Edge: Collected Stories

These 15 short stories by a writer the New York Times Book Review has called “one of the grand masters of young adult fiction” capture our fears, yearnings, loneliness, self-doubts, and universal need for love and acceptance M. E. Kerr’s pioneering young adult literature has gained a devoted following for fearlessly breaking rules and confronting conformity. In Edge, her trademark gifts of pulling apart relationships, exposing real emotion, and conveying what it means to grow up are on full display. From handling a teenage girl’s coming out in “We Might as Well All Be Strangers” to asking philosophical questions about God, life, and death in “The Sweet Perfume of Goodbye” to parodying social norms in “Do You Want My Opinion?,” this is a funny, moving, and brave anthology about faith, friendship, family ties, prom night, an unusual act of heroism, and staying true to yourself.

About the Author :
M. E. Kerr was born Marijane Meaker in Auburn, New York. Her interest in writing began with her father, who loved to read, and her mother, who loved to tell stories of neighborhood gossip. Unable to find an agent to represent her work, Meaker became her own agent, and wrote articles and books under a series of pseudonyms: Vin Packer, Ann Aldrich, Laura Winston, M. E. Kerr, and Mary James. As M. E. Kerr, Meaker has produced over twenty novels for young adults and won multiple awards, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her lifetime contribution to young adult literature.

Review :
“Teens will find much in common with the characters in this collection of stories spanning back to 1984. Kerr’s finely crafted tales capture both real-life and otherworldly dilemmas in tones both earnest and satirical. The traditional teen love story is turned on its head in “Do You Want My Opinion?” where sex is practically mandatory and sharing one’s innermost feelings taboo. Deep questions of inheritance plague the protagonist of “Like Father, Like Son” when a foul-mouthed kid comes to live with a family who doesn’t share his proclivities. Perhaps most haunting of all, “I Will Not Think of Maine” addresses the aftermath of love and death. Stories are told with the immediacy of youth but also with a slight cushion of reflection, just enough so that young readers can begin to appreciate the insight that distance brings. Educators should take careful note of this collection, as the issues raised by the resolution of their situations (or lack thereof) will get even the most reluctant readers chatting. Kerr’s unique characters are not easily left behind.” —Booklist “Intriguing, thought-provoking, and surprising . . . This book is one that almost any teen will connect with.” —School Library Journal   Praise for M.E. Kerr “Kerr at her provocative best.” —School Library Journal on Gentlehands   “The characters ring true, every one; the dialogue has vitality and humor; the book has an integrity of conception.” —Chicago Tribune Book World on Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack! “A brilliantly funny book—full of wit and wisdom and an astonishing immediacy that comes from spare, honest writing.” —The New York Times on Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack! “Kerr’s honesty, evident respect and consistently on-target wit will keep Dinky’s contemporaries laughing and nodding agreement.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review of Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack! “[Kerr’s] talent is abundantly evident. Wildly humorous and, at the same time, touching.” —Publishers Weekly on Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack!   “Among the most convincing lesbian characters in young adult fiction, Evie makes a lasting impression, and Parr himself, the loving but conflicted brother, is just as finely drawn and memorable.” —School Library Journal on Deliver Us from Evie