On the Fringe - Softcover

Nancy Werlin is a New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award Finalist, and Edgar Award winner. She lives with her husband near Boston.

Gr. 7-10. There's no question it's tough to put together a good written-to-order anthology, but once again Gallo has managed very well. This time, the subject is outsiders, and to be sure, the stories come complete with moral underpinnings. They are, however, sufficiently different to keep interest high, and, as usual, they have been written by a talented bunch of YA authors already familiar to many teen readers. Ron Koertge's biting story is laced with his typical humor; Jack Gantos' dark, cynical tale is built around the main character in his YA novel Desire Lines (1997); and Chris Crutcher's story, the most graphic and, arguably, the most philosophical in the mix, recalls headline events at Columbine High School. Joan Bauer, Angela Johnson, and Graham Salisbury are among the other contributors. Teens will find plenty of stereotypic geeks and nerds, but they'll also find outsiders who are unexpected. The discovery may make them think about who's "in" and who's "out," and why. Information about each of the 11 authors, often with an e-mail address, follows each selection. Stephanie Zvirin
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