The fourteen stories in this collection are designed specifically to inspire discussion of a wide range of social issues. Through imagined scenarios and diverse characters, Daniel opens up multiple perspectives on topics like eating disorders, endangered species, clean energy, blended families, drug abuse, and mental health. These fictional stories are highly focused on thought-provoking, current issues that can be debated. Daniel provides guidelines for discussion and includes general questions at the end that can be used to facilitate discussion.

Daniel is clearly committed to building confidence in young people as they build communication skills. The introduction and conclusion have a sense of urgency as Daniel encourages young people to develop informed opinions by sharing ideas and insights and reflecting on the situations found in the stories. Young people can learn to value their own emerging philosophical thoughts and ethical viewpoints as they examine each piece of short fiction. Daniel solidifies the power of stories to shape the way people think and feel about social and ethical issues.

About half of the stories tackle universal topics like environmental concerns, climate change, natural disasters, animal preservation, and clean energy. The other half is focused on societal problems that are more familial, communal, or even individual like the impact of a physical handicap, the complications that arise from blended families, the intrusion of technology, and the rise of cyberbullying. All of the topics are relevant and worthy of thought and debate. Teaching young people to value their own opinion and respect the opinions of others is a worthy endeavor and one that Daniel views as the purpose of sharing these stories with them. Daniel’s guide seeks to lead his target audience out of isolation, which can lead to a limited view of the world, and into engaged dialogue with peers about issues that matter.

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