Exit Childhood

In Rivaldo Villegas's collection of short stories, Exit Childhood, each story, set in fantastical worlds, revolves around someone not quite ready to give up their youth for the daunting existence of adulthood.



Life and Magic revolves around Thea, a young witch who just likes to have fun with her friends, but if Thea doesn't improve her grades, she'll be kicked out of school and won't be able to hang out with them anymore. In her pursuit to make something of herself, Thea decides to change her attitude, but by doing so, she may lose the very thing she was fighting so hard to keep.



An Adventure Story follows a young man, Oleksander Lviv, on his quest for an enchanted flower to save his father. He, along with his new friends, encounters several new people and struggles, forcing our protagonist to grow up in his adventure in the great unknown.

In Vision Quest, Ahigo is sent away from his village to become a man. Ahigo struggles as he tries to do what his family would want of him and his own inner morals. Ahigo learns that he can be a man, yet still be true to himself.



In our final story, The Keahi Family, a young girl is sent to spend her summer break with her grandmother. At first, she finds the trip boring and would much rather be in sunny California with the rest of her family. But as she gets to know her grandmother better, she realizes that her family history is more youthful than she thinks