Fractures — Budge Wilson

Fractures is a collection of twelve deeply affecting stories that address contemporary family relationships and dynamics through a child's or teenager's eyes. Although these stories (most of which are new to this collection) deal with difficult issues and themes -- sibling rivalry, alcoholism, illness, child abuse and neglect -- each offers powerful moments of revelation, even of redemption, as its protagonists seek out and connect with others.

In "Like a Water Lily,"the neglected daughter of an alcoholic parent is offered the chance to see herself through different, and more caring, eyes; in "My War,"a girl cannot understand her fatherÕs refusal to talk about his experiences as a soldier until a pivotal event occurs in her own life; in "Fathers,"a teacher's challenge allows two boys to acknowledge very different truths about their dads as well as themselves; while in "The Metaphor,"a girl's connection to a teacher sharply and revealingly contrasts her relationship with her mother. These are haunting and entrancing stories that are immensely readable and satisfying.