Major Works
- Speak: This powerful young adult novel follows Melinda Sordino, a high school freshman who becomes an outcast and stops speaking after being raped the summer before. Through her art class and internal monologues, Melinda slowly begins to process her trauma and find her voice again.
- Fever 1793: Set during the devastating yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, this historical novel tells the story of Mattie Cook, a fourteen-year-old girl whose life is turned upside down as she struggles to survive and find her family amidst the chaos and death. The book vividly portrays the historical period while exploring themes of resilience and community.
- Wintergirls: This heartbreaking novel delves into the world of Lia, a high school girl battling anorexia, exacerbated by the recent death of her former best friend, Cassie, who also suffered from an eating disorder. Lia grapples with guilt, grief, and her own self-destructive urges as she navigates the blurred lines between life and death.
