Cecil and Jordan in New York Stories by Gabrielle Bell


Gabrielle's collection of short stories range from surreal to realistic. She captures twenty-something angst much like Adrian Tomine. Hit Me, a story about a girl who gets bullied at school, aptly portrays the pain of being tortured by girls you wish would like you and the pain of being an outsider. It also realistically paints the fickleness of teenage girls: she gleefully joins her former antagonists for lunch after they change their mind about her overnight. Another story, Year of the Arowana, highlights the disappointment one can experience when meeting an author you've worshiped in the past.
Grade 9+

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