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Description
"Tell Me a Riddle" is a collection of four short stories by award-winning author Tillie Olsen. The title novella, which won the O. Henry Award in 1961, follows an elderly couple as the wife faces terminal illness, exploring themes of marriage, mortality, and reconciliation. The other stories address themes of motherhood, adolescence, racial tensions, and working-class struggles in America. The collection, originally published in 1961, has become a landmark in American short fiction.
Quick Summary
Tillie Olsen weaves tiny moments into powerful stories that stay with you long after the last page, showing how ordinary people fight for dignity and love in difficult times. Readers will connect with raw, honest characters who face hard choices and find strength in unexpected places, with each story offering a different emotional journey through history and the human heart. If your kid likes "The House on Mango Street" or "Fried Green Tomatoes," they'll love these compact, emotionally rich tales. This collection is perfect for teens in grades 9-12 who enjoy short stories that pack a big punch.