These eight exuberant, arrestingly vivid, emotionally precise stories present one of America’s most gifted young writers at the top of her form. In “Bog Girl,” a young man falls in love with a two-thousand-year-old girl that he’s extracted from a mass of peat in a Floridian bog. In “The Bad Graft,” a couple on a road trip stop in Joshua Tree National Park, where the spirit of a giant tree accidentally infects the young woman, their fates becoming permanently entangled. In the brilliant, hilarious “Orange World,” a new mother desperate to ensure her daughter’s health strikes a diabolical deal—she agrees to breastfeed the devil in exchange for his protection. In “The Prospectors,” two opportunistic young women fleeing the depression strike out for new territory, and find themselves fighting for their lives. Survival stories, love stories, stories of surreal and magnificent transformation—this is haunting and beautiful work from a true modern master.
For Grades 11 & Up For the more advanced high school reader who is ready for adult reading, our ACH+ Category is a great choice. With more sophisticated and challenging themes, the 14 books in ACH+ open up new worlds for teen readers. Take note: These selections often contain mature situations and language that could be considered controversial.
Crime: Drug Trafficking/Dealing,Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco: Drug Use/Abuse,Language: Strong Language,Sexual Content: Strong Sexual Content/Themes,Violence: Sexual Assault/Rape
Discrimination: Racial Insensitivity/Racism,Language: Mild Language,Sexual Content: Mild Sexual Content/Themes,Social Issue: Slavery in Historical Context,Violence: General