William F. Powers Jr

The Easter Bunny Conspiracy William F. Powers Jr

Set in late-1950's Los Angeles, the Easter Bunny Conspiracy is a grippingly funny coming-of-age tale told from the point of view of a precocious 12 ½ year-old Catholic boy, Chris Kelly. Chris is struggling to find himself despite the burdens of his being as overweight as he is obsessed with and equally confused by girls, being as agnostic as he is Catholic, and as unsure as he is (almost) poised about coping with all the crazy but accepted traditions, customs, prejudices, contradictions and hypocrisies with which he's confronted each day.

Chris' problem is that he hasn't yet figured out that he's right to be confused about everyone around him so readily accepting being grounded in one way or another on deceits such as what Chris calls "that Easter Bunny thing". Chris' needs are simple - just to make his way in the world.

Aided by flashbacks on his own experiences, Chris' story is about his overcoming the fiery crucible of the 3 days before his Confirmation, which enable him to reach his personal epiphany and stride with semi-confidence into his still-uncertain future with an ethically tolerable plan. Our voyage through these stormy adolescent seas is at once poignant and hilarious. It's bittersweet comedy at its best. You can't help but love it.