Dancing Pink Flamingos and Other Stories

Title: Dancing Pink Flamingos and Other Stories
Author: Maria Testa
Illustrator
ISBN: Hardcover: 0-8225-0738-2; Paperback: 0-380-72929-6
Publisher: Hardcover: Lerner, September, 1995; Paperback: Avon Flare, October, 1997
Binding, Price: Hardcover, $19.95; Paperback, $3.99
Ages 12 and up

Description: Sal Lombardi walks down the center aisle of the cathedral, places a white rose on Domenic’s coffin, and all I can think is how much I hate him. In these ten stories, young people struggle to make sense of their lives in a world that seems stacked against them. They deal with crime and violence and the sense of having no future. These stories are about hope, and connecting with people, and getting out when that’s what you have to do.

Awards & Accolades

• ALA Best Books for Young Adults
• ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
• New York Public Library Best Books for the Teen Age
• Society of School Librarians International Best Books for the Secondary Language Arts

“Testa writes about teens, using art and music to understand their difficult world; her prose is as beautifully moving as it is straightforward.” -Booklist

“All [these stories] do an excellent job of entering the adolescent mind and telling the story from this point-of-view.” -Children’s Literature

“These stories convey the harsh realities of life and give a jolt to the system. They are, nevertheless, about hope, moving forward in life, and connecting with people. Well worth rereading.” -Book Banter