The Almost Murder and Other Stories

$10.95

This collection for teens touches on universal themes of friendship, aspirations, and suffering.

by Theresa Saldaña

ISBN: 978-1-55885-507-6
Publication Date: September 31, 2008
Format: Paperback
Pages: 96
Imprint: Piñata Books
Ages:
11 and up

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“Pops stormed his way down the hall in a pissed-off march–trouble on the move. A quick glance at his florid, contorted face told me he was smashed. I looked down at meat, spoon, dough–anything to avoid his bleary red eyes. The stench of booze sickened me. So did my father.”

In the title story of this gritty collection for teens, a young girl remembers the night her father almost killed her mother. The peace that comes when her father is put in jail is short lived though, because in order to keep him behind bars she will have to testify against him in court. Can she be strong enough to overcome her fear? What if he leaps out of his chair and attacks her too? Can she do what needs to be done in order to keep her mother and grandmother safe?

In Theresa Saldaña’s first collection of stories for young adults, her characters confront issues relevant to all teens, from friendship to dreams for the future. Many, though, must overcome suffering–whether physical or emotional–that impacts their sense of security and well being. A teenager survives an auto accident that has left her with multiple disfiguring scars. Will she ever be able to really live again? A young high school student prepares to leave the safety of her neighborhood where her friends have accepted her the way she is–overweight. Will her new classmates at Hunter College be able to see who she really is inside her big body?

Click here to listen to an interview with Theresa Saldaña about The Almost Murder and Other Stories.

“This debut collection of introspective stories offers a glimpse into the lives of young, urban Latinas dealing with painful and challenging issues. Tackling topics such as alcoholism, domestic violence and obesity, each story manages to be at once realistic and hopeful.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The Almost Murder is a collection of sad, but inspiring stories, highly recommended.”—Midwest Book Review

Theresa Saldaña, an award-winning actress of Puerto Rican descent, is the author of Beyond Survival (Bantam, 1987), the first self-help book for crime victims and their families and a winner of The Christopher Award. She lobbied extensively for stalking legislation and received a presidential commendation for her advocacy. The founder of a national non-profit group, Victims for Victims, she wrote the treatment for Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldaña Story, which was sold to NBC and produced in association with Orion Television. She lives with her family in Southern California and is currently writing her memoir and another work of fiction.

ATOS Interest Level: Upper Grades
Category: Young Adult