Synopses & Reviews
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 hasgone by, and, more important, what is yet to come.
Review
"[A] finely crafted anthology....[The] stories vary widely and may serve to entice teens with different reading tastes some may have a stronger emotional response to a story about the end of a relationship than to the loss of a grandparent, or vice versa. All of these selections share themes of hope, and show that what you endure makes you stronger, and that loss provides the opportunity to reassess and cherish personal relationships." School Library Journal
Review
"[A] well-balanced collection....Young adult readers will appreciate that while some of the stories end with the bleakness of loss, others end with the suggestion that healing is possible, offering a sense of hope and renewal." Horn Book
Review
"All of the stories are professionally executed but perhaps because loss is inherently sad too many strike the same note of melancholy and deal with the theme in ways that are often predictable. Happily there are notable exceptions. Klause reintroduces Simon the vampire in a story invested with emotional resonance; Naomi Shihab Nye feeds loss with metaphoric food; and Wolff demonstrates the spare power of understatement in her story-in-dialogue, 'The Chair.' What these and several other good stories in the book demonstrate is that loss can be redeemed not only by hope but also by art." Booklist
Synopsis
Thirteen well-known authors turn their skills to an important theme for young adults: absence. Contributors include Avi, James Howe, Naomi Shihab Nye, Walter Dean Myers, and many others.
About the Author
James Howe lives in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, and is the author of over sixty books for young people. His first book, Bunnicula, published in 1979, was the recipient of numerous state and regional young readers' choice awards and was named by the Books for Kids Foundation as one of the Top 100 Children's Books of the 20th Century. In addition to Bunnicula and its five sequels, James Howe is most known for the Pinky and Rex beginning reader series, the Sebastian Barth mysteries, and his highly acclaimed young adult novel, The Watcher.