I love this book (anthology?). 1. I wish I had written it. 2. It is deceptively simple, like @Scot said. Block's prose are almost weightless in their brevity, but still breath-takingly poetic. 3. The setting and characters are at once completely fanciful and dreamlike, and also real and full. I've read this set more than once, and I will definitly continue to revisit it, so that Block can keep reminding me of the life I would like to lead: not perfect, but so, so beautiful and full.

This is one of my favorite series ever and I encountered it as an adult, not a teen. It's a beautiful arc of inclusion, mistakes, redemption, and family beyond blood ties. Note that the five novels included in this volume contain sexual situations (not explicitly described), homosexual relationships, pagan ideals, multiracial identities, rock-n-roll, and a literal decent into hell to rescue a loved one with dependency problems. In other words, it's a testament to love, family, inclusion, and diversity. Highly recommended. Francesca Lia Block writes with deceptive simplicity. Someone I know once compared her to Hemmingway in that way, which sounds odd, but is amazingly accurate. Just think, "This is the book I want to read for maximum catharsis with a minimum of time and effort."