There Never Was a Once upon a Time

The 10 stories in this collection are narrated by children and adolescents that each have a fascinating grasp of everyday reality. The lush imaginative power of youth is revealed in the stories, as magical elements weave in and out and the narrators take over as creators—inventing imaginary girlfriends, older brothers, and ways to escape the harsh realities of growing up. While coping with the cruel reality of an exterior world in sharp conflict with their most intimate beliefs, the narrators provide lyrical insight into the fantastical realm of children through their first-person tellings.