“Negative Space” by Gillian Linden is a triumph of voice, specifically in its use of deadpan. “Deadpan” as a term first appeared in the early 20th century as a compound word meant to ...

For parents, entering Gillian Linden’s debut, “Negative Space” (W.W. Norton, 176 pages, $26.99), will be a little like returning to an uneasy, half-remembered dream. The short, subtly ...