No Easy Answers

As indicated by the title, there are ""no easy answers"" to the moral dilemmas brought forth in these 16 stories, all written specifically for this collection. Such distinguished authors as Virginia Euwer Wolff, Graham Salisbury and Walter Dean Myers present teenagers in the throes of conflict; as Gallo writes in his introduction, these stories leave it to the reader to judge the characters' ""moral and ethical strength."" Most struggles reflect broader social issues, as in Rita Williams-Garcia's portrait of a teenage girl whose family and friends don't allow themselves to notice her pregnancy; or in Gloria D. Miklowitz's tale of gang warfare. Some entries focus on more personal issues, as in M.E. Kerr's tale of a disgruntled student who tries to take revenge on the math teacher who is failing him. The volume seems designed for the classroom, with catchy synopses at the start of each story (""Everybody knows that Randy's a retard. The rest of the guys just want to have some fun with him""); indeed, with its clear presentations of ambiguous issues, it should particularly interest teachers seeking to stimulate class discussions. Ages 12-up. (Nov.)