West Bend Community Memorial Library West Bend Community Memorial Library
Short Story Collections
| You Never Did Learn To Knock selected by Bel Mooney - |
 Make Me Over edited by
Marilyn Singer - Do we need cosmetic surgery, dental
implants, and a new wardrobe to improve our lives? Or can transformation happen
in other ways? What kind of a makeover has the power to change a person, inside
and out? These stories, specially written for this collection, delve into our
culture's fascination with beauty and present different views about all kinds of
makeovers. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, and always thought provoking,
this anthology will open eyes and minds. Authors include Joseph Bruchac, Marina
Budhos, Evelyn Coleman, Peni R. Griffin, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Norma Howe,
Jess Mowry, René Saldaña, Jr. , Marilyn Singer, Joyce Sweeney, and Terry Trueman.
|
 Every Man for Himself; ten short stories about
being a guy edited by Nancy Mercado - From Walter
Dean Myers to Mo Willems to Terry Trueman, some of today's most exciting
writers offer teen readers a great selection of honest and real stories
about everyday guys who get pummeled by some life lessons and still manage
to come out on top. |
Destination
Unexpected edited by Donald Gallo - Whether
they're leaving the country or just walking around the block, the characters in
these stories experience things along the way that change the way they look at
the world, and at themselves. As distinct as they are compelling, these ten
tales of intriguing teenage journeys are spun by ten outstanding authors.
On the Fringe edited by
Donald Gallo - High school can be a war zone of
popularity and persecution, where no one really looks at the kids on the fringe.
In this powerful and timely collection, some of today's most acclaimed authors
bring to life eleven stories of outsiders facing the constant struggle of hate
and acceptance.
Thirteen
stories
that capture
the agony
and ecstasy
of being
thirteen
edited by James Howe - Thirteen. It's an age of
wonder ... or dread. The best year of your life ... or maybe the worst ever.
You've just become an official teenager, even though you're not quite sure you
feel like one, but you're no longer a kid, either. Here, from fourteen different
points of view, are stories about that wonderful, terrible time. The big bar
mitzvah that goes suddenly, wildly, hilariously out of control. A first kiss --
and a realization about one's sexual orientation. A crush on a girl that ends up
putting the boy who likes her in the hospital. A pair of sneakers that a kid has
to have, no matter what. Written by some of today's finest writers for young
adults, these stories -- by turns funny and sad, wrenching and moving -- truly
capture the agony and ecstasy of being thirteen.
Rush Hour vol. 1 'Sin' edited by
Michael Cart - This cutting-edge literary journal,
published twice a year, features original stories, essays, art, poems, and
excerpts from forthcoming novels from today's most distinguished voices. This
first volume tempts readers with 19 stellar contributors' interpretations of
sin. Look for the next volume titled, 'Bad Boys'.
Time Capsule edited by
Donald Gallo - Teenagers who wonder what their lives
will be like in the new millennium will find a lot to ponder in these ten
imaginative stories collected by critically acclaimed author and editor Donald
R. Gallo. Each award-winning author--including Chris Crutcher, Graham Salisbury,
and Richard Peck--explores one decade of the twentieth century through the eyes
of teenage characters whose concerns and feelings closely resemble those of
young adults today. Gallo's introductions will give readers a sense of the
technological advances, the political upheavals, and the cultural changes that
came with each new decade and shape each story. The shining promise of the 1904
World's Fair, the struggles of the Great Depression and World Wars I and II, the
terrible effects of racism, the threat of atomic annihilation, and the sweeping
alterations brought by the age of the Internet--how have young adults coped with
so much change, so many opportunities? The characters in these stories will
inspire teenagers as they step into the next millennium.
Gothic! Ten Original Dark Tales
edited by Deborah Noyes - Drawing on dark fantasy as
well as horror and wild humor, ten contemporary authors--including Neil Gaiman,
Garth Nix, and Barry Yourgrau--pay homage to the gothic tale in original stories
of the supernatural and the surreal.
New Magics: an Anthology of
Today's Fantasy edited by Patrick Nielson Hayden -
Whether it's a tale of a wizard developing his powers or a
breakneck chase through New York City in search of the Grail, the best fantasy
is all about coming face-to-face with reality -- with boundaries -- and saying,
What if? It's about stepping across the threshold of what is and what must be
into a world of maybes and why-nots. Most of all, it's a great deal of fun. It's
for today's generation of young readers that Patrick Nielsen Hayden -- winner of
the World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology -- has selected these stories from
the thousands published by contemporary fantasy writers over the past two
decades, for those readers who keep asking questions but are never completely
satisfied with the answers -- only the journey. Here is National Book Award
winner Ursula K. Le Guin with a tale of wizardry from the world of her Earthsea
books. Here is Orson Scott Card, author of Ender's Game, with the original story
of Prentice Alvin in alternate, magical nineteenth-century America. Here is
Sandman author Neil Gaiman with a story of chivalry, with a distinctly modern
twist. Here are werewolves and princesses, battles and enchantments, and great
stories from Jane Yolen, Harry Turtledove, Charles de Lint, Emma Bull, and
others. Whimsical or harrowing, irreverent or sublime, each of these stories is
an adventure in imagination. Journey from the here and now to New Magics.
I Believe in Water:
Twelve Brushes with Religion edited by Marilyn Singer -
An enigmatic cover illustration summons readers to consider
imponderables such as the nature of faith, prayer, and God from the perspectives
of a lively mix of teen protagonists. Virginia Euwer Wolff's "Religion: From the
Greek Re Legios, to Re-Link" describes the concerns of three pregnant teens
trying to reconcile their physical condition with their spiritual beliefs.
Jacqueline Woodson's "On Earth" evokes Carlene's tender memories of her Jehovah
Witness upbringing as tempered by her awareness of hypocrisy. "Forty-Nine Days"
by Kyoko Mori culminates with Shinobu's understanding of mercy after working
through issues sparked by her father's recent death in Japan. Set in modern-day
Haiti, Jess Mowry's "Esu's Island" encompasses themes about the nature of
belief, rites of initiation, and the history of slavery in the islands. In Naomi
Shihab Nye's "What Is the Dickens?," 15-year-old Leslie ponders her father's
disappearance a decade before; witnesses her Lebanese grandfather's decline and
death over a period of several months; and voices her misgivings about organized
religion, especially fundamentalist religions, which seem so sure about
everything. Other authors include Nancy Springer, Gregory Maguire, Marilyn
Singer, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Jennifer Armstrong, Joyce Carol Thomas, and M.
E. Kerr.
Ultimate Sports edited
by Donald Gallo - Here is a knockout collection of 16
original sports stories featuring young men and women playing basketball and
football, running track and cross-country, and training for the triathalon.
Featured authors include Chris Crutcher, Graham Salisbury, and Robert Lipsyte.
An author biography follows each story.
Necessary Noise: Stories
about our Families as they Really Are edited by Michael Cart -
These are stories of today's families--fractured, blended, at
risk, non-traditional, and some that are even still nuclear. Renowned author and
noted anthologist Cart asked the most celebrated young adult authors the
question "What does 'family' mean today?"
Firebirds
edited by Sharon November - Firebirds is more than
simply an anthology -- it is a celebration of wonderful writing. It gathers
together sixteen original stories by some of today's finest writers of fantasy
and science fiction. Together, they have won virtually every major prize -- from
the National Book Award to the World Fantasy Award to the Newbery Medal -- and
have made best-seller lists worldwide. These authors, including Lloyd Alexander
(The Chronicles of Prydain), Diana Wynne Jones (The Merlin Conspiracy), Garth
Nix (The Abhorsen Trilogy), Patricia A. McKillip (Ombria in Shadow), Meredith
Ann Pierce (The Darkangel Trilogy), and Nancy Farmer (The House of the
Scorpion), each with his or her own inimitable style, tell stories that will
entertain, provoke, startle, amuse, and resonate long after the last page has
been turned.
911: the Book of Help edited by
Michael Cart et al - A global viewpoint on the
September 11 attacks is presented through 25 essays, short stories, and poems
divided into four sections: "Healing," "Searching for History," "Asking Why?
Why? Why?" and "Reacting and Recovering." Although every entry does not deal
with the theme of rebuilding, Katherine Paterson's introductory essay sets a
tone of hope. Paterson's son David gives a vivid, textured picture of what it
was like to work at Ground Zero less than 48 hours after the attack. Russell
Freedman pays tribute to New Yorkers' sense of community and appreciation for
the rescue workers who gave their lives. While many of the short pieces offer a
sense of hope, much of the poetry will make readers cry. The horror, anger, and
pain are given voice, too. Walter Dean Myers's essay is about just that-the
anger and frustration engendered by our vulnerability and inability to elicit
sympathy from cultures that harbor enmity for America. A call for understanding
is evidenced in several pieces. Marion Dane Bauer reminds readers to beware of
fear and know that we can change the world one kindness at a time. James Cross
Giblin uses Pearl Harbor and the Cuban Missile Crisis to assure readers that, as
a nation, we will survive. Naomi Shihab Nye, an Arab-American, says we make
sense out of life through words.
Face Relations: 11 Stories
about Seeing Beyond Color edited by Marilyn Singer -
In this groundbreaking collection of original stories,
outstanding authors tackle issues of diversity and race relations.
What a Song Can Do: 12
Riffs on the Power of Music edited by Jennifer Armstrong -
This compelling collection of stories explores the powerful
impact that music has in our lives--especially in the lives of teens. Each story
strikes a new note: Ron Koertge introduces us to the boys in the band--the
marching band; Joseph Bruchac contributes a Native American boy with no rhythm
whatsoever; Jennifer Armstrong writes about what was perhaps the first battle of
the bands--during the American Civl War; and David Levithan offers up a love
song that speaks powerfully to an unintended audience. But while each story is
different, they combine into a harmonic song of praise--for the depths music can
reach in us, and the power it has to bind us together.
Athletic Shorts by
Chris Cruthcer - These six powerful short stories
chronicle bits of the lives of characters, major and minor, who have walked the
rugged terrain of Chris Crutcher's earlier works. They also introduce some new
and unforgettable personalities who may well be heard from again in future
books. As with all Crutcher's work, these are stories about athletes, and yet
they are not sports stories. They are tales of love and death, bigotry and
heroism, of real people doing their best even when that best isn't very good.
Crutcher's straightforward style and total honesty have earned him an admiring
audience and made readers of many nonreaders.
Losing is Not an
Option by Rich Wallace - Nine interrelated stories
follow Ron as he makes his way through the difficult terrain of adolescence from
junior high to his senior year in high school. The setting is Wallace's familiar
landscape of a small working-class town in Pennsylvania. Most of the stories
revolve around the boy's involvement in various sports, but the reach of several
stories goes further, including his complicated family situation and
relationship with girls. The sports action is always gritty and well described,
and the dialogue is rough but right on target. Many of the endings of the
stories are filled with subtlety and ambiguity, offering snapshots of the
protagonist at various points in his teenage life. Among the best stories is
"Night Game," which captures the moment when Ron's best friend moves from
childhood into adolescence, leaving Ron behind. "Dawn" shows him well into
adolescence, but not quite able to grasp fully the complicated rules of mutual
sexual attraction. The final story, "Losing Is Not an Option" (the only one told
in third person), captures the pain and exhilaration of a highly competitive
distance race in the teen's senior year.
Shelf Life: Stories by the Book
edited by Gary Paulsen - Newbery Honor author Gary
Paulsen has long been an ardent supporter of books, reading, and literacy
programs. To further the cause of ProLiteracy Worldwide, he asked prominent
authors to write an original story; the only restriction was that each story was
to include mention of a book. The result is this collection, Shelf Life: Stories
by the Book. From Jennifer L. Holm's story of a girl on Mars trying desperately
to return to Earth to Gregory Maguire's domestic intrigue; from Kathleen Karr's
story of a thief in turn-of-the-century Chicago to M. T. Anderson's mysterious
shipboard adventure; from A. LaFaye's tale of magical wonderment to Marion Dane
Bauer's story of doing good, this volume provides a full range of reading for
every taste. Other authors featured here are Joan Bauer, Ellen Conford, Margaret
Peterson Haddix, and Ellen Wittlinger.
Small Avalanches and
Other Stories by Joyce Carol Oates - This is a
haunting mix of 12 short stories-tales of seduction, abduction, miscued love,
family tragedy, and family reconciliation-many of which previously appeared in
adult publications. Several selections pulsate with the fickle folly of teen
invincibility-capricious young women recklessly flirting with insidious dangers.
Being alone in places where they shouldn't be, daring to enter an abandoned
house, making a "chat room" acquaintance and setting up a meeting-all are shown
to be risky ventures with dire consequences. In "Life after High School," a teen
carries the guilt of a rejected boyfriend's suicide, only to learn, as an adult,
that his struggle with homosexuality was at the heart of his death. "The Visit"
relates the poignant experience of a teen who finally, though reluctantly,
visits a frail grandparent in the isolating confines of a nursing home. The
stories have a slow, deliberate, and unsettling current. Oates probes deeply
into varying levels of inexperience, exposing complex material, and her
commanding style captures the most intimate thoughts, fantasies, and flawed
realities with a steady hand.
Tomorrowland: Ten Stories
about the Future edited by Michael Cart - An
exceptional collection. Despite their different writing styles, the 10 stories
pull together as a cohesive whole with not a lightweight selection in the bunch.
In his introduction, Cart writes, "For a writer's imagination the future is
especially tantalizing," but Jon Scieszka takes readers back in time to
eavesdrop on a humorous millennium party-one that might have occurred on the
evening of December 31, 33001 B.C.E. Rodman Philbrick jumps ahead in "The Last
Book in the Universe" to a future that is a cross between A Clockwork Orange and
Fahrenheit 451, to show readers an affirmation of life amid the harsh reality of
a time when brutality rules, no one reads, and no one remembers. Gloria
Skurzynski's allegory of Cain and Abel demonstrates that teenage siblings can
suffer from horrible envy, even while living on Mars. Other authors represented
include Katherine Paterson, James Cross Giblin, Ron Koertge, Lois Lowry, Tor
Seidler, and Jacqueline Woodson.
Toxic Love by Linda Holeman
- Toxic Love is a distinctive collection of
short stories by Linda Holeman, each exploring love in all its touching, tragic,
and often funny permutations. In the title story “Toxic Love”, Carla is an
intellectual with a stutter, a dweeb. She’s also an incurable romantic. Feeling
isolated in her country town, she tries to dream up romances for her English
teacher, Miss Kleinfeld, and a handsome colleague. Carla is shocked from her
giggly wishful daydreams when she realizes that Miss Kleinfeld’s love was never
available. In the hilarious “Something Fishy” the narrator is looking for some
excitement in her ho-hum suburban life, and almost without meaning to, she tells
a whopper of a lie. The excitement that follows is more than she bargained for.
First published in 1995 as Saying Good-bye, this brilliant collection of
work by Linda Holeman navigates through the landscape of adolescence with
sympathy and heart.
Shades of Darkness
by Robert Westall - Another fine collection of short
stories by the late British author. Westall's tales are spooky and eerie, rather
than downright scary. He creates likable characters and effectively sets them in
slightly supernatural situations. "The Haunting of Chas McGill," for example, is
a gem of a tale, perfectly plotted. During the London blitz in 1939, a boy
discovers that a deserting British soldier (or perhaps his ghost) is hiding out
in the old school into which he has moved. He comes up with a way to save the
soldier, but in a delicious twist, his scheme has a surprising effect on his own
family. Most of the stories are equally satisfying. Five of them feature adult
characters exclusively. They are excellent, but seem slightly out of place,
especially since Westall created such memorable children. In stories like
"Fifty-Fafty" and "The Red House Clock," the thoughts and feelings of the boys
who narrate are fascinating. When supernatural elements subtly appear towards
the end of these stories, they have a significant impact because readers are
already so involved with the lives of the characters.
Cat in Glass and Other Tales
of the Unnatural by Nancy Etchemendy - This
gripping collection includes eight tales of the weird and otherworldly from the
first two-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award in the children's category--for
"Bigger Than Death" in 1998 and for "The Power of Un" in 2000.
The Best
American Nonrequired Reading edited by Dave Eggers and Michael Cart -
Since its inception in 1915, the Best American series has
become the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and
nonfiction. For each volume, a series editor reads pieces from hundreds of
periodicals, then selects between fifty and a hundred outstanding works. That
selection is pared down to the twenty or so very best pieces by a guest editor
who is widely recognized as a leading writer in his or her field. This unique
system has helped make the Best American series the most respected -- and most
popular -- of its kind.The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2002 is a selection
for readers under twenty-five of the best literature from mainstream and
alternative American periodicals: from The New Yorker, Jane, ZYZZYVA, Vibe, The
Onion, Spin, Epoch, Time, Little Engines, Modern Humorist, Esquire, and others.
Island Boyz by Graham
Salisbury - Salisbury's love for Hawaii and its
encircling sea shines through every story in this rich collection. Readers will
share the rush a boy feels when he leaps off a cliff into a ravine or feasts his
eyes on a beautiful woman. They'll find stories that show what it takes to
survive prep school, or a hurricane, or the night shift at Taco Bell, or first
love. Graham Salisbury knows better than anyone what makes an island boy take
chances, or how it feels to test the waters, to test the limits, and what it's
like when a beloved older brother comes home from war, never to be the same.
Mirror, Mirror: Twisted
Tales by Silverman - These twisted tales of
transformation will draw you into bizarre and mysterious worlds where anything
is possible and nothing is as it seems. The reality you thought you knew will
slip away, as you lose yourself in a land where only an honest word, a secret,
or an act of courage can rescue you from a frightening fate. Welcome to a world
where blossoms have mystical powers, strange creatures speak the truth, and
magic is dangerously real. Step behind the mirror and discover what lies beyond
-- if you dare.
Color of Absence
edited by James Howe - In this stunning collection of
short fiction, thirteen of the most accomplished writers for young people today
turn their considerable talents to a theme that resonates in the hearts and
minds of adolescents -- loss. As James Howe suggests in his introduction to the
collection, it is in adolescence that we feel our losses as if for the first
time "... with a greater depth of pain and drama than we are aware of having
experienced ever before." And those losses may take many forms -- the death of a
parent or grandparent or pet; the departure or disappearance of a true and
trusted friend or sibling; the end of a relationship; or even the end of a
defining chapter in one's life. But with loss comes the opportunity for
reevaluation and change and growth, which is what often allows these stories to
be as funny as they are touching, and as uplifting as they might be sorrowful.
Whatever their emotional responses, young adult readers will be challenged to
think about their own lives in new ways, to consider what has gone by, and, more
important, what is yet to come.
145th Street by Walter
Dean Myers - The way I see it, things happen on 145th
Street that don't happen anywhere else in the world. One street. One block. Ten
unforgettable stories. Get to know fine Peaches and her girl, Squeezie; or
Monkeyman, who's been targeted by the Tigros. Come to a block party. Spend
Christmas with Mother Fletcher. A few folks are down and out, and some are
coming up, coming back. Meet Kitty, who knows that love can save; Billy, a
fighter on the way to a knockout; Big Joe, who plans a bang-up funeral while
he's still around to enjoy it. Some of these stories are the ones behind the
headlines, the lives that go on after the facts fade from the news. Others are
private, even mysterious. Walter Dean Myers knows every mood and every beat of
life on this block, from danger and despair to hilarity and joy. Salty,
wrenchingly honest, here are stories whose characters jump off the page to pull
readers right into the mix on 1-4-5.
Skin and Other Stories by Roald
Dahl - This fiendishly clever collection introduces
teenagers to the adult short stories of Roald Dahl, one of the greatest
storytellers who ever lived.
Places I Never Meant to Be
edited by Judy Blume - Some of the best authors
writing for young adults--including Norma Fox Mazer, Walter Dean Myers,
Katherine Paterson, and Paul Zindel--join together to raise awareness of
censorship in this collection of original stories in which teens find themselves
in unintended situations.
Dirty Laundry: Stories about
Family Secrets edited by Lisa Rowe Fraustino - In
this collection of eleven original short stories, top writers such as Chris
Crutcher, Rita Williams-Garcia, M.E. Kerr, and Bruce Coville explore the many
facets of family secrets--some haunting, some funny, and some genuinely
unexpected.
Trapped! Cages of Mind and Body
edited by Lois Duncan - What does it mean to be
trapped--physically, emotionally, or psychologically? Thirteen prominent young
adult authors have been given free rein to interpret the term, and the results
are electrifying, revealing the best and worst of the human spirit.
Doing Time: Notes from the
Undergrad by Rob Thomas - A collection of 10
loosely knit vignettes that focus on the theme of volunteering. In "Shacks from
Mansions," Randall's college social work class has been assigned to report on
community service projects completed by local high school students as a
requirement for graduation. Randall reminisces about the time he was on the
receiving end of one such project and a well-known professional football player
befriended him through a Big Brothers program. About the time Randall began to
develop a bond, his big brother completed his court-imposed number of hours and
disappeared from his life. The remaining stories examine issues regarding
community service, including attitudes and motivations. Thomas challenges
readers to look beneath the surface of these typical teenagers and realize that
they are rarely the people they first seem to be. In "Blue Santa," one high
school do-gooder is the president of the Key Club and heads up a Christmas toys
project. The student is motivated only by dreams of the recognition the club
will receive. On the other hand, Dwight, in "The Laser," rarely lives up to the
expectations of his school superintendent father, yet he goes far beyond the
service requirements to help a Mexican man pass an employment test. The stories
are well-written, interesting, provocative, and humorous, and often have
surprise endings.
Help Wanted edited by
Anita Silvey - For many young people, their first work
experience gives them a taste of life outside the cocoon of family, school, and
friends. This powerful and diverse collection of stories demonstrates how young
people change and define themselves by the work they do. Compiled by noted
critic and editor Anita Silvey and featuring the work of such authors as Michael
Dorris, who contributed an original story, Ray Bradbury, Judith Ortiz Cofer, and
Tim Wynne-Jones, this collection will cause readers of all ages to reflect on
the role of work in their lives.
Twelve Shots edited by
Harry Mazer - A dozen stories by well-respected YA
authors (including Chris Lynch, Walter Dean Myers, Richard Peck, and Rita
Williams-Garcia) about the impact of guns on teenagers' lives. Some stories are
funny, others are dead serious and disturbing.
Am I Blue?
Coming Out from the Silence edited
by Marion Dane Bauer - This collection of 18 short
stories by recognized children's and young adult authors explores the various
meanings of gay/lesbian identity in the lives of teenagers. The book begins and
ends with thoughtful commentaries by Bauer, and each story is followed by an
afterword by its author that ranges from ho-hum to fascinating; the best tell
the "story behind the story" and reveal the ways in which gay/lesbian issues or
individuals have touched the authors' lives. Most feature white, middle-class,
suburban/urban milieus, although several stories have a more diverse cast than
is generally found in YA fiction. All seek to convey the very mixed emotions
that accompany the acceptance of sexual difference at an age that places a high
value on conformity to an established norm. Although the title story is a
humorous fantasy featuring a camp fairy godfather who comes to the aid of a
gay-bashing victim, most of the tales are realistic portrayals of contemporary
YAs. In Nancy Garden's "Parents Night," an unexpected reconciliation occurs
between a young lesbian and her father, while in Bauer's "Dancing Backward," the
trauma of two young women's boarding school expulsion is offset by the
revelation of their love. In Lois Lowry's ``Holding,'' a young man returns from
the funeral of his father's partner and finally tells his best friend that his
father is gay, while James Cross Giblin's "Three Mondays in July" captures the
isolation of small-town life in the early `50s. They speak of survival and hope;
they say, like the man on the beach in Giblin's story, "You're not alone."
~Young Adult Librarian ~
Kristin Lade
klade@west-bendlibrary.org
262.335.5151 x128
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October 25, 2006
"Organized education gives us information, but there are things we have to learn ourselves" ~ Lauryn Hill