THE YEAR’S BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY FOR TEENS

Opening with the opinion that a separate literature for teens is superfluous, but heigh-ho, here’s an addition to it, Yolen proceeds to offer, with Hayden, 11 tales written by a mix of veterans and rising stars. They include five reprints from 2004 anthologies marketed to young adults, and a century-old entry from Rudyard Kipling and feature ghosts, magical creatures, futuristic tech, alternate realities and, usually but not always, young folk. It’s not a total wash, as several entries are drawn from paper or online magazines, the intros add spot-on recommendations for further reading (enhanced by an Honor Roll at the end), and contributions do include both a strong, heartbreaking closer narrated by a canine soldier and Delia Sherman’s “CATNYP,” a romp set in The New York Public Library. However, the Kipling is a serious mistake, as the subtlety of its language and the quality of its storytelling make all of the stories before and after look like journeyman work. Strictly additional. (Short stories. 11-15)