A review by anndouglas
Nice Big American Baby by Judy Budnitz

5.0

I have a new author to add to my list of favorite short story authors -- Judy Budnitz. Her stories are brave, dystopian, and funny -- an irresistible combo.

I particularly loved "Saving Face," which is all about unthinking allegiance to a political leader. Here are a few quotes from this brilliant shorty story, which I will be returning to again and again:

"What's your dad do? I said. Designs new and better wings for new and better sing nuts, he said proudly. It sounded like he was repeating something a sarcastic adult had said."

"What about your mum? She got taken away. Mine too, I said. There was nothing special about that. It happened all the time."

"Couldn't help it, he insisted. My dad would bell me to draw a flower and it would turn into a Venus flytrap chewing on a hand."

"You have to stop this. I don't want to lose you too. If you have to make a revolution, make a small revolution."