Translator J. LePuen offers a book of stories of his own. In "Kamikaze," a high-school student discovers the surprising lengths his classmates will go to to ensure they get passing grades. In "Separate but Equal," a basketball game nearly triggers a race riot. Other stories follow their protagonists out of Caddo Parish, La., and into the wider world--to Argentina, for instance, Bolivia, and France.

Contents:

Kamikaze
Separate but Equal
Cashiers and Courtesy Clerks
Landlocked
Houseboy
Ruphina
Teacher of the Year
Failure Notice
The Adobe House
Road Hazards
Happy Valley
Diary of a Would-be Translator

Genre: short story
Length: 33,000 words