I really wish I could hand this book to myself about 20 years ago. I found echoes of my own childhood experiences in every single one of these characters. I laughed, I cried, my heart went out to these kids and teens who were just figuring out who they were and whether they even liked themselves, never mind whether anyone else did. Mitali Perkins’s foreword to the collection is spot on. Yes, I connected with some stories more than others, but I think that’s natural with any story collection. This book will stay with me for some time. (I may have to buy a 2nd copy since I bought this one to give away to a teenager in my family.)