"Strange Tales from a Boy's Life," Stories Published in Boys' Life Magazine by award-winning author J Louis Messina range from the whimsical to the absurd: A boy must find a snack that helps his teacher think.... The mysterious box a boy receives from his grandfather will give him anything he wants—but only once.... A man-eating plant stalks a boy in his messy room.... A magic mask helps a shy boy succeed. Each peculiar tale has that aura of the unexpected that tantalize the mind. Winner of the Paul A. Witty Short Story Award by the International Reading Association, the Association of Educational Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award, and the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Short Story Merit Award. Proven stories that have been selected for standardized tests: "I personally chose your stories for their high interest level. You can imagine that it is important to us to find stories that students will be engaged in reading when they are being tested on comprehension." – Ann Pizzoli, Measurement Inc.