Joshua Furst Libros

An Austin Chronicle Best Book of the Year Fred, given name Freedom, is the sole offspring of Lenny Snyder, the infamous pied piper of 1960s counterculture. From a young age, Fred has been exploited by his father and used to enhance Lenny's mystique. Now middle-aged, Fred looks back on life with this charismatic, brilliant, and volatile ringmaster, who is as captivating in these pages as he was to his devoted disciples back then. We see Lenny in his prime and then as he gradually loses his magnetic confidence and leading role at the end of the sixties. Lenny demands loyaty but gives none back in return; he preaches love but treats his family with almost reflexive cruelty. And Fred remembers all of it--the chaos, the spite, the affection. A kaledoscopic saga, this novel is at once a profound allegory for America and a deeply intimate portrait of a father and son.

Focusing on the complexities of childhood, this debut collection by Joshua Furst presents ten poignant stories that delve into the challenges and contradictions faced by American youth. Through harrowing and surprising narratives, the author provides an unflinching and unsentimental portrayal of growing up, highlighting the unique struggles and experiences that shape young lives.

One handy little stroller is passed from family to family in this uplifting picture book celebration of community, diversity, and sharing When Luna is born, her mommy gives her a little red stroller. It accompanies her and her mommy through all the activities of their day, until she outgrows the stroller and is able to pass it down to a toddler in her neighborhood who now needs it. And so the stroller lives on, getting passed from one child to the next, highlighting for preschool readers the diversity of families: some kids with two mommies, some with two daddies, some with just one parent, and all from different cultures and ethnicities. This simple, cheerful book is a lovely portrait of the variety and universality of family.

The narrative follows Julia, a former punk scene teenager who endured a traumatic past, as she navigates her new suburban life. When her daughter, Cheryl, goes missing, Julia is drawn back into her own turbulent history, tracing Cheryl's steps through the gritty underbelly of the city. The story explores themes of motherhood, trauma, and the haunting echoes of youth, revealing a complex interplay of past and present as Julia confronts the darker aspects of her daughter's coming-of-age journey.