Even a superficial glance at the stories in Graveyard Girl would confirm that they contain plenty of potentially objectionable subjects, such as premarital pregnancy, abortion, homosexuality, promiscuity, loss of religious faith, physical and sexual child abuse, sibling rivalry, plus alcohol and other drugs. However, before people pass judgement on the appropriateness of these topics, they must examine them within their context. A careful reading reveals that Lewis approaches these topics sensitively and explores their wider implications, especially as they apply to the lives of adolescents.

For example, Naylor Whitehead, the narrator of "The Puzzle," introduces the topic of premarital pregnancy when he mentions that Jewel Jackman, the girl he has had a crush on since kindergarten, has announced in class "that the rumors are true—she's pregnant and getting married to Jake." In the next story, "Tango," readers encounter the subject of abortion as they...