A UNIVERSE OF WISHES

A collection of stories diverse in plot, character, and setting.

Fifteen prominent YA authors come together to present speculative works that center identities that the genre has a history of excluding from the front lines. While all the entries are solidly entertaining, a few standout stories steal the show: Anna-Marie McLemore’s triumphant queer and trans-affirming “Cinderella” retelling, “Cristal y Ceniza”; “Wish,” Jenni Balch’s inventive tale about a curious girl on Venus who receives a mysterious wish-granting visitor; Samira Ahmed’s “The Coldest Spot in the Universe,” a haunting recounting of those who find the artifacts of a long-lost civilization; and Tessa Gratton’s effortlessly original and stirring political fantasy, “The Beginning of Monsters,” starring a nonbinary main character. Characters of varied genders, races, sexualities, and backgrounds feature heavily. Some authors place their characters in worlds where oppression is no more, allowing for a cathartic imagining of how life could be for those with marginalized identities; others immerse the reader in dystopian landscapes where they paint inspiring portraits of resistance. There will be something in this collection for every fan of the genre to enjoy. Daunting topics like colonialism, liberation, and ability are also woven into the stories with nuance, rarely in a way that feels heavy-handed.

A refreshing anthology depicting worlds where everyone can belong.