Welcome aro representation exploring a wealth of complex worlds and identities.
Twelve mostly speculative fiction short stories explore the struggles of aromantic characters in communities that don’t understand or value them.
In her introduction, contributor Julie Sondra Decker notes that the portrayal of romantic love in literature “as a prerequisite to fulfillment and even personhood [is] disturbing.” In this collection, aro characters who don’t experience romantic attraction face not only arophobia, but also misunderstandings; compulsory romance; feelings of being broken, lacking, or othered; and disappointment from friends who want something more from their relationships. However, they also find strength connecting with other aromatic people and supportive friends and from discovering alternative ways to live and love. Most of the stories are well-written, and the standouts include “Do You See Me?” by Isa Fiel, which links the legend of La Llorona to arophobia, and “Daughter of Time” by co-editor Dyer, which contrasts a Neanderthal girl’s warm and loving community with a modern girl’s isolation. Ian M. Carlisle’s “Thomas Marley’s Fake Bride” broadens the anthology’s representation by centering on a protagonist who delights in sex—just not romance. Among the many intricately woven worlds, the high-concept nature of a few might challenge readers, as might the second-person narration of some stories. The genres represented include fantasy, science fiction, dystopia, and realistic fiction. Several tales feature leads who are of non-European heritage, and many include characters who represent a multitude of LGBTQ+ identities.
Welcome aro representation exploring a wealth of complex worlds and identities. (content warning, contributor bios) (Anthology. 14-18)Pub Date: May 26, 2026
ISBN: 9798890034427
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
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
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
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