This book is a series of short stories that each tell of a life in California's East Oakland neighborhood. None of them are easy tales and as with most short stories I read I was left wondering what I was missing. That is not to say that these are not very well written and quite compelling stories - I found myself caught up in each little world created by Ms. Young. I felt the emotions of her characters and some of them I just wanted to shake! Her tales elicit real emotion. But for me, as I have mentioned in the past, I feel that sometimes there is another story going on somewhere over my head that I just don't get. With these shorts that feeling came at the end of each one. I was left wanting more - which I suppose is good - and wondering what I missed along the way.

I think I will not take any more short stories. I think I just don't have the mind for allegory. I am just too literal. But for those of you that like that kind of writing; writing that makes you think and wonder and look beyond - this book will be a good one for you to read. ( )