Edge

October 15, 2015
Grades 9-12 Teens will find much in common with the characters in this collection of stories spanning back to 1984. Kerr's finely crafted tales capture both real-life and otherworldly dilemmas in tones both earnest and satirical. The traditional teen love story is turned on its head in Do You Want My Opinion?, where sex is practically mandatory and sharing one's innermost feelings taboo. Deep questions of inheritance plague the protagonist of Like Father, Like Son when a foul-mouthed kid comes to live with a family who doesn't share his proclivities. Perhaps most haunting of all, I Will Not Think of Maine addresses the aftermath of love and death. Stories are told with the immediacy of youth but also with a slight cushion of reflection, just enough so that young readers can begin to appreciate the insight that distance brings. Educators should take careful note of this collection, as the issues raised by the resolution of their situations (or lack thereof) will get even the most reluctant readers chatting. Kerr's unique characters are not easily left behind.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)