"Hairstyles" is an honest depiction of growing up punk on Chicago's south side: a study in the demons of racial intolerance, Catholic school conformism and class repression. It is the story of the riotous exploits of Brian, a high school burnout, and his best friend Gretchen, a punk rock girl fond of brawling.

Joe Meno won the 2003 Nelson Algren Literary Award and is the author of "Tender as Hellfire" (St. Martin's, 1999) and "How the Hula Girl Sings" (HarperCollins, 2001). His online fictional serial, "The Secret Hand," is published through "Playboy Magazine." His short fiction has been published in "TriQuarterly," "Bridge," "Other Voices Washington Square," and has been broadcast on National Public Radio. He lives in Chicago, and he is a columnist for "Punk Planet" magazine.

• September 2009 Indie Next List
• August 2009 Indie Next List
• July 2009 Indie Next List