ALL THE OLD HAUNTS

In ten terse, sometimes elliptical short stories, Lynch puts teenagers through harrowing—if now and again savagely funny—experiences. Sandwiched between tales featuring strong fathers and bad choices, a vacationing American accompanies his Irish cousin on a quick but intense trip to an abortion clinic in Liverpool, a “Hobbyist” who collects sports memorabilia to compensate for his lack of athletic ability doesn’t get the girl, and some time in his girlfriend’s bedroom provides “The Cure For Curtis,” after a dream convinces him that he’s gay. On more chilling notes, Stanley goes on a hunger strike to escape his psychotic twin; one unnamed narrator poisons her hated grandfather; and another takes the same nighttime dive into a quarry that killed his cousin, with the same result. Some of these have appeared previously in other anthologies, most are new. This is Lynch’s first solo collection, and fans of his edgy novels will find it lit with the same wry, raw view of adolescence. (Short stories. YA)