Her Decade

It's no secret that my books have been in set the same town and even in the same high school -- Brookdale, Maryland, a fictitious town in the fictitious Lowe County -- with some recurring background characters and bits of "business" shared between them.

You can read "Her Decade" online by clicking here.

Or you can download the story as a PDF by clicking here.

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But there's more to Brookdale than just the novels. I originally invented Brookdale for a series of short stories I was writing. These were not YA stories per se, though they all involved -- to some degree -- something that happened to the protagonists as teens or children. Since I had already been thinking about Brookdale, it made sense to use that setting for my first book...and then I just kept using it!

In Boy Toy, we got to see a little more of Brookdale than we did in the first book, including SAMMPark, a municipal park named for Susan Ann Marchetti. This park also plays a role in Hero-Type.

Thing is, I knew why SAMMPark even existed at all. It had its roots in a story I had written a few years before my first novel was ever written, much less published. I thought that readers might be interested in seeing that original story and learning how a young woman named Susan Ann Marchetti ended up becoming the "patron saint" of Brookdale.

If you've read Boy Toy and Hero-Type, this story may give you a little more insight into things going on in the background of both stories. In any event, I hope you enjoy it!

(Oh, and BTW -- if you've read The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, you may already know the last name "Marchetti." And a character from that book has a small appearance in "Her Decade" -- see if you can spot him.) 

If you'd like to comment on "Her Decade," do so below. 

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1

Her Decade
By: Zaq Cass on Mon March 10, 2008, 23:49:07

First off, thank you for loving the spelling of my name. At school, I'm officially "The Zach with a Q".

Regarding "Her Decade", I would just like to say that it is no surprise to me that you are quickly becomming my favorite author.
In ten years, how he's went to the gravesite of someone who will never, ever get to live her life. Never have the oppurtunities she wanted. Never had the family she deserved, and at the same time, showing him get everything that she would never have.
I liked it. In my honest opinion, I really liked it. I've never been good at critiques, especially when i like a story. I tend to get a bit bias about a story to think negative about it.

Thank's for an awesome story.
If it were on deviantart, I'd fav it.

~Zaq

Btw, I remember the name Marchetti, but I didn't make the connection.

2

Inspiring
By: Shawn on Tue March 11, 2008, 22:03:31

This was by far one of the saddest stories I've ever read. Rare is it that tears well up in my eyes just enough to make my eyeballs glisten. This did it for me. It truly is a piece of work.

3

Her Decade
By: Cara Zajac on Tue March 11, 2008, 22:18:37

I just finished reading "Her Decade" and it is one of the most moving stories I've read (besides "Boy Toy".) Just the fact alone that he comes full circle and then has a daughter of his own....wow. I'm happy that the father didn't kill him though because that would have made him no better, the irony that he'd be killing someone's son would be unbearable.
Amazing story, can't wait for the next installment =)

-Cara

4

love your books
By: Anna B. on Fri May 02, 2008, 22:52:46

i love the way barry lyga writes
his level of detail and the sarcastic and relistic humor that is in his writing is what really draws me to his books. im really interested in the new book and have to get it.

+anna-

5

Wow, this was good!
By: Michelle on Sat June 14, 2008, 17:04:43

I am sobbing.

This is really, really moving.

Sniff.

6

Re: Her Decade
By: Kaitlin on Tue August 26, 2008, 18:35:11

That story was amazing. It's the story that I wish I'd written.

At the same time, though, I feel angry for the protagonist. I don't feel like he was being selfish. I feel like he shouldn't have been treated like that. He already felt bad enough. He was miserable. Oh well.

Good ending. Especially the way the meaning of the title isn't revealed until the last two words. Makes them a lot more powerful. You think, "Whoa." and they still ring in your ears even after you close the browser window.

7

-none-
By: GlueStick on Fri August 29, 2008, 09:00:35

Your books are awesome and i can't wait for the third to come out. At first i thought that the first one was a little geeky but by the time i was about thirty pages into the book i was in love with it. It made me sad to take it back to the public library. :) The second book was 'a little to close to home' though and although it brought alot of memories back i read through it and i ended up loving that one two. -Glue

8

Bloody Fantastic
By: Scaramouche on Fri November 07, 2008, 03:42:12

Always a good time reading your works mate! Keep it up!

9

order of the books
By: joseph on Sat January 03, 2009, 20:50:58

i just finished reading fan boy and goth girl, and i wanted to know in wich order are the books? are they sequels? wich one comes first? fanboy? boy toy? or hero type? if you can email me or reply with the order i would be really thankful, my e mail is josephvitale93@hotmail.com, plus i really have to thank you for creating those amazing stories, this is the first book I have ever read from beggining to end, didnt even read harry potter i quit in like 2 days, but your awesome book really got me into reading. i just culdnt stop because i wanted to know what was next,i loved the way fanboy analyzes and is reflexive about everithing, and i would not be surprised if i find you in the bestsellers section at the bookstore :) so thank you 4 opening the door to the book world and plz, if i could get the order of the books it would be really nice thank you, mi admiration. joseph-

10

tAAoFBaGG, BT, HT, and now Goth Girl Rising
By: Ryan on Mon March 23, 2009, 11:35:00

All three of the Brookdale series are fenominal, (sorry for any poor spelling) and a few questions does come to mind about "Goth Girl Rising" will Fanboys name be revealed? Will fanboy even be in this novel? Will the situation with GG's family be introduced further? Will SAMMPark be in this novel? Will the characters from all 3 previous books be, say, more intertwined in this novel [I ask this because one of the characters in Hero Type mentioned her, the scene in which they are smoking out at SAMMPark]? Will Fanboy and Goth Girl hook up, date, have a more 'open' relationship, or just have GG tease Fanboy to death?

If you could answer any of these questions that would be awesome!

From one of many 'Fans',

Ryan from Bakersfield, CA.

11

@Ryan
By: Barry on Tue March 24, 2009, 18:23:56

Hmm.

Those are all good questions.

That's all I have to say. :)

Barry

12

Her Decade/Other Stories
By: Dana Magee on Fri April 10, 2009, 02:50:37

I just finished reading it and by the end, I was in tears. It was like really good. I always wondered like what actually happened and now Im glad i know. Its no wonder why your my favourite author. You write your books as if we are actually a charater in them, as if they are real. Thats what I love about them. They arnt some fantasy shit like Harry Potter, they are real. People are actually going through this kind of stuff. I can relate to your books completely. I really adore your books and writing styles. So do all my friends. I never thought I could get so addicted to an author. After reading your books, I always want more. I want them to go on forever. When I read them, I feel like i actually witnessed these events happen. Its like I was actually in the car for when He hit Susan. Your writing style is amzing. I have tried writing like sequals to your books but nothing can compare to them. Nothing. When I read Her Decade, I could only imagine what it was like, killing someone then seeing your daughter. Wondering what you would do if it was her life that was taken instead.

Some people tell me Im too young to be reading these kind of stories. Yeah I may only be 13 but they are the truth. We all will be facing these kind of things when we are older,if we havnt already. We cant advoid them. You kind of prepare us for what it is like, you explain the feeling, really get into us.

This is getting pretty long so I better end it. Good job Barry, I really enjoy your books and I can't wait for more.

Love Dana <3
The Girl That You Can Make Smile With A Single Sentence.

13

Goth Girl Rising... You Replied to Me!!!
By: Ryan on Mon September 14, 2009, 15:03:02

wow! That post was was in march of this year, 6 months ago, and a little over a month untill your newest book arrives! I cant wait and I hope you could do a book signing at the Barney and Noble in Bakersfield, CA... (that would be a dream come true!) [and at least no one in a trench coat will come flash you! LOL!]

From one of your many 'Fans'

Ryan: Bakersfield, Ca

14

wow
By: Halry on Thu June 17, 2010, 21:02:21

truly amazing. But who's the secret character?

15

secret character
By: Ged on Fri June 10, 2011, 15:54:09

Is the secret character Fanboy's dad in the role of the Rent-A-Cop? I can't remember what his dad did for a job, but that sounds about right.