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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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 fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry.
Three young people find their places in a world of vengeance and destiny in National Book Award winner Tahir’s duology opener set in the multicultural world of her An Ember in the Ashes series.
Aiz, from the impoverished nation of Kegar, seeks revenge against Tiral bet-Hiwa, an air squadron commander who, as a child, murdered Aiz’s fellow orphans. Guided by a voice claiming to be Mother Div, Kegar’s first queen, Aiz escapes imprisonment after her failed assassination attempt on Tiral and embarks on a journey to free Mother Div’s trapped spirit. In the Martial Empire, Sirsha, a skilled tracker with magical abilities who’s been banished from her homeland, is saved by a stranger who hires her to hunt an unnatural killer. Quil, the crown prince of the Martial Empire, faces an invasion by the Kegari and the lingering threat of a mysterious force responsible for recent murders, including those of two of his loved ones. As the storylines converge, Sirsha and Quil cross paths, leading to revelations about the insidious force. The story explores the blurred line between good and evil and the lengths one will go to for a better life. Tahir’s deep and intricate worldbuilding requires time for readers to fully grasp. Following a slow start, the plot engages as pieces fall into place, leading up to an unexpected ending. The beautiful writing compensates for the romantic relationships, which develop quickly and somewhat inorganically.
A fantasy with complex characterization that will build anticipation for the next entry. (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9780593616949
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2024
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
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