The Color of Absence: 12 Stories about Loss and Hope

By James Howe

Book Overview

"In adolescence we feel our losses as if for the first time, with a greater depth of pain and drama than we are aware of having experienced ever before," says James Howe in his introduction to this stunning collection of short stories in which some of today's most celebrated authors of fiction for young adults explore the many faces of loss - the common thread they share and the hope that is born through change.

You're Not a Winner Unless Your Picture's in the Paper - Avi
Red Seven - C.b. Christiansen
Enchanted Night - James Howe
Atomic Blue Pieces - Angela Johnson
Summer of Love - Annette Curtis Klause
The Tin Butterfly - Norma Fox Mazer
Season's End - Walter Dean Myers
Shoofly Pie - Naomi Shihab Nye
The Fire Pond - Michael J. rosen
What Are You Good At? - Roderick Townley
Chair - Virginia Euwer Wolff
The Rialto - Jacqueline Woodson and Chris Lynch

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689856679
• ISBN13: 9780689856679
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.0" x 5.0"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Wonderful Anthology

This collection of short stories features wonderful authors and interesting, well told tales. An easy and pleasant read for young adults and older audiences.

What I wanted and more...

I bought this book for the prequel to Silver Kiss but after reading it in its entirety It is obvious that all of these stories could stand on there own.

Color of Absence shows loss in many ways

I absolutely solidly recommend this anthology of short stories.All of the stories deal with loss, but different types of loss and the stories are as varied as the writers who have written them. Walter Dean Myers uses baseball for his setting, Annette Curtis Klause writes about a vampire, and "Shoofly Pie" by Naomi Shihab Nye is set in A DINER!! All of the stories are brilliantly written and selected. Anyone who has experienced loss will love these stories, but anyone who enjoys great writing will also love these stories.Avi's story about a bicycle theft is wonderful and "The Rialto" is great as well. "The Rialto" was supposed to be made into a novel, but no news yet. UNTIL THEN, Read the short story. It is fabulous. I can't believe in a collection of short stories, there is not a one that I did not care for.

GOOD BOOK

This book makes for a good read. it has theraupitc ways of dealing with death, loss, and ways of finding hope.

The Color Of Absence

This book is so moving, especially if you are somone who has just lost someone you love, like a parent or grandparent or even a pet.In a way the book lets you know that it happens to everyone and it shows it from several differnt points of view. which lets you see how other people deal with some of the same losses teens go through today. I loved this book,I hope more people enjoy this as much as i did.