In this beautifully imaginative collection, young people attempt to negotiate the often surreal terrain of childhood and adolescence where family, friends, clergy, and teachers often pose a threat instead of providing safe harbor. At the heart of the collection is the relationship between the meek narrator, his best friend alpha-male Clip, and the near-feral Roger—but there are also agoraphobic mothers, gorgeous babysitters from New Zealand, paranoid stoned veterans, and deeply sad older sisters.Ennis has crafted modern-day captivity narratives, set not at some remote fort, but in the neighborhoods of Philadelphia. Using cinematic imagery and deft characterization, Ennis explores how we often feel confined and yet find ourselves in places we least expect.

Product Description: How do small countries on the edge of economic regions compete effectively on the international stage? Are such countries condemned to a low level of economic participation or have they the strength and flexibility to overcome the disadvantages inherent in their size and location? How do these countries attract investment, employ their citizens and promote the export of locally produced goods and services in the face of competition from the economic giants on their doorstep? This publication attempts to answer these questions in light of a variety of different national experiences...read more