Who Am I Without Him?: Short Stories about Girls and the Boys in Their Lives

I really enjoyed reading parts of this book to my students. All of them - of all races and ethnicities and genders - related to the stories and really enjoyed them. I believe that there is something in it for all of us. It is a way to examine the way that we look at ourselves in relationships and in society.

This book was definitely a book that I can see myself passing on to my friends. While reading the book I noticed that I would smile unexpectedly, which is a good sign. Once again Sharon G. Flake created another astonishing work of art and I'm sure it won't be the last either. I felt as if I can relate to her book in many ways and I know I won't be the only girl (or boy) to either. Whether it was setting, personality, or plot, I was able to connect the book to my life, and the great thing about it was the fact that I never once got bored while reading. Which each turn of the page, I got more and more caught up into the book. In fact I wish the stories weren't short. Instead I wish Flake would of wrote a whole book on each of these magnificent stories. After reading all of Flakes other books and then finally getting to read Who Am I Without him?, I've learned to appreciate these books not just for the fact that they are great but for the inspirational books they really are.

This book is an amazing book of short stories that make young readers like me want to read books all the time.This book is good because it gives us readers' a message that tells us not to follow someone or not to try to fit in with someone.I think we love these books because of authors like Sharon Flake that write about things that really happen in people's life.I think that Sharon Flake is an amazing author only because she experienced some of these events that she writes in her books.

Sharon Flake's latest literary endeavor, WHO AM I WITHOUT HIM?, is a collection of ten short stories that explore different variations of teenage love and angst. These stories present an accurate portrayal of teens and their experiences. The tales range from humorous to serious and each teaches a lesson on love and life. One of the stories that I enjoyed was "Wanted: A Thug" which dealt with one girl's desire to have a bad boy, who happens to be dating her best friend, without thinking of the consequences. Another story, "A Letter to My Daughter" has a guilt ridden absentee father writing a letter to his fifteen-year-old daughter to try and educate her about boys and give her a view of relationships from a male perspective. Sharon Flake has again penned a novel that both entertains and educates teens by presenting them with characters that are just like them. These stories reflect the lifestyles and situations that all teens are familiar with and can relate to, but at the same time present positive messages. What I enjoyed and respected most is that the author keeps the stories authentic by not making them all preachy or having a sappy, happy ending. I highly recommend WHO AM I WITHOUT HIM? as a must read for all teens, but especially for the younger teenagers who are on the cusp of dating.

Sharon Flake's expertise in telling it like it is rings out in this collection. She and Chris Crutcher would make a great team! It is hard to say that girls and boys will 'enjoy' these stories, but they will not be able to stop reading them because they hit on the exact things my students witness, if not experience, every day. Each story has its humor and its pain. That's life, isn't it? As you read these stories, you see what is coming, and you want to shout "Don't do it!!!" But each one of us has to learn by our own mistakes and successes. By reading, we learn from others.