No Easy Answers: Short Stories About Teenagers Making Tough Choices

Be the first to write a review

Overview

This anthology features stories about individuals who find themselves in situations that test their strength of character. They are called upon to make moral choices, face the consequences of their actions, and consider what it means to "do the right thing. " From computer blackmail, peer pressure, and gang violence to drug use, unwanted pregnancy, guilt and atonement, these characters face decisions that may affect the rest of their lives. ...
See more details below
Paperback (Mass Market Paperback - Reprinted Edition)    
A small-format, low-cost paperback -- usually 4 1/4" x 6 3/4" -- most often used for genres such as mystery, romance, and sci-fi, as well as bestsellers with broad commercial appeal.
$7.99
BN.com price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (66) from $1.99   
  • New (18) from $4.16   
  • Used (48) from $1.99   
No Easy Answers: Short Stories About Teenagers Making Tough Choices

Available on NOOK devices and apps  
  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK HD/HD+ Tablet
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet
  • NOOK for iOS
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK for Windows 8
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for Web

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

NOOK Book (eBook)
$7.99
BN.com price
Note: Visit our Teens Store.

More About This Book

Overview

This anthology features stories about individuals who find themselves in situations that test their strength of character. They are called upon to make moral choices, face the consequences of their actions, and consider what it means to "do the right thing. " From computer blackmail, peer pressure, and gang violence to drug use, unwanted pregnancy, guilt and atonement, these characters face decisions that may affect the rest of their lives. There are many tough choices; there are no easy answers.

From the Hardcover edition.

A collection of sixteen short stories, by Louise Plummer, M.E. Kerr, Jack Gantos, and others, about teenagers in situations that test their character.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
This collection of 16 original stories by distinguished YA writers "seems designed for the classroom," said PW. "With its clear presentations of ambiguous issues, it should particularly interest teachers trying to stimulate discussions." Ages 12-up. (Feb.)
VOYA - Roxy Ekstrom
The teenagers in this collection find the strength of their character tested when they are "called upon... to face the consequences of their actions," which involve sex, pregnancy, computer blackmail, war, peer pressure-the whole teenage gamut. Some decisions have far-reaching effects, some only touch the main character, but all give the reader something to ponder. These teens easily could be found in any community, school, or library. In Will Weaver's The Photograph, talented photographer Anthony is devastated when a lark of an idea-snapping a picture of the popular, perky gym teacher skinny dipping-turns into a disaster. In Confession, Gloria Miklowitz introduces the reader to JJ, who discovers that good intentions can prove fatal when guns and gangs are involved. Martha, an animal rights activist, learns to her dismay that good looks and a suave manner can lead to public embarrassment in Monica Hughes's story Simon Says. Walter Dean Myers's Stranger shows that not all teens make good choices, as Cassie changes from a promising B student to a hollow-eyed drug addict. The Un-numbing of Cory Wilhouse by Virginia Euwer Wolff dramatically illustrates that a thoughtless act of shoplifting as a nine-year-old can come back to haunt your conscience in surprising ways at fifteen. Gallo knows well his YA audience. From Sixteen (Delacorte, 1984) to Short Circuits (Delacorte, 1992), with stops between and beyond, he has shown his mastery at soliciting attention-grabbing short stories from the cream of the crop among YA authors. Other contributors to this volume include M. E. Kerr, Ron Koertge, Lensey Namioka, and Jack Gantos. Brief author notes follow each story. Teachers and youth group leaders will find these stories to be a great springboard for discussion. Young adults will find them great reads. VOYA Codes: 4Q 4P J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses, Broad general YA appeal, Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9 and Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).
School Library Journal
Gr 10 Up--This collection of stories is intended to illustrate some of the moral choices facing teenagers today. Issues include computer blackmail, peer pressure, and self-censorship. The characters must decide for themselves the right thing to do. M.E. Kerr, Ron Koertge, Walter Dean Myers, Jack Gantos, and Rita Williams-Garcia are among the contributors. While these authors write well in the novel format, their talent is not always evident in this short story format. In Louise Plummer's "Bliss at the Burger Bar," the 18-year-old manager of a fast-food restaurant tries to comfort a teenage employee who is pregnant and has just been beaten by her boyfriend, but readers never find out what happens to her. In T. Ernesto Bethancourt's "Moon over Missouri," a teen who developed a best-selling CD-ROM adventure game is being sued because of its content, but the story ends before the case goes to trial. Other selections are equally open-ended, and most YAs will be left with a feeling of discontent, wanting to know what happens next. While the lack of conclusions might lead to some interesting discussions within a moderated group, it will be less satisfying for independent readers.--Tracy Taylor, Los Angeles Public Library
Kirkus Reviews
A collection of stories grouped under headings like "It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" and "What Do I Do Now?" with situations teens will certainly recognize. They will also recognize some of the fine names in this collection, M.E. Kerr, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Graham Salisbury among them. In Will Weaver's powerful opening tale, "The Photograph," a budding photographer learns how much images can hurt. Virginia Euwer Wolff's "Un-Numbing of Cory Willhouse" is a dark and sensitive look at guilt and quasi-redemption, David Klass's "Cradle Hold" examines a difficult father-son relationship, and Ron Koertge's "Duet" is a wry and charming tale of the First Time that isn't. The unifying theme is somewhat unwieldy—few stories or novels for this audience are not about teenagers making "touch choices," and the lessons sometimes loom so large that they get in the way of the stories. This is still an honest, sturdy collection; it poses complicated questions and allows readers to search for the answers in some very good company.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780440413059
  • Publisher: Random House Children's Books
  • Publication date: 1/28/1999
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Edition description: Reprinted Edition
  • Pages: 336
  • Sales rank: 299,741
  • Age range: 12 - 17 Years
  • Product dimensions: 4.97 (w) x 6.99 (h) x 0.96 (d)

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews

  • Posted May 6, 2010

    I read this before giving it to my son.

    My son has a hard time making good decisions. I wanted to find a way to help him make better choices. This book is great. It shows that there are all kinds of hard choices, but it is possible to do the right thing. My son is not much of a reader, but I'm hoping that the shortness of each story and the action in them will keep his attention. I found the book very interesting and will keep it in mind for my classroom.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted January 9, 2005

    Teens Point of Veiw

    I got this book for my birthday and it definately has changed my point of veiw about tough situations. 'No Easy Answers' as a grouping of 16 stories broken up into 5 parts, each having its own topic or idea. Each story is a different teen in a different situation.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)