chelsea gang depends on their friendships to solve their crises. In the weeks before the Chelsea Gang starts high school, a classmate's suicide sets off a series of events that leaves the gang members struggling to keep their tight knit group that's been inseparable for the past ten years intact. Panicked about the fragility of life after the teenager's suicide, their family members make desperate attempts to improve their lives. Will Jorja's parents force her to move down to Georgia so they can be with the rest of their relatives? Will Tabitha's parents truly separate and divorce, and make her spend half her time with her father and his girlfriend over in Brooklyn? Will Salvatore's younger brother have -- and survive -- the complex surgery that will repair his crippled leg? Separate from the suicide, Cate's family copes with the financial crisis and what a new job loss may mean for her. Will it impact Jackson's desire to ask Cate, his best friend since the age of four, out on a date? Why did Taylor burst into tears at the mention of her family, then run away and refuse to talk about it? As Jackson and Taylor lead the Chelsea gang through these life challenges, they also endeavor to ensure that their last few weeks of freedom before high school begins are ones they'll remember forever. Because they know that once high school begins, with the school competitions, dating, sports, dangers, and peer pressures inherent in this next step toward adulthood, their lives will never be the same again.

The eight members of the Chelsea gang begin high school as two of them begin dating each other. They know that high school will offer countless challenges and opportunities, and they are determined to make the best of the years that could be among the best in their lives and greatly impact their futures. As Cate and Jackson begin dating and Mick lets Taylor know he wants her as his girlfriend, but gets rejected, the eight friends and their families confront such issues as pornography, bullies, racism, and sexism.

When the Chelsea gang members find out that Taylor has been subjected to years of vicious child abuse, they confront a range emotions, while simultaneously trying to figure out how to help her escape the abuse and secure justice for herself. Cate's family steps in to show what Taylor what a loving, functional family looks like while her medical and legal issues are arranged. This book looks at the worst of families, and the best of them. Through it all, the friends in the Chelsea gang resolve to protect their friend who they'd failed to protect for the last ten years.

Jackson Jameson and the other seven members of the Chelsea gang continue to tackle high school, as well as life's joys and challenges, with humor and integrity. This book looks at a series of common health issues facing people in today's society - breast cancer, common illnesses, pregnancy woes, and other concerns. As the friends in the Chelsea gang come face to face with some illnesses that are particularly grotesque, they unite to lend support to one another and stand united as a team. This book also sees Taylor start to shine and grow in ways they'd never imagined, now that she's free from violence and humiliation. The Chelsea gang members and their families learn and grow and look after each other as they confront a series of crises and hardships, with their friendship and love even stronger in the end.