Just Some Stuff I Wrote

by William Bell

for bio on author, click image

This is a great collection of short stories aimed at the grade 8 through 10 age range (my estimate). William Bell’s prose is direct and clear. The topics are relevant and important to today’s teenager – and parent!

In “beer can man”, the main character Albert faces a dilemma common to many teenagers: How can I love this family member so much and yet be so embarrassed to be around them in public? In “the promise”, Cole has to choose between the glamour and money of shooting a music video, and doing what seems right. In “chumley”, Vic has to choose whether to unmask a new student with an odd persona but a good heart. While the stories could have been preachy and dripping with treacle, the struggles are honestly dealt with, and not everyone makes the best choices.

The only problem I have with this book is the inclusion of the story “apollo and dionysos”. All the rest of the stories in this collection deal with the characters making choices: whether or not to stand up to racism, what to do about an unrequited love, how to handle a potential case of abuse. In this story, the main character’s change is basically due to an (implied) act of voodooism. While the voodoo is not really dwelt on, it is unnecessary. There is no choice being made by the character to change or not to – it is just literally thrust upon him.

This would be a great book for a junior or senior high english class, or for a parent to give to a child to spark some serious discussion.

Christian Content: None

Parental Heads-Up: mild, infrequent profanity
“apollo and dionysos” story – Voodoo implied

ISBN: 0-385-66142-8

Expected Publication: 30 August 2005

~ Review by Susan

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