This collection of short stories centers on teens facing circumstances that force them to face the real world. However, many of the stories are driven by plots and circumstances that appear exceptional, hardly like the real world for most teens. These include the story of a teen working as a call girl who frequents the brother of the now-deceased man with whom she had a child and that of a young man who takes over his father’s pawn shop that represents the primary spot for social convergence in his harbor town. As a whole, the stories in this collection often appear darker and more difficult to understand than typical young adult literature. The complex and vague plot of the first story appears likely to turn some readers off. Still, the story of the high school senior constantly living in the shadow of her sister is a relatable and slightly endearing aspect of this book. Author of Inexcusable, Chris Lynch, penned Arrangements, and the short story contains many of the cynical and disturbing elements found in that novel. Nevertheless, the young adult male protagonist in the short story proves much more sympathetic.
This book should be directed toward mature readers, 16 and up.