All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages

by Saundra Mitchell, Malinda Lo, Robin Talley, Mackenzi Lee, Kody Keplinger

Overview

Take a journey through time and genres to discover stories where queer teens live, love and shape the world around them.

Seventeen young adult authors across the queer spectrum have come together to create a collection of beautifully written diverse historical fiction for teens.

From a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in war-torn 1870s Mexico featuring a transgender soldier, to two girls falling in love while mourning the death of Kurt Cobain, forbidden love in a sixteenth-century Spanish convent or an asexual girl discovering her identity amid the 1970s roller-disco scene, All Out tells a diverse range of stories across cultures, time periods and identities, shedding light on an area of history often ignored or forgotten.

“Readers searching for positive, nuanced, and authentic queer representation—or just a darn good selection of stories—need look no further than this superb collection.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Featuring original stories from:Malinda Lo
Mackenzi Lee
Robin Talley
Kody Keplinger
Elliot Wake
Anna-Marie McLemore
Shaun David Hutchinson
Dahlia Adler
Tess Sharpe
Kate Scelsa
Natalie C. Parker
Sara Farizan
Nilah Magruder
Tessa Gratton
Tehlor Kay Mejia
Alex Sanchez
Scott Tracey

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781335470454
Publisher:	Harlequin
Publication date:	02/27/2018
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	563,642
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Saundra Mitchell has been a phone psychic, a car salesperson, a denture deliverer, and a layout waxer. The author of eighteen books for tweens and teens, Mitchell has written work that includes Edgar Award nominee Shadowed Summer, The Vespertine series, and Indiana Author Award Winner and Lambda Nominee All the Things We Do in the Dark, as well as the Camp Murderface series with Josh Berk. She is the editor of four anthologies: Defy the Dark, All Out, Out Now, and Out There.

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/16/2018
In this noteworthy collection, Mitchell collects short stories from 17 authors, including Malinda Lo, Alex Sanchez, Mackenzi Lee, and Shaun David Hutchison, and presents queer characters across a variety of historical settings. Anna-Marie McLemore sets the tone for the collection with "Roja," a merging of the legend of la Carambada, a female Mexican outlaw in the 1870s who wore men's clothing, and a spin on "Little Red Riding Hood," in which a girl falls for a transgender soldier. Natalie Parker's "The Sweet Trade" introduces two young women in Virginia Colony, 1717, who flee their wedding days, share moments of intimacy and understanding, and then take to the sea disguised as men to guarantee their autonomy. On New Year's Eve 1999, amid Y2K fever, Turkish-American Ezgi Olmez's estranged best friend arrives on her doorstep to declare her feelings as what could be the end of the world approaches in Sara Farizan's "The End of the World as We Know It." This anthology of distinct stories and experiences is exceptional in scope and quality, and gives voice to the experiences that have long existed but often go unrepresented. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

02/01/2018
Gr 9 Up—From witch trials to Y2K, this short story anthology tells fictional tales of LGBTQ teens throughout history. Though most entries are realistic, there are a few magical tales based on legends scattered throughout. The diversity is refreshing: it's not just white history being told and there is a deaf character fighting alongside Robin Hood. However, the queerness trends toward lesbian and gay teens. There are a few asexual characters, showing a variety of people on the ace spectrum, and a few trans boys, but no trans girls or nonbinary characters. The short stories are well written, as can be expected from the well-known contributors such as Anne-Marie McLemore and Shaun David Hutchinson. One standout piece is "And They Don't Kiss at the End" by Nilah Magruder, which tells Dee's story as a black, roller disco—loving teen coming to terms with her asexuality. Malinda Lo's "New Year" really captures the slow discovery by young Lily on Lunar New Year of an underground of queer folk like her. Fans who are loyal to these authors will be pleased by the entries. Some teen voices feel more authentic than others, and at times, the more modern settings felt a bit heavy-handed. VERDICT Give to those teens who don't read full novels but still long for LGBTQ representation. A strong choice for most collections.—Kathryn Kania, Pelham Public Library, NH

School Library Journal

★ 2017-12-21
A historical-fiction anthology shines the spotlight on queer teens, from as far back as the 1300s up to the turn of the 21st century.Two boys who fall for each other while assisting competing magicians, an asexual roller skater who navigates a crush, and a transgender Robin Hood on the run from a female Sheriff of Nottingham are only a hint of what readers can expect to find in these stories from 17 authors for teens. The vast majority come to life through sumptuous language, plentiful historical detail, and satisfying endings. Most stories acknowledge—and sometimes directly deal with—the hardships of being queer in these settings, but that's not the focus here. Instead, the collection centers on adventure, first love, and self-discovery. Nearly every tale ends with a sense of hope, even triumph. Although the casts are somewhat ethnically diverse, about half the stories take place in the 1900s, and most are set in the United States, which may leave readers wishing for more scope. The stories, both realistic and fantastical, primarily feature lesbian and gay teens, although transgender and asexual characters also make appearances. Author's notes follow some stories to provide background and further insights. Readers searching for positive, nuanced, and authentic queer representation—or just a darn good selection of stories—need look no further than this superb collection. (Short stories/historical fiction. 14-18)

Kirkus Review

"Sumptuous language, plentiful historical detail, and satisfying endings....Readers searching for positive, nuanced, and authentic queer representation-or just a darn good selection of stories-need look no further than this superb collection." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"LGBTQIA story collections are scarce, but even if they weren't, this one would be essential." -Booklist

"The diversity is refreshing... well written...Give to those teens who don't read full novels but still long for LGBTQ representation. A strong choice for most collections." –School Library Journal

"Historical fiction has not been very common in queer YA, and All Out is here to change that. Queer people have so often been erased from history that it can feel as if we have no roots. All Out imagines the lives of queer teens throughout different time periods, often playing with genre (retellings, fairy tales, magical realism, fantasy) as well. Not only does this imagine queer histories, it imagines happy ones! It also features a range of identities, including trans, gay, lesbian, asexual, and aromantic characters." – Vulture

From the Publisher