by Anne Mazer (Editor)
Here is a highly selective gathering of sixteen contemporary short stories about youth written by some of the world's best authors. Accessible to both young and old, the stories invite us to walk in another's world, to see and feel what it's like to live in another culture.
There are stories from Ghana, Egypt, England, Ireland, Chile, Antigua, India, Australia, Italy, Norway, Germany, China, Japan, Indonesia, the United States, and Russia. Several involve situations brought about by unjust social or political systems ("Inem" by Pramoedya Ananta Toer, about an eight-year-old Indonesian servant girl sold into marriage, and "The Composition" by Antonio Skarmeta of Chile, in which a seemingly innocent essay assignment turns children into informers against their parents), but the majority center on everyday experiences -- going to school ("French Lessons" by Valentin Rasputin and "Hands" by Xiao Hong), friendships and play ("Games at Twilight" by Anita Desai), getting along with family ("The Late Bud" by Area Ata Aidoo, "The Ladder" by V. S. Pritchett, and "The Jay" by Yasunari Kawabata), and leaving home in search of a future ("A Walk to the Jetty" by Jamaica Kincaid). Other authors included are Toni Cade Bambara, Heinrich Boll, Italo Calvino, Elizabeth Jolley, Naguib Mahfouz, Frank O'Connor, and Cora Sandel.
A literary collection to treasure, A Walk in My World makes a perfect gift for a young friend.