Poet Gary Soto captures the voices of young people as they venture toward their first kiss, brood over bruised hearts, and feel the thrill of first love

A Junior Library Guild selection

A girl's tears, her songs: On the side of a bike path -- Not yet -- Composition -- Burrs & thistles -- Facts of life -- I saw what you did -- Rough hands -- Stars -- Natural talent -- Obsession -- Don't you see -- Signs -- Strategy -- Exaggeration -- Meaning what? -- Consequence -- Full price -- Jealousy -- Black books -- Barriers -- Testing you -- Big chill -- First kiss -- Anonymous tug -- Paper boat -- Fake love -- Invisible girl -- Neighborhood -- Horses -- Playing football -- Lazy Cupid For the love of dogs -- Little puppy -- Pears -- Bossy girl -- When I lost you -- Time with you -- Sparks -- Home alone, and liking it -- A boy's body, his words: Mirror -- Second button -- Open house -- Vegan for your love -- A long weekend without you -- So much alike -- Fall dance -- Country music -- Beautiful trouble -- Busted -- Tree bark -- Simple me -- A certain weakness -- Koi at the museum pond -- Birds and the bees -- Boy artist -- Rumors -- Faces -- Rationale -- A lesson for us -- Eternal love -- Danger -- Time -- Pomegranate as my heart -- Driftwood -- Getting to know you -- Imagination -- A view of heaven -- Forest of boulders -- Leaving the bookstore -- Love medicine -- Spreading love -- Mystery -- Hard work -- Iowa evening -- Playing our parts -- Out in nature -- An act of kindness