"The Peddler's Tale" and other stories

This original collection of five short stories introduces Maxine Robbins and the complexity of her family relationships as she begins her evolution to womanhood in the 1950s. In 'Flag Day,' we learn about Gil, the unusual next-door neighbor with whom she shares a love of history. 'Lost in the Dark' reveals a long-held family secret. Sibling rivalry, religious conversion, and isolation are highlighted in 'Location Is Everything.' The collection is framed by 'The Peddler's Tale,' which begins the family odyssey to America from pre-World War I Poland, and 'The Day the Torah Fell,' which explores Jewish traditions in a modern-day setting.*. *Originally published in MAI Vol. 36, No. 4. Reprinted here with corrected author name.