P. E. Ryan

Kyle and Judy, seventeen-year-old fraternal twins, tell two sides of the story of the last month of junior year, when Garret, who claims to be a vampire, moves in their house to finish the school year after his parents move for a job. Both Kyle and Judy have a crush on Garret, who will he chose, and is he really a vampire?

I was tempted to skip Judy’s chapters, because she was not a likeable character at the beginning of the book. Kyle calls her “Monster” and it fits. I was glad I didn’t skip them when we finally got to see some personal growth on her part. Kyle was much more appealing to me and I cared about what he wanted. Garret, I’m still not sure about, I didn’t relate to him as well as I might have, having been in his “moving” shoes frequently, myself. I didn’t react the way he did to all the moves. Unexpectedly racy in some parts, funny in others, I’m glad I read it.
… (más)

Nine short stories, all set on Merritt Island, adjacent to Cape Canaveral. All but the last two are set in the 1970s, and rocket launches (along with political events such as Watergate) form the backdrop to the events of the stories.

These are far from glamorous dream lives, though - most of the main characters seem to be desperate for adventure and escape, but their dreams are doomed to failure. About the best thing that happens to anyone in these stories is that a family member comes through for them in a time of difficulty, against all the odds.

They are beautifully written, with lots going on under the surface (particularly in the stories narrated by teenagers, which is the majority).

"Miss America", for example, starts like this: On the Wednesday that I'm supposed to go with Emerald to meet the talent scout, I get home from school and find a box that comes up to my knee sitting out by the curb where we put the trash. Wednesday is not trash day. The box isn't taped up or even closed, and when I dig through it I see a stack of Tom Clancy paperbacks, our crockpot, and a framed eight-by-ten photograph of my mother and stepfather, dressed up and smiling in front of the Polynesian Hotel at Disney World. Their wedding portrait. As I walk into the house, I hear what sounds like chains being rattled. My mother is in the kitchen rifling through the silverware drawer.

Definitely recommended for anyone who likes short stories.… (más)