The Finkelstein 5 by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, 2016
The magic trick:
A story full of powerful ideas and memorable plot
This is one of those stories that definitely feels like it could’ve been a novel and soon should be a movie. Adjei-Brenyah is really pulling out all the stops here. Every page is overflowing with ideas. The real key is that the ideas and themes mesh perfectly with plot. This isn’t a static thinkpiece. This is a story that moves and frightens and devastates. You remember what happens in this story months after you read it. Seems obvious, but as someone who has read 2,500 of these things the last 10 years, believe me, that’s not always the case!
And that’s quite a trick on Adjei-Brenyah’s part.
The selection:
The night was cool. Under an unspectacular sky, Emmanuel felt the story of the Finkelstein Five on his fingers and in his chest and in each of his breaths. He imagined George Wilson Dunn walking free down the courtroom steps as cameras flashed. Emmanuel turned around and went back to his garage where the bat was waiting for him. It was from his Little League days. He’d played second base. The bat was too big for him then, too heavy. Now it was just right. He took it and walked to the park. I’m awake now; Boogie had said something like that while they were on the bus.
As always, join the conversation in the comments section below, on SSMT Facebook or on Twitter @ShortStoryMT.
Subscribe to the Short Story Magic Tricks Monthly Newsletter to get the latest short story news, contests and fun.
Short Story Magic Tricks 