How I Got My Scar: Tales Told in Borrowed Voices

by David E McAdams

Overview

How I Got My Scar

by David E. McAdams

What if the same moment, one cut across the cheek, were told by Dickens, Hemingway, Morrison, or Kafka?

In this inventive and illuminating collection, David E. McAdams brings together a chorus of literary voices, each story a tribute to a different master of English prose. Though the plots vary, every tale turns on a single shared event: the protagonist receives a scar on their cheek. Yet no two scars feel the same. Tone, style, structure, and worldview transform a simple injury into something mythic, comic, tragic, or surreal.

Perfect for lovers of literature and students of the written word, How I Got My Scar offers a rare opportunity to explore authorial voice, narrative structure, and stylistic devices across genres and centuries. Ideal for classroom use in English literature and creative writing, the book doubles as both fiction and pedagogy, an accessible, engaging introduction to comparative literary study.

Whether you're learning to write, teaching others, or simply delighting in the dance of language, this book will sharpen your eye, your ear, and your sense of story.

A scar may mark the flesh, but it is voice that marks the tale.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781632708083
Publisher:	Life Is a Story Problem LLC
Publication date:	08/29/2025
Edition description:	Large Print
Pages:	108
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.22(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

David E. McAdams is a storyteller, educator and lifelong explorer of ideas. With a career that spans decades in mathematics education and a deep love for writing, David has authored a wide array of books that blend learning with imagination. His work ranges from playful puzzle collections for young children to detailed explorations of mathematical constants, vocabulary guides and interactive learning resources-all designed to open doors to discovery.

David's journey began in the classroom, where he spent time teaching high school math and discovering a truth that would guide his work ever after: children learn best when they're engaged, curious and having fun. Over time, he noticed a critical gap in math education-students were struggling not just with concepts, but with the language of math itself. That insight led him to create All Math Words Dictionary, a comprehensive and kid-friendly resource to strengthen math vocabulary and improve comprehension.

But David didn't stop there. He began to write math-inspired books for young readers, books that delight as they teach. In One Penny, Two, a magical penny-doubling story unfolds with charm and wit. In What Is Bigger Than Anything?, children are introduced to the mind-stretching idea of infinity. His My Favorite Fractals and Geometric Nets Project Books invite children to explore patterns, numbers and geometry in tangible, joyful ways.

David's books are often playful, poetic and themed with real-world wonder: dinosaurs, fairy tales, space, stuffed animals, hide-and-seek, even swing sets. Each story or puzzle is crafted not only to teach, but to spark imagination. His recent projects include a collection of hundreds of math puzzles for six-year-olds and a themed series that blends math with everything kids love: ice cream cones, treasure hunts, magic tricks and more.

His work has been translated into several languages, including Bengali, making his joyful approach to learning accessible to even more children around the world. Whether he's counting stars or exploring the digits of Pi, David brings a deep sense of care and curiosity to every page.

Now retired from teaching, David enjoys gardening and the creative joy of writing. He continues to write daily, constantly dreaming up new ways to help children see the beauty of math, the power of language and the magic of asking, "What if?"