Middle School marks the beginning of early adolescence. Hormones rage, bodies begin to change, and ‘new’ kinds of relationships form with members of the opposite sex. This story by Gary Soto is about Victor, a boy just starting Seventh Grade. He has promised himself that before the year is out he is going to hook up with Terresa, a girl he has known through their church for several years. The only subject they share at school is French, and Victor’s comical efforts to impress almost lead to disaster. The message: Don’t try to fake who you are. Just be yourself! (1,900 words) More…
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Fatso
The concept of shapeshifting is not new. Examples exist in mythology, fairy-tales, and innumerable science fiction plots. The protagonist in this Etgar Keret story falls in love with a woman who is beautiful by day but, in a twist on Princess Fiona of Shrek fame, turns into a fat, hairy man by night. The man and womanly side remain lovers and even contemplate a family (ugh!), while he and the fat man become good friends. As absurd as the story might seem, it contains an important message about the role of friends in ensuring a complete and fulfilling life. More…
Hamadi
In this story by Naomi Shihab Nye, a bookish fourteen-year-old Palestinian-American girl develops a strong connection with Saleh Hamadi, an ageing Lebanese immigrant. Both share an interest in Kahlil Gibran, and in particular his book The Prophet. The girl is pleasantly surprised when the eccentric Hamadi, who lives a spartan, solitary life, accepts an invitation to join her Christmas caroling group. During the evening, she overhears some life advice she will remember for years as Hamadi comforts a friend who is in tears over being snubbed by a boy. Themes include connection, compassion, perseverance, resilience (life goes on), wisdom. More…
The Perfect Murder
In this story with an unlikely twist by Jeffrey Archer, a married man strikes his mistress and storms out of her house after catching her with another man. The next day, he learns she died during the night. He has three options: 1) to do nothing and live in fear that the police investigation will connect him to her; 2) to contact the police and claim that her death was an accident; and 3) to frame the other lover for her murder. He chooses the latter, and closely follows the innocent man’s trial. Themes include infidelity, violence, guilt, fear, injustice. More…
The Madness of Doctor Montarco
This story by Miguel De Unamuno highlights the danger of defying societal expectations in culturally backward, late 1800s Spain. When a highly respected physician begins to publish increasingly bizarre satirical short stories as a pastime, his patients express concern over his ability to treat them. Despite assurances from another doctor, they desert his practice and question his sanity. Such talk eventually leads to him entering an asylum where he spends the rest of his life a confused, broken man. Themes include individualism, intellectual complacency (of the Spanish masses), duality (logic and practicality vs. fantasy and satire), the nature of madness. More…