On the Fringe - Hardcover

Crutcher, Chris; Koertge, Ron; Salisbury, Graham; Werlin, Nancy; Lantz, Francess Lin; Johnson, Angela; Gantos, Jack; Kerr, M. E.; Weaver, Will; Carter, Alden R.; Bauer, Joan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0803726562 ISBN 13: 9780803726567

Publisher: Dial, 2001

Synopsis

From a star football player standing up for a tormented student to a ruthless bully who tests the faith of a religious girl, a compelling and dramatic collection of stories embodies the teen "outsider" experience and features contributions from such authors as M. E. Kerr, Grahan Salisbury, and Angela Johnson.

About this title

About the Author

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

Reviews

Gr 7 Up-Kids who are geeks, unathletic, poor, emotionally fragile, loners, or unattractive by current standards form the heart of this collection of exceptional stories by well-known YA authors such as Joan Bauer, Chris Crutcher, and M. E. Kerr. Inspired by the events at Columbine High School, the authors pondered what sorts of heartbreak could cause teens to react so powerfully and violently, and how being isolated and shut out of high school groups could tear down the fragile walls of self-esteem, making vulnerable individuals snap and cause massive destruction. The result is a compilation of short stories from the point of view of those tormented, and those who view others being bullied and how their perceptions change as they examine the situations. While all the stories are excellent, Jack Gantos's "Muzak for Prozac" is an exceptional example of the fragile balance that one teen struggles to maintain through the use of mood-stabilizing chemicals. A must-buy for all libraries.-Susan Riley, Greenburgh Public Library, Elmsford, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Adolescent outsiders are the subject of On the Fringe, a collection of 11 short stories by well-known YA authors, edited by Donald R. Gallo. Joan Bauer describes confronting the "jock flock" who have a bonding ritual called, "Get the Geeks" and M.E. Kerr demonstrates the determination of Brian, nicknamed "Mousey," to show everyone he isn't a loser. Other authors include Jack Gantos, Chris Crutcher and Angela Johnson ( May)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Dial
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0803726562
• ISBN 13: 9780803726567
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240