Themes: Hi-Lo, High school, neighborhoods, family, loyalty, friendship, urban teen fiction, breakups, self esteem, self confidence, friendship, family dynamics. Written for young adults, the Urban Underground series confronts issues that are of great importance to teens, such as friendship, loyalty, drugs, gangs, abuse, urban blight, bullies, and self-esteem to name a few. More than entertainment, these books can be a powerful learning and coping tool when a struggling reader connects with credible characters and a compelling storyline. The highly readable style and mature topics will appeal to young adult readers of both sexes and encourage them to finish each novel. Cesar Chavez HS Series--Abel Ruiz is coming into his own. He's got plenty of friends. He's chosen a career path. And he's got a loving girlfriend. What more can he ask for? But when Claudia dumps him for somebody else, Abel is crushed and tries to keep his self esteem from imploding.