Bricked

Jobless and divorced, Pat Riordan takes a little-sought-after teaching job at the district's school for the hard-to-handle, Wolfcreek. Dispirited by their banishment to the at-risk program, students refer to themselves as "bricked." But Riordan sees potential in the behaviors others have deemed unmanageable.

Together with other school staff, Riordan works to bring structure and inspire hope, unraveling the troubles and trauma behind disruptive behaviors and learning delays. But, when their...