9783641057398

9783641034023

9783641017644

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Grade 9 Up–Every selection in this rich collection is strange and startling, a glimpse into weird, wondrous, and sometimes terrifying worlds. "Singing My Sister Down," "House of the Many," and "Earthly Uses" use the death of a character to illustrate the trajectory that grief gives to those who surround those characters. In "Sweet Pippit," a group of elephants break from captivity to rescue the one human who can lead and love them. "Wooden Bride" centers on Matty Weir and her decision to change herself forever by participating in her town's anonymous group marriage ceremony, providing a sly, unconventional commentary on today's consumer-heavy wedding culture. "Red Nose Day" provides a glimpse into the hearts of two assassins who are killing clowns. "Yowlinin" is a story of ostracism and disaster; an outcast girl warns of a plague but is unheeded, with catastrophic results. The 10 stories all hover near a 20-page range. Lanagan uses beautiful, lyrical language to tell peculiar, disturbing tales. This collection may need some introduction, and would work especially well in a classroom setting; it is full of teachable moments. The selections are subtle and scary, and are remarkably different from most short stories aimed at teens. This book will satisfy readers hungry for intelligent, literary fantasies that effectively twist facets of our everyday world into something alien.–Sarah Couri, New York Public Library

From Booklist

Gr. 9-12. Lanagan's 10 fantasy short stories are set in cultures both familiar and unknown and are peopled with empathetic characters who battle nature, individuals, and events. The stories begin slowly, in part because readers must acclimate themselves to new worlds and situations, but Lanagan gradually draws readers into each brief, fresh reality. Perhaps the most memorable story is the first, "Singing My Sister Down," about a family that lovingly crafts a celebration of grief as one of their own sinks deeper and deeper into tar pits. Other moving stories include "The Wooden Bride," about a bride who is late for her own wedding, and "Youlinin," a strange story of unrequited love. Each selection is carefully crafted and uses both familiar and inventive language to such intriguing effect that English teachers may want to incorporate the stories into classroom writing exercises. Frances Bradburn
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

De tweede thriller in de spannende serie rond rechercheurs Kevin Byrne en Jessica Balzano uit Passiespel Een nietsvermoedende klant van een videotheek in Philadelphia doet een afschuwelijke ontdekking op de videoband van Psycho die hij heeft gehuurd. De beroemde moordscène in de douche is vervangen door een nieuwe opname, die van de echte moord op een jonge vrouw. Wanneer er nog meer videobanden met moorden erop opduiken, openen de rechercheurs Kevin Byrne en Jessica Balzano de jacht op een serie-moordenaar die zijn inspiratie haalt uit Hollywoodfilms. De weinige aanwijzingen die er zijn, blijken in verband te staan met het duistere verleden van Kevin Byrne zelf.

Aleks lebt in einer Welt des Wahns und glaubt, er sei ein "Todesloser". Aber um die wahrhaftige Unsterblichkeit zu erlangen, benötigt er den Beistand seiner Töchter. Diese wurden jedoch direkt nach ihrer Geburt zur Adoption freigegeben. Nun macht Aleks sich auf die Suche nach ihnen - und hinterlässt eine blutige Spur auf dem Weg zu seinen "Prinzessinnen" ...