Thanks for the interesting responses so far. My pal at my corner video store also suggested: "The Outsiders," Over the Edge," and "The Chocolate Wars." And dis-recommended "American Heart." There seems to be a distinct genre of Teenage Problem films, with highschool settings or backdrop, dating back at least as far as "Rebel Without a Cause" and probably farther, and revolving around social conflicts between teens. There seem to be fewer films that feature the younger kids, and pre-teens, or teens, for that matter, facing problems that may be personal, family-related, or related to larger social issues -- poverty, racism, etc. Clearly some of those suggested fit in this non-genre.