"Taking the theme of coming of age through epiphanies large and small, Gifaldi's nine stories score a bull's-eye in targeting the heart of personal growth. The characters are easy to relate to: average kids in familiar settings with predictable problems (family tension, unrequited love, shaky self-confidence, peer pressure) and time-honored questions (about death, sex, prejudice). What sets these kids apart, however, is their level of perception and honesty in facing their own self-deceptions."

-Publishers Weekly

"...Skillfully constructed to make readers stop and think about the unexpected endings...Reminiscent of the best work of Chris Crutcher, the selections in this collection are pure gems. "

-School Library Journal