William Flanagan

The Narrator tells us how the radio influenced his childhood in the days before TV. In the New York City of the late 1930s to the New Year's Eve 1944, this coming-of-age tale mixes the narrator's experiences with contemporary anecdotes and urban legends of the radio stars.

Sophie, only 11, turns a day of mourning into a journey of discovery and connection. At her mother’s funeral, Sophie’s imaginative spirit leads her away from traditional grief rituals and toward an impromptu birthday celebration for a new friend who is also riddled with his own grief. Glitter, toy guns and fleeting friendships collide creating strange, messy beauty of connection. Sophie’s actions challenge the adults’ somber norms and tell a story of resilience, showcasing how children’s innocent play can transform pain into healing and forge unexpected friendships and meaning.