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Mar 08, 2004 | ISBN 9780763623197 | Middle Grade (10 and up) Buy
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Mar 08, 2004 | ISBN 9780763623197 | Middle Grade (10 and up)
In this masterful collection, Newbery Award winner Avi charts the turning points in the lives of seven young protagonists.In the overlapping years when childhood and adolescence blend and shift like waves and sand, nothing is certain and everything is changing. In this extraordinary collection of stories, Avi, one of the most innovative authors writing for young people today, charts the turning points in the lives of seven protagonists in their restless middle years. Here you will meet, among others, the subject of the title story, who wonders why he shouldn’t ask questions that have no answers — is it because he might discover the truth? You’ll also encounter a "bad" minister’s son who is dared to be good, and a chilling tale of a girl who is haunted by the ghosts of her cats. Always with a surprise built in, an angle unseen, these are stories that step just beyond the edge of the everyday.
Inspiring…It’s a rare treat to be so surprised so consistentlly in a collection of stories that still adheres to its theme. Unpredictable and fun, these selections stand out for their inventiveness in dealing with difficult issues in a positive way without sacrificing the honest voices of real kids.—School Library Journal (starred review)Avi is in top form constructing these seven surprising stories…Each of the selections, characterized by a sharp and often dark ironic twist, is like a carefully packaged parcel. The process of unwrapping its layers is almost as exciting as finding the pearl of wisdom inside.—Publishers Weekly (starred review)Appealingly varied in tone and narrative voice, rich in character insights, and replete with imaginatively presented ideas, these tales offer something to please almost everyone.—Kirkus Reviews
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