Lesser American Boys takes aim at the absurdities and bitter shortcomings of 21st century manhood through a mix of magic- realist and literary storytelling. A bee colony beats itself to death against a backyard fence; Rick Perry holds in a fart on an elevator while the ghost of a young woman watches; children fall in love with wind and chase that feeling to the bitter end; a man’s friend is run over by a street sweeper and re-connecting with an ex-lover at the funeral throws his life out of balance; Thoreau is alive and a terrible boyfriend. Though the subject matter of these stories varies wildly, what connects them is an exploration of the moments of loss between characters, whether it’s due to the failure of perception, of language, or of truing the world. The writing is laced with voice-driven humor that gives way to deep moments of empathy as the characters figure out how to keep trying to see themselves and each other.

Coming Oct 2022. Preorders available at Mason Jar Press.

PRAISE FOR LESSER AMERICAN BOYS

"These stories are so sharp, so incisive, that I felt at times I’d cut myself on them. I love how much VandeZande does with a strict economy of words and an expansive, forgiving understanding of what it means to be human." —Amber Sparks, author of And I Do Not Forgive You

"Lesser American Boys reflects a very current struggle: How do we live and love and hold onto one another in a world that is drowning, where the fear of death and dying is as present in our veins as it is in the wind? These stories, precise and delightfully absurd, examine the big, complicated emotions of men who have never been given the language to express them. Zach VandeZande writes from an open heart.” —Christopher Gonzalez, author of I’m Not Hungry But I Could Eat

“As you read the stories in this stunning collection, you will realize that Zach VandeZande knows people. He under - stands us—our sad little thoughts, our failings, our dreams, our desires. Who else could write about someone trying to restrain a fart in an elevator with such compassion? Who else could write about someone hitting a kid on a bicycle with such sympathy? Each story here offers a glimpse into some - one’s life, their thoughts, their soul. And into our own.” —Cathy Ulrich, author of Ghosts of You

"Zach VandeZande is a mischief-maker, and he isn’t afraid to catch the reader at their tricks. Each story in Lesser American Boys chips away at the banal to reveal the metaphysical, and you feel cleaner for it, with an enlarged awareness of the world, its boyfriend tragedies and oppressive terminologies. Don’t miss this collection.” —Gauraa Shekhar, author of Notes