Palo Alto is a fiercely vivid collection of stories about troubled California teenagers and misfits. These tales are violent and harrowing, showcasing the astonishing talent of actor and artist James Franco.

This debut introduces a surprising and powerful new literary voice. Written with an immediate sense of place—claustrophobic and ominous—Franco's collection traces the lives of an extended group of teenagers experimenting with vices, struggling with their families and one another, and often succumbing to self-destructive, heartless nihilism.

In "Lockheed," a young woman's summer is abruptly changed by a spectacular act of violence at a house party. "American History" follows a high school freshman who tries to impress a girl with a realistic portrayal of a slave owner, only to face retribution for his feigned bigotry. "I Could Kill Someone" explores the mind of a lonely teenager who buys a gun to confront his high school tormentor but ends up contemplating his bully's inner life.

These linked stories are stark, vivid, and disturbing, offering a compelling portrait of lives on the rough fringes of youth.