MAGIC IN THE MIRRORSTONE

Led by Holly Black and Nina Kiriki Hoffman, 15 writers throw magical challenges at teenaged (mostly) characters in settings that range from exotic alternate realities to un-exotic high-school restrooms. The all-new stories range from reworkings of folk tales in Gregory Frost’s “The Fortunate Dream” and Eugie Foster’s “Princess Bufo marinus, Also Known As Amy,” to Cassandra Clare’s Lovecraftian “Have You Ever Seen A Shuggoth?” and Tiffany Trent’s eerie “Blackwater Baby.” Generally likable protagonists take on curses, sorcerers, magical talismans and other supernatural MacGuffins—along with the customary bullies, prejudice, abuse and domestic issues. Not only do the entries exhibit a lively variety of tones and lengths, but because the sex and even most of the violence has been left implicit, the tales can be offered or read to an unusually wide audience. Jejune author/editor comments on each entry don’t measure up to the rest, but they’ve all been gathered into an easily skippable closing section. First-rate fare for fantasy fans. (Short stories. 11-15)