She has taught in alternative education programs for the past ten years, working with students of all ages, from elementary level to adults. Most of her teaching experience, however, has been with teenagers. Her first novel entitled When Jeff Comes Home was released in 1999. It was nominated for the Garden State Book Award and the Eliot Rosewater Book Award. It was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, a Booklist Top Ten First Novel, an IRA Young Adults Choice, and was selected as one of the 2003 California Collection for High Schools. Her second young adult novel entitled Alt. Ed will be released in April 2003.