The World Doesn't EndWinner of the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry One of the truly imaginative writers of our time. Los Angles Times Book Review You never know what Charles Simic is up to until you reach the end of the line or the bottom of the paragraph. Waiting for you might be a kiss. Or a bludgeon. A smile at the absurdities of society, or a wistful, grim memory of World War II. He puns, pulls pranks. He can be jazzy and streetwise. Or cloak himself in antiquity. Charles

In Leah’s first year of high school

The family can hardly believe it

Self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson (dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom) has always been at home in her own skin

last of his name

revealing frank and fascinating details – from racing through the fields on his father's tractor and teenage fumblings in the back seat

racing into occupied towns in jeeps

and breaks down the Turtle system and rules in full

and going to detention

each existence is the center of the universe

reaches all the way to Washington

Anderson’s piercing prose ensures that these remarkable women will leave a lasting mark on readers

but it’s terrifying at the same time