The truth is that for those who dare to be different school and growing up can be hell. Truth & Dare is a collection of edgy, quirky stories that revolve around a funny, nerdy cast of characters who struggle to fit in . . . or struggle not to. They will appeal to the inner geek of anyone caught up in attempts to navigate the labyrinthine teen caste system.

Written in authentic teen voices, they speak to fans of the movies Juno and Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist and the TV series The Gilmore Girls. Witty and smart, these are short stories from the point of view of funny, though not always cool or popular guys and girls, who are dealing with all the pressures of growing up - school, friends, music, relationships, parents, and just plain fitting in (or not).

Contributors:

Jennifer Finney Boylan is author of eleven books, five of which are YA books.

Sarah Rees Brennan is author of The Demon's Lexicon, which was one of Kirkus' Best Books, ALA's Top Ten Best Books and a Best British Fantasy book.

Cecil Castellucci author of Rose Sees Red and a picture book Grandma's Gloves.

Emma Donoghue author of Booker-shortlisted Room.

AM Homes is the winner of the 2013 Women's Prize for Fiction (formerly known as the Orange) for her novel May We Be Forgiven. She is also the author of, This Book Will Save Your Life, Music For Torching, The End of Alice, In a Country of Mothers, and Jack.

Jennifer R. Hubbard author of the contemporary YA novel The Secret Year, published in 2010.

Heidi R. Kling is the author of the Penguin Young Readers YA novel Sea, a story of hope after tragedy set in the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami.

Michael Lowenthal is the author of the novels Charity Girl, Avoidance, and The Same Embrace

Saundra Mitchell author of Shadowed Summer and The Vespertine.

Luisa Plaja author of the teen novels-Split by a Kiss, Swapped by a Kiss and Extreme Kissing.

Matthue Roth author of Never Mind the Goldbergs, his first novel, a coming-of-age tale

Sherry Shahan has written over 30 books, including Purple Daze.

Shelley Stoehr author of four award-winning novels for Young Adults, including the still popular, award-winning, Crosses.

Ellen Wittlinger had her first teen novel, Lombardo's Law,published in 1993.

Jill Wolfson author of award-winning novels for young people including What I Call Life; Home, and Other Big, Fat Lies; and Cold Hands, and Warm Heart.

Also includes: Courtney Gillette, Jennifer Knight, Gary Soto, and Sara Wilkinson