How I Got My Scar
by David E. McAdams
What if the same moment, one cut across the cheek, were told by Dickens, Hemingway, Morrison, or Kafka?
In this inventive and illuminating collection, David E. McAdams brings together a chorus of literary voices, each story a tribute to a different master of English prose. Though the plots vary, every tale turns on a single shared event: the protagonist receives a scar on their cheek. Yet no two scars feel the same. Tone, style, structure, and worldview transform a simple injury into something mythic, comic, tragic, or surreal.
Perfect for lovers of literature and students of the written word, How I Got My Scar offers a rare opportunity to explore authorial voice, narrative structure, and stylistic devices across genres and centuries. Ideal for classroom use in English literature and creative writing, the book doubles as both fiction and pedagogy, an accessible, engaging introduction to comparative literary study.
Whether you're learning to write, teaching others, or simply delighting in the dance of language, this book will sharpen your eye, your ear, and your sense of story.
A scar may mark the flesh, but it is voice that marks the tale.
McAdams, David E.: - David E. McAdams is a storyteller, an educator, and a lifelong explorer of ideas. With a career spanning decades in mathematics education and a deep love of writing, David has authored a wide range of books that blend learning with imagination. His work stretches from playful puzzle collections for young children to detailed explorations of mathematical constants, vocabulary guides, and interactive learning resources-all designed to open doors to discovery.
David's journey began in the classroom, where he taught high school math and discovered a truth that would guide his work ever after:
Children learn best when they're engaged, curious, and having fun. Over time, he noticed a critical gap in math education-students were struggling not only with concepts, but with the language of mathematics itself. This insight led him to create
All Math Words Dictionary, a comprehensive, kid-friendly resource to strengthen math vocabulary and improve understanding. But David didn't stop there. He began writing math-inspired books for young readers-books that entertain while they teach. In
One Penny, Two, a charming, witty story about a coin that doubles every day comes to life. In
What Is Bigger Than Anything?, children are introduced to the astonishing idea of infinity. His
My Favorite Fractals and
Geometric Nets Project Books invite children to explore patterns, numbers, and geometry in concrete, joyful ways. David's books are often playful, poetic, and filled with real-world wonder: dinosaurs, fairy tales, space, stuffed animals, hide-and-seek, even playground swings. Every story or puzzle is crafted not only to teach, but to spark the imagination. His recent projects include a collection of hundreds of math puzzles for six-year-olds and a themed series that pairs math with everything kids love: ice-cream cones, treasure hunts, magic tricks, and much more. His works have been translated into several languages, including Bengali, making his joyful approach to learning accessible to more and more children around the world. Whether he's counting the stars or exploring the digits of pi, David brings a deep sense of care and curiosity to every page. Now retired from teaching, David devotes his time to gardening and the creative joy of writing. He continues to write every day, always dreaming up new ways to help children see the beauty of mathematics, the power of language, and the magic of wondering, "What if...?"
