Simply put, Joyce Sweeney is a "master at depicting the inner working of families," according to Horn Book reviewer Patty Campbell. Sweeney writes realistic fiction, much of it focused on male protagonists, which deals heavily with family issues and friendship. In her first novel, Center Line, Sweeney announced an intention of putting the family under the magnifying lens and probing its structure, its dysfunctions, and its strengths. The winner of the Delacorte Prize for Outstanding First Young Adult Novel, Center Line traces the adventures and misadventures of five young brothers on their own in the world, escaping an abusive father. Subsequent novels have dealt with teen suicide, divorce, homosexuality, fantasized love, the supernatural, and environmental concerns--all against the backdrop of family relations. "Perhaps it's because I didn't have one in the traditional sense that I am always writing about families," Sweeney told Authors and Artists for Young Adults...