Living Outside the Lines is a compilation of stories involving people who find ways to survive their unusual and distinctive realities. Eleven-year-old Alexandra is confined to a wheelchair. Six-year-old Maddie lives with a mom who deals drugs. Jai Ling confronts the wrenching issues of international adoption. Kirby tries to hang on to her sobriety while attending college. Kenneth, a young man with Aspergers and Tourettes, yearns to find someone who understands his musical genius.

These and other stories take us on a fascinating journey of compelling people who have been...