Odds Are Good An Oddly Enough and Odder Than Ever Omnibus [Paperback]

Beloved for his hilarious and unexpectedly moving novels, Bruce Coville is also a master of the short story. These two collections, in one volume for the first time, feature eighteen tales of unusual breadth and emotional depth. This omnibus is a perfect introduction to Bruce Coville's magic for the uninitiated.
Includes an introduction by Jane Yolen.

Favorite short story collectionsOddly EnoughandOdder Than Everare now available in one volume!

The ­Box
  
Once there was a boy who had a ­box.
 
           The boy’s name was Michael, and the box
        was very special because it had been given to him by an ­angel.
 
        Michael knew it had been an angel because of the huge white wings he wore. So he took very good care of the box, because the angel had asked him ­to.
 
        And he never, ever opened ­it.
 
        When Michael’s mother asked him where he had gotten the box, he said, “An angel gave it to ­me.”
 
        “That’s nice, dear,” she answered, and went back to stirring her cake ­mix.
 
        Michael carried the box with him wherever he went. He took it to school. He took it out to play. He set it by his place at ­mealtimes.
 
        After all, he never knew when the angel would come back and ask for ­it.
 
        The box was very beautiful. It was made of dark wood and carved with strange designs. The carvings were smooth and polished, and they seemed to glow whel³-