Over 50 authentic stories about young people today, their fears, hopes, ambitions, habits and choices. Stories hold a group's attention like nothing else. These true stories are instructive, inspiring, arresting and shocking. They are distilled from those who have lived for years on the frontier of youth culture: some are drawn from Dave's own background (he spent years on probation for drug dealing, vandalism and burglary), or from his experience as a youth and community worker. Some come from other youth workers.

The stories are highly arresting, detailing a dramatic incident in a young person's life, such as a 16-year-old on probation, who is on suicide watch; mediating between a rebellious youngster and his too-strict dad; a 21-year-old girl, with two children in care, who works the street to pay for the heroin her father deals.