The book starts off with a short story called, "The Prom Prize". Its about an African American junior, Fly Williams, who's friends run a lottery to see how many girls would put their name in a drawing to win a date to prom with him. The drawing ensues, and a white girl wins. That automatically starts tension because of the race difference. But that really doesnt affect Fly like the rumors that sexual relations are going to ensue does. He really doesnt know what to do after hearing the rumors because he doesnt whether or not relations might happen or not. Confusion soon overwhelms Fly as the Prom night inches closer and closer. When prom finally arrives, nothing happens, he enjoys himself, and he learns a lesson. Never put himself up in a lottery again.
The next story, Jump Away, is about a boy named Fenny who had been challenged, along with other oddballs, to jump from a bridge in order to prove themselves to a bully who's name is Mike. Fenny, during his wait to jump at Mike's command, realizes that even if he does jump form this bridge, nothng is going to change. He's still going to be an oddball at his school, very few friends, and Mike is still going to hate him, so he wondered why even bother? So he jumps before Mikes command, and is instantly out of Mikes favor at least after he argues with him. And he walks away from this event learning a valuable lesson, not to try to please people who dont really care for him anyway.
No More Birds Will Die Today, is about boy named Charlie who lives with his divorced father and his confused little brother. They are watching the Grinch, when Charlie looks back at previous moments with his little brother and his father, and also the last he saw of his mother. After going through all the major things he went through with his dad and brother, He finally comes back to the present, and and watches the Grinch.
The story, Shockers, was about a guy named Steve who is bieng forced to go to a concert for a band he hates with a passion, with his girlfriend. During his dreading, he looks over their relationships past and where he sees it going. He thinks about how her parents looked at thim the first time they met. Because of his style of clothing, they are a bit skeptical of their relationship. He also looks at who her boyfriends were before him and asks himself why he was chosen. He also realized that they hardley had anything in common. He wondered if he should break-up with her or not, and decided to break-up with her after the concert which would be a huge shocker.
Strange Powers is a comic about a boy who once envied to be one of the cool guys. He soon grew up, and became a rekless teen rebel. He was no longer afraid of the bullies, and no longer envied to be one of the cool guys. Soon though, he started to see he wasnt that kind of person, and began to stray away from his punk rebellious friends. He soon found a girl, and became a new person.
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