52 works of Canadian fiction coming out in spring 2024

Powering The STEM/STEAM Engine

With a new academic year on the horizon, and educators and librarians on the lookout for fresh classroom and library materials, we asked publishers to share their insights into the STEM/STEAM category, as well as their latest STEM/STEAM books, series, and initiatives.

All the publishers we spoke with said that demand for these kinds of books in the market has remained strong, or has increased, since the pandemic. Keeping pace means focusing on innovation—in design, format, perspective, and subject matter—to produce books that simultaneously engage, inform, and entertain readers.

Rich Thomas, SVP and executive director of publishing at HarperCollins Children's Books, describes his company's STEM/STEAM publishing strategy as focused, selective, and creative. "We try to be sure that any book we publish presents the topic from a unique angle," he says. "A tailored approach is especially important in a robust category such as this. So, we publish fiction that incorporates a scientific theory as a plot device, graphic novels about the living environment and biological sciences, and picture books that explore STEM/STEAM topics in accessible ways." He points to Jasmine Warga's middle grade novel A Rover's Story as an example. "It's a work of fiction that was exhaustively researched and provides solid STEM facts layered into a fun, character-driven read."

Simon & Schuster's Beach Lane imprint has deep roots in art, science, and the natural world, according to executive editor Andrea Welch. "We know how strongly and organically children connect with these topics," she says. "Especially when explored by authors and illustrators who find unexpected and creative ways to shine fresh light on perennially fascinating subjects—from mushrooms to monkeys and everything in between."

Welch notes that Beach Lane's list of STEAM titles has grown in recent years, in tandem with the market. "We continue to sense an eager audience for all types of nonfiction, particularly books that subtly encourage readers to see things differently and that inspire questions, curiosity, and opportunities for expanded learning," she says. The imprint's STEM/STEAM offerings in 2024 include the first two works in Amy Hevron's six-book Tiny Habitats series, Jennifer Ward and Robin Page's Sleepy: Surprising Ways Animals Snooze, Aura Lewis's Dazzling Zelda: The Story of Fashion Designer Zelda Winn Valdes, and Amy Cherrix and Fran Preston-Gannon's Animal Superpowers.

"I've seen more professionals in STEAM fields interested in writing for kids, and maybe with more of a focus on STEAM rather than pure STEM titles, which seems like a positive step to me," says Laura Godwin, publisher of Godwin Books at Henry Holt. "I think adding the A to STEM adds an element of fun and accessibility," she notes. "This broadens the appeal, and ultimately the readership of any book, which is obviously a big plus." Recent books on her list that demonstrate this approach are Animal Climate Heroes by Alison Pearce Stevens, a look at how animals help save the planet, and Buzzkill, exploring the world of bugs, by Brenna Maloney.

Some of these same trends are on the radar of Kendra Levin, editorial director at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. "There are a lot of books emerging on our list across the whole children's division that highlight not just learning, but doing—for instance, We Are the Builders by Deepa Iyer, which is about the different ways kids can engage with their communities to make change," she says. "And more professionals with STEM and STEAM backgrounds are feeling drawn to reach out to young people to show them how they can impact the world and realize their dreams, like entrepreneur Deena Shakir, whose debut picture book, Leena Mo, CEO, is forthcoming on the Salaam Reads list."

Carol Hinz, associate publisher for Millbrook Press and Carolrhoda, describes the current strategies for the STEM/STEAM category at her company. "With our STEM/STEAM-themed picture books, we've been shifting away from books that highlight various animals with a shared characteristic and are currently publishing a mix of picture book bios and books that take innovative approaches to science content, sometimes with elements from other disciplines as well," she says. "In the picture book bio Mami King: How Ma Mon Luk Found Love, Riches, and the Perfect Bowl of Soup by Jacqueline Chio-Lauri, illustrated by Kristin Sorra, the STEM elements include the trial-and-error process of perfecting a recipe and the use of simple machines, including scissors and a pingga, or carrying pole, which the author highlights in the back matter." Other books, like If I Were a Fungus by Gaia Stella and I Fuel: How Energy Powers Our Busy World by Kelly Rice Schmitt, illustrated by Jam Dong, "use unexpected points of view in a fiction format to inform readers," she adds.

Hinz echoes her industry colleagues in her enthusiasm for STEM/STEAM titles that perform double or even triple duty. An example, which she notes is an exception to the move away from animal books, is Haiku, Ew! Celebrating the Disgusting Side of Nature by Lynn Brunelle, illustrated by Julia Powell. "It subverts expectations about the haiku form by highlighting gross things about various creatures with informative sidebars alongside the poems, making it equally well suited for poetry lessons or science class," she says.

Branching out

"We've broadened the STEM/STEAM category to include informational picture books, younger nonfiction, and fiction," says Jennifer Stokes, editorial director at Owlkids Books. "Over the past few years, we've found success with STEM/STEAM nonfiction books that engage kids with humor but also provide lots of shareable facts. This insight was gained from our Do Animals series, and we've carried it through in books like Odd Couples: A Guide to Unlikely Animal Pairs for younger kids, and for middle graders, our list includes titles such as Making Sense of Dog Senses: How Our Furry Friends Experience the World, which is playful but scientifically precise and explores many kids' favorite topic: dogs."

Launched in 2020, London- and New York–based Magic Cat Publishing, an imprint of Abrams Books, publishes illustrated nonfiction that "seamlessly integrates STEM concepts with well-being or philosophy," according to cofounder and publisher Rachel Williams. "Over the past few years, STEM titles have become a flourishing branch on our publishing tree," she says. "Readers and educators crave books that spark creativity, problem-solving skills, and a connection to the bigger picture." Williams and her team have observed that, no matter the topic, young readers respond well to "perspectives that bring a sense of creativity and discovery to the subject, and they really appreciate authors who know their stuff and love what they're writing about." One fall title on the Magic Cat list that checks those boxes is The Inventor's Workshop: How People and Machines Transformed Each Other by Ruth Amos, an inventor and YouTuber.

"We've been thrilled to expand our MIT Kids and MITeen imprints to encompass new formats," says Phoebe Kosman, director of marketing, publicity, and key partnerships at Candlewick. She names novelty books, including Vicky Fang's flip-flap book AlphaBot, which is firmly grounded in computer science, and board books, including the just-launched Big Science for Tiny Tots series and the forthcoming Nature in Action board book series about earth science.

Branching out is also helping Lee & Low build on its respected nonfiction STEM/STEAM backlist. "We expanded our publishing effort into picture book fiction that showcases concrete STEM/STEAM themes, like Seven Golden Rings: A Tale of Music and Math by Rajani LaRocca and illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan, and Ten Blocks to the Big Wok: A Chinatown Counting Book by Ying-Hwa Hu," says marketing director Jenny Choy. And the company will include middle grade readers next spring with the narrative nonfiction title The Doomsday Detectives: How Walter and Luis Alvarez Solved the Mystery of Dinosaur Extinction by Cindy Jenson-Elliott, set for publication next March.

At Capstone, content strategy director Stephanie Miller notes, "We've found success expanding STEM/STEAM contents to different product types, including picture books, feature photo-illustrated picture books, chapter book fiction, graphic novels, hands-on active learning titles, and books in conjunction with our licensing partnerships."Miller has noticed that "as kids get older, they want to know what's in it for them" when it comes to studying STEM concepts.

"The trend is to be more inspirational, aspirational, and show readers how STEM/STEAM plays a really big part in their everyday lives. We have to be a little more creative with our approach, something I like to call 'head fake' learning," she says. "For the fluent readers, this is where you combine science with high-interest topics they want to read about: sports, adventure fiction, graphic novels, animals. STEAM/STEM is really cool when you think about how angles impact your ability to score goals, or when you read stories about a child inventor who saves the day with her invention."

Kelly Barrales-Saylor, editorial director at Sourcebooks eXplore, is among the many editors who believe that delivering fun for readers is a key factor in creating STEM/STEAM success. "We have strategically focused on publishing books that are entertaining first and foremost with educational information as a secondary feature," she explains. "The second book in our Butt or Face series by Kari Lavelle recently released, which is a great example of a book where readers will learn something new about animals while also having a great time guessing whether they are looking at, well, a butt or a face. We have gravitated away from the didactic and leaned into books like Dinosaurs in Space, the forthcoming title from Todd Sturgell, which features information about dinosaur fossils on the moon woven into a hilarious storyline." Barrales-Saylor emphasizes that the imprint will continue to home in on STEM/STEAM projects "with the primary goal of creating read-again and gift-giving opportunities to reach the widest number of readers possible."

Sam Priddy, copublisher of Neon Squid, a nonfiction imprint of Macmillan Children's Books based in London, is on the same page when it comes to silly. "I think back to when I was at school and lots of people viewed science as boring, so we made it our mission to champion STEAM subjects and emphasize how fun they can be," he says. "We're particularly passionate about the more niche science subjects that aren't widely taught in schools—we've done books on animal symbiosis, rewilding, and even a nonfiction guide to aliens."

In this vein, Priddy calls out one of his favorites, A Stinky History of Toilets, released in March. "Unsurprisingly it's one that kids are drawn to straightaway, and we weren't precious enough to avoid filling it with poop gags," he says. "But the authors, Olivia Meikle and Katie Nelson, have also done a tremendous job of weaving some proper hardcore science into it too—from why U-bends stop toilets from exploding to how scientists in the 19th century linked the spread of cholera to bad sanitation."

Abrams editor at large Howard Reeves hails Jorge Cham's Oliver's Great Big Universe series as a new funny fave. "Whether having a hall full of kids avoiding the 'big bang fart' to explain the origins of the universe, or in book two, comparing volcanic eruptions to a kid's reaction to overeating cherry pie, Jorge intertwines science with humor," Reeves says. "Kids are laughing too hard to realize they are learning something. It's these types of books that help STEAM find its place in the classroom. They get kids talking about science while being entertained in the process."

One note rung by several publishers is that STEM/STEAM's status as a standalone entity has blurred somewhat. "What's shifted a bit with STEM/STEAM in the past few years is that it feels less like a separate category of book and more like a natural part of what we are publishing," Levin says. "For a number of reasons—world events, our relationship with technology in our day-to-day lives, and the lingering effects of the quarantined period of the Covid-19 pandemic—authors and illustrators are thinking about STEM/STEAM topics in a different way than a few years ago, and we're seeing that reflected in the books they are creating and that we are publishing."

Thomas says he's hearing different kinds of requests from educators. "We are seeing a slight shift away from 'Oh, I need more STEM books for my curriculum' to 'My kids are into these topics, so what books do you recommend that will keep them turning the pages?' "

STEM/STEAM for everyone

Across the board, publishers say that STEM/STEAM books by and about people of color and books featuring more diverse experiences are on their wish lists. "Our curriculum partners and the school districts we work closely with are hungry for STEM/STEAM books that center communities of color," says Choy at Lee & Low. "This is especially true for titles about conservation and the environment, since Black and brown folk are on the front lines of the climate justice movement, like in Nibi's Water Song by Sunshine Tenasco, illustrated by Chief Lady Bird." She adds that her company is translating more STEAM books into Spanish—a move being made by other publishers as well—"to increase access to these stories that have great potential to inspire the next generation of thinkers, leaders, and citizens."

Choy says she has noticed that educators and librarians are also asking for more books with BIPOC main characters outside enjoying nature. "Our editorial team is thoughtful about growing representation in our books beyond race to incorporate other intersecting identities that impact readers' lived experience," she says. As one example, the forthcoming picture book A Sky that Sings (Mar. 2025) by Anita Sanchez and George Steele, illustrated by Emily Mendoza, spotlights a blind Latina girl who enjoys identifying birds by their distinct calls and songs as she leads her tía through the park on a birding adventure.

"The trend of picture book biographies about scientists of color is going strong—and rightly so," says Alyssa Mito Pusey, executive editor at Charlesbridge. "They are still very much needed. There are also more and more fiction picture books about kids of color who love science or math. As an editor of color, I love these books; they're important and empowering. But we need to give young readers more options. Kids need books by diverse authors about a range of topics; authors should write about whatever sparks joy and curiosity for them."

Looking ahead, she says, "my hope is that as diversity increases in both publishing and STEM fields, there will be many more diverse STEM books for kids."

Staying tuned

"Children's books that focus on STEAM topics aren't waning in popularity," says Andi Diehn, content marketing manager at Nomad Press. "In fact, I only see their appeal growing."

All the publishers we contacted were similarly upbeat about the STEM/STEAM market's future. "From where we sit, STEM/STEAM remains as hot as ever, with parents, teachers, and librarians all grateful to find books that celebrate STEAM as an opportunity for fun and creativity, rather than something intimidating," says Erica Finkel, executive editor at Abrams, where she works on the popular Questioneers series by Andrea Beaty. "The Questioneers takes kids as creators seriously—STEAM isn't just something that kids can grow up to do one day, it's something they are already doing right now, and they're having fun while doing it."

And for many publishers, there's another fulfilling mission behind staying in the STEM game. "Making science and tech accessible and appealing is really important and gratifying," Godwin says. "One of the first picture books I edited, Cactus Hotel by Brenda Guiberson, explains the life cycle of a giant saguaro cactus but tells it as a story. The fact that it's still in print today with hundreds of thousands of copies sold is a good illustration of the fact that if you make it fun and accessible, the readers will come."

A version of this article appeared in the 08/05/2024 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: Powering the STEM/STEAM Engine

Fiction: The Dangerous Goa Casinos Where The Famous And Dreamers Chase Quick Fortunes

Ruby was not her real name. She was named Arthit when she was born, a male child raised by a single mother in a small village on the outskirts of Chiang Mai in North Thailand. She had never known her father. Some said that the lack of paternal influence along with overwhelming maternal love had made her effeminate from an early age. But Arthit had always known who she was: a woman trapped in a man's body. Her mind and heart had never been at peace with her male form. She was only four years old when she began to express herself. By the age of seven, she had grown her hair and was stealing makeup from her mother's vanity box. It was clear to her mother where her heart lay. Arthit showed early signs of becoming a kathoey, an effeminate gay male, or in popular parlance, a "Ladyboy".

By the age of twelve, she had grown into a fine, young, beautiful girl, devoid of breasts, with a tall, petite frame, and a pretty face. She was not only accustomed to compliments about her beauty from the womenfolk in the village, but also drew the attention of the opposite sex. With the onset of puberty, she began to see boys in a different light. It excited her to see them by the pond in their underwear and enjoyed hugging them whenever she could. By the age of fifteen, she realised that she could no longer blindly follow her instincts. The gap between what she desired and what she had was expanding. She needed guidance in the ways of the kathoey – an elder sister, a mentor. She approached an older kathoey from school and requested her to become her elder sister. Thus began a relationship of trust and reverence that guided her through the most formative years of her life.

Amongst the first things she learnt to do was to take oestrogen-based hormones, which, amongst other changes, facilitated the development of breasts. This was followed by a change in the way she dressed, her hairstyle, shoes and makeup. Then came the question of her name. "What would you like to call yourself?" "Ruby." "Why Ruby? That isn't a Thai name." Ever since childhood, Arthit had admired the ruby ring worn by her mother. It was the only valuable item in her possession. "It is the only object of beauty that I have ever known." And thus, Ruby was born.

After completing school, Ruby left for Chiang Mai to explore employment opportunities. She found to her dismay that people in the big city were less accepting of kathoeys. Jobs were difficult to come by and the ones that did come her way were all temporary. After spending a little over two years doing temporary jobs that did little good for her ego or wallet, Ruby decided to travel to Bangkok in search of greener pastures. Her mother did not approve. She knew only too well what happened to young girls coerced to migrate to the megacity. But Ruby was able to convince her, arguing that she wasn't migrating under coercion, that she was educated enough to make informed decisions, that as soon as she found a good job, she would start sending money home. But luck seldom obliges the poor and needy.

After walking all over the city in search of work for over a month, all she could find was the job of a waitress at a café. The money was barely enough for her to survive, let alone save and send back home. But the job provided her with a footing in the city till something better came along. Then a chance conversation with another waitress sent her exploring to Patpong, a tourist hotbed in Bangkok. Whilst most of the establishments were Go-Go Bars selling sex, there were a select few that were merely watering holes for the thirsty traveller. The owner at one of these bars took a liking to her. He could see potential and offered her a job as a waitress with special duties. "All you have to do is chat with the customers and sell them drinks," he told her. "That's all?" She was suspicious. "No sex?" she asked, blurting out what was playing on her mind. "No," he replied. "We don't sell sex. If a customer wants to take you out, that's between you and him. He will have to pay us, of course." "What do I get for this?" she asked. "A small retainer for your loyalty to this bar, and a cut on the drinks you sell." That sounded fair. In any case, selling drinks was more interesting than selling coffee. She resigned from the café that night and moved to Patpong, chatting up customers and selling drinks.

Drinks is all she sold for two months. But, like many well-intentioned girls from poor families, temptation, which was always lurking in the shadows, seduced her soon enough. Prostitution was a way of life in Patpong, a norm among the people who worked and lived there. Being surrounded by such an environment numbed a person to the stigma associated with it. She had seen many of her colleagues go on night-outs and return in the morning looking no worse off, with money in their pockets. After deliberating for days on end, she finally agreed to go on a night out with an American, a frequent customer of the bar who had taken a liking to her.

While dining at an expensive restaurant that evening, she told him that she was a kathoey. The disappointment was clearly visible on his face. He didn't allow it to come in the way of the dinner; but the dinner was not followed by a visit to his hotel. Ideally, she should have been happy; she had managed to earn good money without selling her body. Instead, she had mixed feelings about the evening. It was clear that the hotel visit didn't happen because she was a kathoey. So when a few days later the American invited her again for an expensive dinner followed by a visit to a fancy hotel, she was thrilled. She returned home the next morning with 3000 Baht in her pocket and a set of new clothes, the burden of morality no longer pressing on her shoulders. Such was the fate of many poor women who came to Bangkok in search of a living. Soon, her mother started getting regular instalments of money. She was pleased with the support that her daughter provided and didn't ask uncomfortable questions.

A year later, Ruby threw away whatever little was left of her morality and moved to a popular Go-Go Bar at Soi Cowboy. One night, while she was pole dancing to a raunchy number, her vivacious body gyrating seductively to the music, her eyes full of life and an enticing smile on her face, Jayesh spotted her. She didn't like him at first. Indian men were generally aggressive and uncouth, haggling over every penny. When you thought that the deal had been struck, they haggled on the goods on offer. "I want you twice in that much money," was a common ask. But, Jayesh made her an offer she couldn't refuse. "Food, lodging and 50,000 Baht per month retainer. Whatever you earn on top is yours to keep." Fifty thousand Baht! Had she heard him right, or was God playing games with her like he had all her life? This could help her fulfil her deepest desire, to become a proper woman. The final frontier to becoming a woman was a surgery involving the realignment of genitalia. This was Mount Everest for kathoeys, the ultimate life goal vehemently desired; and there was a clear divide in the community between the "haves" and the "have-nots".

With this kind of money, she could save enough to get the surgery done within two years…

She was still dreaming about her body when she heard Jayesh say, "Is the offer acceptable to you?" She wondered for a moment whether she should tell him the truth about her gender identity before accepting the offer. But what if he changed his mind? Such an opportunity had never come her way before. 50,000 Baht a month was too big a sum to fuck around with. Besides, working in a casino would be a whole new experience. "Yes", she said, her eyes shining. "Thank you".

Excerpted with permission from The Goa Gambit, Anurag Tripathi, Olive Turtle.

Medical Fiction: Zoe's Breakthrough

In this medical fiction, dental assistant Zoe endures abuse until a desire to learn and a kind boss spark her self-worth, but will standing up for herself mean bringing others down?

This medical fiction tale is one of a collection of stories that are like "Final Destination" meets "The Monkey's Paw" (W. W. Jacobs, 1902). As such, they are tragedies that appeal most to readers who enjoy the inexorable pull of a story arc that leads to doom. The technical details surrounding the event are drawn from real cases in the US OSHA incident report database or similar sources and are therefore entirely realistic, even if seemingly outlandish.

My name is Zoe Westbrook, and this is my story.

My dad was diagnosed with late-stage cancer during my senior year of high school and, even when things got really bad, he absolutely refused to move to the hospital. My mom worked two jobs to try and keep up with the mounting medical bills and there was no way we could afford in-home help, so when she was at work, my dad's care was my job. I had to miss a lot of school, my grades dropped, and after a while, my dreams of winning a scholarship and going away to college dropped away, too. After my Dad passed away, those medical bills seemed to somehow keep coming and coming. My mom told me she needed help with the rent and outstanding medical bills, that she was sad and lonely, that I couldn't desert her, too, so I stayed. 

Now, I work at a dental practice on the edge of town, in the industrial area across the river. I wanted to be a realtor or a nurse, but the employment office lady told me I'd either need to know a realtor who would sponsor me, or I'd have to earn a full college degree in nursing. I didn't know any realtors, and the community college doesn't offer nursing degrees, so those options were out. The lady suggested I become a dental hygienist, but that job still required at least an associate's degree. Then she suggested I become a dental assistant. The job required 900 hours of coursework and 300 of practice, but the courses were offered at the community college which also organized the job interviews, and it paid a lot better than flipping burgers. Sold.

Dr. Jean Solt, a local dentist, interviewed me for my internship. I was so nervous I was shaking, but she was a total sweetheart. We hit it off immediately. By the end of my interview, she'd not only agreed to allow me to do my practical hours with her, but also promised me money towards my school costs! I could scarcely believe my luck and couldn't wait to start. 

When I told Mom I'd been accepted at the community college, she rolled her eyes and said I had a "unique capacity to chum up with losers and grifters" and that "pretend college" sounded about on par for me. Mom was also suspicious of Dr. Solt's offer to help pay, mumbling, "Nothing comes so easy." She asked me if I was lying, if it was really a pole-dancing job, followed by a crack about my legs being something to hide, not flaunt.

I'd inherited Dad's stocky build and spotty complexion rather than Mom's slim, petite frame and smooth skin, a fact she never failed to remind me of. She could be hurtful at times—okay, most of the time—but I tried to not let it bother me. I told myself it wasn't really me she was mad at. After she'd downed a few gin fizzes, I'd learn she blamed me for the angry varicose veins in her legs or the puckered stretch marks across her tummy. One night before she passed out in her recliner, she looked at me with a sort of sideways tilt to her head and slurred, "You know, Zoe, you're nothing but a lump. You were born a lump, and you stayed that way."

When I started my dental assistant courses, I was surprised to discover I loved being in community college. People weren't snotty like in high school, and I even made a few friends. As much as I loved my coursework, I loved my practice work even more. Dr. Jean made me feel completely welcome. She gave me my own little desk next to the storeroom, along with two shelves for my books and stuff. On my first day, she surprised me with a small bunch of fresh flowers in a glass beaker on my shelf and a really nice card welcoming me. I honestly had to run to the bathroom so nobody would see me crying! 

The office wasn't very spacious, but Dr. Jean made it feel cozy rather than cramped, and the view out the reception window was amazing. Our building was on the edge of the river's bluff. When I sat on the low stone wall of the parking lot during my breaks, I could see the river rushing below and birds swooping high above. It felt like paradise. 

My whole first week working with Dr. Jean was like a dream, but then her partner returned from a vacation in Europe and the office mood immediately soured. Dr. Jean wasn't so relaxed anymore. She actually snapped at me once for not filing a patient's records quickly enough. Dr. Mulvaney had demanded them from Dr. Jean, forcing her to leave her own patient to search for the files frantically as he sulked near by, sighing loudly and tapping his foot. That Friday, after the last patient left, I overheard them arguing about me.  Apparently, Dr. Mulvaney had wanted to employ a young woman he'd just met on the plane and was angry that the position had been filled in his absence. Tiptoeing away down the hall, I heard Dr. Jean patiently reminding him he'd agreed she could make the pick. As I slipped out the back door, I heard him shout, "But did you have to hire the homeliest mongrel in the litter?"

Things sort of settled down over the next two months, and at the end of my three-month probation, Dr. Jean called me into her office and hugged me. She gave me a small raise and a cute gift basket with a really thoughtful card. Once again, her unexpected kindness made me scamper off to cry in private.

Dr. Mulvaney hadn't exactly become friendly, but he at least nodded or grunted at me if we crossed paths during the day. Sometimes I assisted him, which was nerve-wracking, but mostly he didn't want me around. That got worse after I walked into his surgery room one day to fill the water bottle and found him with his hand up his patient's skirt. Her hand was stuffed down inside his pants, and they both had their tongues down each other's throats. After that, he glared at me more often than he grunted, and he started making nasty comments about my looks. He also startled me a few times when I was sitting on the rock wall lost in my thoughts during lunch breaks. He'd make the tires of his shiny red sports car–a 1961 Jaguar XK-E as I'd heard him tell every single semi-attractive female client who sat in his chair–squeal, and he'd speed straight towards where I sat. He'd brake hard at the last second and spin to exit the parking lot, his tires smoking. I wasn't sure if that was the way he always exited the lot: speeding, spinning, showing off. Maybe he did it just to scare me, or maybe he actually wanted me to jump or fall. In any case, it was a really mean thing to do.

One afternoon, I had to assist him with a late patient who had a broken tooth. Dr. Mulvaney had been in a bad mood all week and had been snappy with Dr. Jean about money. I guess the practice was making less money than he wanted, and he blamed her "low budget, welfare patients" for the lack of profit. He'd also made a snide remark about my little pay increase. So he was already pretty grumpy when the last-minute patient arrived. I rushed to set out a new instrument tray for him, making sure the dental mirror was facing the right way, the retractors, pliers, and probes were lined up perfectly, and the correct bite sticks were on the tray. He stalked in and immediately screamed at me for having ligature and distal end cutters on the tray, demanding that I remove them and hurry up while I was at it. I reached over the tray to remove them but when I turned, I bumped into him and dropped the instruments on the floor.

"Jesus, you fat cow," he shouted. "Can't you watch where you put your flabby carcass? I don't know why that stupid woman hired such a clumsy lump."

I dropped to my knees to pick up the instruments, cheeks burning with shame and anger. When I straightened back up, I glanced at the dental tooth scaler in my fist, then at Dr. Mulvaney's scowling face, and felt a sudden urge to jam it into his throat. I don't know how long we stood there glaring at each other before he hissed at me, "Just. Go. Home." 

I backed out of the room in a daze, stuffing the unneeded dental instruments in my lab coat pocket, then grabbed my pocketbook from my desk and rushed out the back door. As I crossed the parking lot, I found myself walking right past Dr. Mulvaney's stupid little car. He was sure to fire me Monday morning, probably with a few cruel comments about my appearance as my severance. He'd surely harangue Dr. Jean, too—kind, thoughtful Dr. Jean—about her poor hiring decision. I heard my mom's smug voice in my head, telling me she'd always known I'd fail. 

In a moment of inspiration and anger, I grabbed the tooth scraper from my lab coat pocket and ran it along the entire side of Dr. Mulvaney's car, creating little curls of lipstick-red paint as I went. When I stood back to admire my handiwork, I felt a huge rush of satisfaction and—something I realized I hadn't felt in a long, long time—happiness. For a moment, I felt wonderful. I sighed and returned the scraper to my pocket, then suddenly realized I still had the ligature and distal end cutters, too.

On Monday morning, I arrived at the office early to pack up my stuff, thank Dr. Jean for everything she'd done for me, and say good-bye. I found her standing in the reception area looking a little lost, tears in her eyes. I rushed to her and gave her a hug. She returned my hug, then pulled away, looked into my eyes and said, "Dr. Mulvaney is dead." 

It'd been a car accident. Leaving work, he'd driven full speed straight through the little stone wall in the parking lot, tumbling all the way down the rocky bluff and plunging into the river. Dr. Jean said she'd warned him before about treating the parking lot like a drag strip, but now she felt guilty about it. "He didn't even brake," she whispered, then started weeping. I hugged her tightly again and told her it wasn't her fault, that everything would be okay. And it will be. As long as her new partner is better than the last one.

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