It starts with the story of Arthur Clive Pinner, a Home Boy shipped to Canada in 1909, desperate for some kind of refuge. Flash forward ninety years: the now ancient Art Pinner sits in his wheelchair, vaguely aware of the intrigues and stresses of twenty-first century Sky Falls.

The real-life dramas swirling around Art make up the bulk of this collection of thirteen stories about a group of young people coming of age in a small town in northern Ontario. These are stories in which teenagers come to terms with their sexuality, with private shame and public tragedy, with emerging love, with heroism-and with the inexplicable spirits and small miracles that are at work in their lives.

This extraordinary collection of short stories are about coming-of-age in a small town. The stories are framed by the larger tale of Arthur Pinner, who was given up by his mother, shipped to Canada, and then abused by the family with which he was placed. Arthur runs away and is rescued by a mysterious girl from the future. Ninety years later, Arthur is a very old man, and his rantings about this story seem crazy to his granddaughter Amy and her friends. They have their own concerns, and most of the stories revolve around their lives as they cope with divorce, homosexuality, death, alcoholism, and changing friendships. These tales about the young people of Sky Falls are absolutely fantastic. Aspin gets teenagers just right. The characters are so well written that readers will wish each story to be a novel of its own. Her descriptions of people and places in Sky Falls made this reviewer feel as though she had been there. Readers' hearts will beat along with Clive's when he agonizes over pledging his love to Toby; their hearts will break with Cassie's when she discovers her father's infidelity; and their hearts will stand still with Shoulders' as he comes face-to-face with the moose. The framing story about Arthur Pinner is not quite as engaging, and in fact, seems contrived and awkward. It is unfortunate that the blurb on the back of the book focuses heavily on Arthur's story, possibly misleading readers and likely turning away most teens. It would have been wiser for the publisher to emphasize the rest of the stories. This collection is highly recommended for both high schools and public libraries, and with pushing and word of mouth it will reach the audience it deserves. VOYA CODES: 4Q4P S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2003, Red Deer Press, 168p., Trade pb. Ages 15 to 18.

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• Teen & Young Adult
  
  
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    • Action & Adventure
      • General