Set mostly in the American South, at the crossroads of a world both secular and
devoutly Christian, April Ayers Lawson's stories evoke the inner lives of young
women and men navigating sexual, emotional, and spiritual awakenings. In 'The Ne
gative Effects of Homeschooling', Conner, sixteen, accompanies his grieving moth
er to the funeral of her best friend Charlene, a woman who was once a man. In 'T
he Way You Must Play Always', Gretchen, a thirteen year old who looks even young
er, heads into her weekly piano lesson in nervous anticipation of her next illic
it meeting with her teacher's brother, Wesley.
