A superb collection of genre stories that prove just as rousing as their inspirations.
In this anthology, a bevy of authors deliver a collection of YA SF and fantasy tales, each inspired by a literary classic.
In Leah Cypess’ “The Scent of Cotton Candy,” Julia is worried about her teenage brother, who’s seemingly obsessed with tracking down their former nanny. Julia can’t help but wonder why this nanny, who’s capable of magic, is so invested in children. This story, like the others in the book, takes ideas from a “childhood classic” and spirals off into a markedly different direction. The new takes often go darker; for example, Seanan McGuire’s “Special” follows a narrator who believes “Bad People” don’t share—and their way of making others share leads to a spine-chilling turn (“we’re going to play the biggest game of Secret Laboratory there’s ever been”). In some cases, the inspiration (cited at the end of each tale) isn’t immediately clear. That’s certainly true for Stacia Deutsch’s “Other Earth,” in which people have evacuated Earth to survive inside the Bubble, an artificial atmosphere (not everyone agrees with the plan to expand the Bubble when it involves cutting down oxygen-providing trees). The stories are also linked by similar genres and themes: The SF/fantasy yarns smartly cover such topics as artificial intelligence, post-apocalyptic worlds, and alternate dimensions. It’s not all doom and gloom, however; the clever “My Science Project,” courtesy of editor Herz, zeroes in on high school science/SF nerd Wes. One day, he video chats with two cosplayers in top-notch froglike masks, only to discover that they may actually be the aliens they claim to be. This impressive gathering of authors includes Maggie Stiefvater, Jonathan Maberry, Kendare Blake, and Nancy Holder. The writing is pithy throughout, instantly dropping readers into narratives that thrive on engaging characters and unpredictable, diverting turns. Gustavson’s striking black-and-white artwork prefaces each tale and often hints at the source of inspiration, like a familiar hat for Stiefvater’s “State of Mind.”
A superb collection of genre stories that prove just as rousing as their inspirations.Pub Date: June 29, 2024
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 232
Publisher: Brigids Gate Press
Review Posted Online: July 22, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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