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THE HUMAN FLY by T.C. Boyle

THE HUMAN FLY

and Other Stories

by T.C. Boyle

Pub Date: Oct. 1st, 2005
ISBN: 0-670-06054-2
Publisher: Viking

Acclaimed writer Boyle presents 12 of his previously published short stories, plus one new story, in this collection intended for teens. While the stories clearly were written for adults, Boyle leaves them intact for young readers. Most feature young protagonists, with the exception of “The Human Fly.” They deal with some humorous situations, such as in “Beat,” Boyle’s parody of Jack Kerouac, but frequently also explore reasons people choose to become violent. Readers will find some stories loads of fun, some realistic, some abstract and some quite disturbing, such as the award-winning “Love of My Life,” about two honor students who kill their unwanted baby. Although young readers may enjoy many of the stories for their entertainment value rather than for deeper thematic content, Boyle’s sophisticated writing style trumps most writing found in the YA genre, allowing young readers a taste of real quality in these seriously thought-provoking selections. (Fiction. YA)