Fraustino (editor of Soul Searching: Thirteen Stories About Faith and Belief
) homes in on a subject that often fascinates preadolescent and adolescent girls, perhaps because it's not frequently discussed in fiction. Producing original stories, the dozen authors here are in tune with their audience's tastes and needs. They look beyond the discomfort and inconvenience of menstruation to examine the spiritual transformations of their female protagonists. Dianne Ochiltree tells how a Native American girl regards her coming of age with disgust and trepidation until she visits the "women's house," where she bonds with several women in the tribe and witnesses childbirth for the first time. For some characters, like Alice McGill's Salome, a slave girl sold as a breeder, the onset of menses marks the end of a carefree childhood. For others, like Linda Oatman's 15-year-old heroine (who fears she may be pregnant), having a period is a sign of liberation. Ranging in tone from funny to tragic and depicting a variety of eras and cultures, this book will give readers occasion for laughter and reflection. Ages 11-up. (Mar.)
