Tunneling to the Center of the Earth by Kevin Wilson

This is a book of short stories that I found out about from the ALEX awards, which recognizes the best adult books appropriate for young adults.  Unfortunately, other than the first story, "Grand Stand-In", I didn't find the material to be something that would appeal to jr. high students.  The material is much more adult and, well, pretty strange.  I do plan to use "Grand Stand-In", the story of a woman who is hired by an agency to be a pretend grandmother by parents who have either lost their parents or don't think they're up for the job.  It's funny and surprising and sneaky-deep.