contentDon Gallo's forthcoming story collection centers on phobias. So, what makes your skin crawl? Fear of open spaces like the protagonist in Alex Flinn's story, "The Door"? Perhaps you are scared of cats like the young man who has to confront his fears in David Lubar's "Claws and Effect?" Stories from Joan Bauer, Ron Koertge, Angela Johnson and other stellar YA writers make this collection strong. I know that story collections do not always circulate well in the library world. I have seen the dust gathering on those shelves. However, I think a great teacher or librarian could make this collection (and the others by the talented Dr. G) circ more if they simply took some time to use them in the classroom in lieu of the old tired stories in the literature anthologies. Or perhaps just offering a story or two for read aloud fun is another way to get these collections off the shelves and into the hands of readers?
Taking a few books along on my travels this weekend, including some audio as driving from here to southmost Texas to central Texas and back home will put some mileage on the car and probably some more cellulite on my posterior. More later, friends.