This book presents 30 first-person accounts by teenagers that tell how they overcame major life obstacles. Many aren't the everyday problems most kids encounter, which makes their stories especially compelling-and their successes especially inspiring. The young writers wrote their stories to help teenagers with similar problems and stresses. The stories focus on the power of resilience for teenagers, and the ability to bounce back from setbacks, disappointments, and loss. The book is divided into chapters on seven types of resilience: insight, independence, relationships, initiative, creativity, humor, and morality. Sample topics include: AIDS and HIV, alcoholism, bereavement, body image, creativity, dating, depression, drug abuse/addiction, families, foster care, friendship, peer pressure, and racial and sexual identity. These stories first appeared in two youth magazines in New York City called "New Youth Connections" and "Foster Care Youth United." (Contains 13 references and a subject index.) (GCP)