Karen Russell, St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves

St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves

Karen Russell

Knopf, September 2006, $22.00

ISBN: 0307263983

These are ten delightful fables that star young heroes and heroines living in an offbeat magical Florida Everglades. The irony behind the uplifting tales is that they involve growing up to face reality, yet still retain the magical environs of childhood while on the verge of losing their youthful enthusiasm forever. Each contribution is haunting (not just Olivia's tale) and satirical, as Karen Russell brings out the inspirational "I won't Grow Up" from Peter Pan, while having to pretend to have grown up; albeit what are girls who just want to have fun raised by wolves, but now left with nuns to do except to fake assimilation. Whether one searches for a dead sister using enchanted goggles or has a Miniature as a dad, ST. LUCY'S HOME FOR GIRLS RAISED BY WOLVES: AND OTHER STORIES is a fun compilation that cleverly lampoons adult solutions to children's problems by sending them to their room in this case a camp for troubled sleepers.