Leaving Home: Stories – A Literary Rite of Passage Anthology for Young Adults by Morrison, Tan, O'Brien and Others

by Hazel Rochman (Editor), Darlene Z. McCampbell (Editor)

Leaving home for the first time is a rite of passage. Fifteen of the most respected authors of our time contribute their perspectives to this masterfully crafted anthology. From fear to desire, joy and hope, the mixed emotions that accompany each journey--physical and metaphysical--are conveyed in a manner that both stimulates the mind and satisfies the heart. Everyone eventually goes on a journey. "I remember packing a suitcase and carrying it out to the kitchen, standing very still for a few minutes, looking carefully at the familiar objects all around me. The old chrome toaster, the telephone, the pink and white Formica on the kitchen counters. The room was full of bright sunshine. Everything sparkled. My house, I thought. My life. I'm not sure how long I stood there, but later I scribbled out a short note to my parents."
What I said, exactly, I don't recall now. Something vague. Taking off, will call, love Tim."
--from On the Rainy River by Tim O'Brien You leave home and undergo trails and rites. "The minute I walked in and the Big Bozo introduced us, I got sick to my stomach. It was one thing to be taken out of your own bed early in the morning--it was something else to be stuck in a strange place with a girl form a whole other race."
-- from "Recitatif" by Toni Morrison You come back form the journey transformed. "I felt growing light, I rose up into the air and flew out the window. Higher and higher, above the alley, over the tops of tiles roofs, where I was gathered up by the wind and pushed up toward the night sky until everything below me disappeared and I was alone."
-- from Rules of the Game by Amy Tan We leave home to find home.Here is an unusual collection of short stories, from a variety of distinguished writers from different cultures and different viewpoints, that explores the turning point in every adolescent’s life when he or she is forced to take that first step away from home, family, and the known. From personal tales of unwed mothers, arranged marriages, and divorcing parents, to stories about refugees and war resistance, Leaving Home paints a canvas of universal experience for teen-age readers, and includes stories by Tim Wynne-Jones, Sandra Cisneros, Gary Soto, and many others.

Genres: Short Stories, Young Adult, Fiction, Coming Of Age, Essays, Anthologies

227 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1997

About the author

Hazel Rochman was born and raised in South Africa, where she worked as a journalist. She left Johannesburg for England in 1963, and the following year, the South African authorities withdrew the passports of her and her husband. She taught high school in London, and in 1972 she and her husband moved to Chicago. A graduate of the University of Chicago, she worked for eight years as a junior high school librarian and high school librarian at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. She is now an assistant editor at ALA Booklist.

Reviews

[Alyssa Peters]

Alyssa Peters
Short Stories
This book consists of short stories told by young adults who are leaving home either by themselves or witht thier familes. Some of them are going to a different country such as Costa Rica and some of them are leaving their homes in the U.S. Some stories were sad and some were just stories of life progressign and people moving on. Some of the authors were sad to leave and some seemed optomistic about starting a new life. I had mixed feelings about this book. I liked some of the stories and some of them I didn't. This book is not for everyone.

[Lili Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amy Tan and Tim O'Brien's stories were the best, and I had read them before in their own books. But the most powerful page was the introduction:

“But the journey can also be close to home-the turning of a corner to discover a whole new view of what was taken for granted, a discovery about someone you knew, or a journey through the tangle of feelings in the human heart. It may happen . . . the moment when you see your mother as a person separate from yourself . . . When you read a great story you leave home. We leave home to find home.”

[Barbara Mahoney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of diverse short stories from outstanding authors. The theme of the book is "leaving home".

All the stories were good and well worth reading. My favorite was "On A Rainy River" by Tim O'Brien. It really stood out in the collection - such a quiet and touching story.

This book was in the "Young Adult" section of my library. I read it as an adult and I highly recommend it for adults, as well as, young adults. It's great for readers who enjoy diverse short stories.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can you go wrong with Sandra Cisneros, Edward P. Jones, Toni Morrison, and Gary Soto? I'm also grateful for the introduction to some voices previously unknown to me--specifically Charles Mungoshi and Tim Wynne-Jones. A solid rites of passage collection.

[Gen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but I only like two stories inside of it and I think it is definitely a reread For me Maybe when I have more time but it felt kind of boring and some of the short stories but if you like short story kind of thingy then I think this is for you it's very easy to find the book

[Ava · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was really bad

[Israel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 powerful voices gathered together

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful stories. Not a dud in this collection.

[Greg Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories focus literal and figurative journeys. Fittingly, I read most of it while traveling to my cousin's wedding in VA.
Many of the authors are very well known: Amy Tan, Sandra Cisneros, Tim O'Brien. The very short opening piece by Cisneros is one of my favorites. Speaking of her home, she provides a starting point to this journey.

O'Brien's piece describes the physical, intellectual and emotional journey he took, fleeing to Canada when drafted into the Vietnam war, but unable to summon what he calls the bravery to make that choice.

While the theme provides a framework for the work, each piece has a unique voice. The stories aren't held to any narrow definition of travel or journey, aren't forced to fit an overall narrative, but somehow do work together. While some of the stories can stand on their own, the sum is greater than the parts.

[Alana Borman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the Minnesota High School Speech book for Extemporaneous Reading in 2015. Each story selected for the collection shows not only the evolution of their characters as they set off on their own, but the value of the relationships made on and needed for their journeys. This is an excellent collection for anyone who finds themselves at a crossroads, especially young adults leaving home for the first time. My favorite stories in the collection are "Rules of the Game" by Amy Tan and "On the Rainy River" by Tim O'Brien.

[Ms. Myers]

The book leaving home by hazel rochman is about a boy that is moving. The boy dose not want to move the way that the parents make him move is by telling him that they will buy him video games.The book is fiction. The story is at a house.The people are a boy,mom ,dad,and a sister.The mood was sad.
I liked the book because I had to move.I think that people that don't want to move should read leaving home.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories and poems, this book offered the reader several different perspectives centered around life changes. Since life is constantly changing and the stories were varied, it was easy to relate to each selection in some capacity. I recommend this book for someone who is nervous about or reflecting on their own life choices; it's an easy read that makes you realize you're not alone in your feelings!

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is the Extemporaneous Reading book for the 2015 season in MN. It's not the best book, but some of the stories are good. As the title suggests, this book is a collection of short stories about growing up and leaving home. I wouldn't recommend this book unless you are in speech and an Extemp. Reader.

[David Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that the book was incredible. Many stories in the book had a main character that was able to go through conflicts in their life. This story had tons of stories and each story made me learn something. I had many favorites such as the story Dawn or Ricitaf. Every character was well developed and was entertaining. This was an amazing book.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some stories were better than others. I particularly liked Toni Morrison's, Amy Tan's, and Tim O'Brien's works the most. Made me want to read the full versions of Tan's and O'Brien's works. Don't read short stories much, but these definitely sparked my interest in the genre.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy short stories so I found this entirely readable and easy to follow chapter after chapter. Each story was written by a different author, so some voices resonated better than others. I thought this was quick to read and absolutely enjoyable.

[Heather]

Good to get back in touch with my writing roots: short stories. It is a challenge in short pieces to be efficient with your words.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every year students read and discuss the short stories in this anthology, I learn something new!

[Diane Dunham · Rating 4 out of 5]

geared for young adults but a very good read for adults. Makes you stop and think about your own life.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice diverse collection of stories about leaving home.

[Jabiz Raisdana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every story is this collection is good, but there are a few great ones by:

Allen Sherman
Amy Tan
Tim Wynne- Jones
David St. John
Norma Fix Mazr
Ton Morrison

Some powerful stories of growing up.

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book contains stories from some of my favorite authors, Amy Tan, Tim O'Brien and Toni Morrison. That is why I picked it up.

[Hannah Cunningham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this during english and I thought it was okay.