SEPTEMBER 2018 - AudioFile
The full cast that presents this anthology, published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books, does a remarkable job of bringing to life stories by some of today’s best-known YA authors. These slice-of-life pieces provide not only mirrors but also windows on issues of race, sexuality, and urban life. Listeners will be intrigued by Gene Luen Yang’s comic “Paladin/Samurai,” which is brought to life by four voices and sound effects. Schuyler Bailar, the first “out” transgender swimmer in NCAA Division 1, brings empathy and meaning to his reading of his semiautobiographical story, “Catch, Pull, Drive.” And the story titled “Super Human” will leave listeners as torn as narrator Bahni Turpin sounds as she delivers the story’s dilemma. Each narration and production reflects care and attention. E.J.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
10/22/2018
“In these pages are all sorts of heroes,” We Need Diverse Books cofounder Lamar Giles writes in the foreword to this anthology. The collection boasts many notable contributors, including Sara Farizan, Daniel José Older, Eric Gansworth, and Gene Luen Yang. Writing in a variety of formats, 13 creators tell stories of love, death, war, isolation, and human connection. In Malinda Lo’s delightful “Meet Cute,” Tamia, a black girl dressed as Agent Scully, and Nic, an Asian girl dressed as gender-flipped Sulu, develop a tentative attraction at a science fiction and fantasy convention. Varied and purposefully compiled, this anthology provides readers a gateway to seek out more stories with inclusive representation. Ages 12–up. (Aug.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Fresh Ink:
"A powerful and varied collection deserving of shelf space in every library.” –Booklist, Starred Review
"This compelling anthology is an excellent choice for YA collections.” –SLJ, Starred Review
"The most profound strength of the collection, however, is the array of rich characters with whom readers will surely connect.” –Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
"This beautiful, moving, and insightful collection is quintessentially American and a valuable addition to all middle and high school classrooms.” –Kirkus
School Library Journal
★ 06/01/2018
Gr 9 Up—This collaboration with We Need Diverse Books features 13 standalone stories from award-winning and best-selling authors including Melissa de la Cruz, Sara Farizan, Eric Gansworth, Malinda Lo, Daniel José Older, Jason Reynolds, Aminah Mae Safi, Gene Luen Yang, and Nicola Yoon. The stories are distinct in themes, subjects, genres, and formats, creating an inclusive, authentic, and incredible collection. Each entry features realistic, well-rounded characters and plots. The protagonists identify across a spectrum of races, ethnicities, gender identities, and sexualities without being reduced to stereotypes or tokenism. Timely topics such as the U.S. 2016 Presidential election and DACA are addressed, but other stories are historical, comedic, and even include science fiction. The entire anthology is strong, but there are a few showstoppers. Safi perfectly captures the angst and awkwardness of teen crushes and romance. Gansworth demonstrates the power of small acts of rebellion through a young Native American in 1975 taking a stand against "flesh" toned pencil crayons. Yoon's contribution is a heartbreaking, beautiful, and thought-provoking entry about Black Lives Matter. While all readers will benefit from this work, recommend to fans of Yoon, Angie Thomas, or those interested in social justice. VERDICT This compelling anthology is an excellent choice for YA collections.—Kaetlyn Phillips, Yorkton, Sask.
SEPTEMBER 2018 - AudioFile
The full cast that presents this anthology, published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books, does a remarkable job of bringing to life stories by some of today’s best-known YA authors. These slice-of-life pieces provide not only mirrors but also windows on issues of race, sexuality, and urban life. Listeners will be intrigued by Gene Luen Yang’s comic “Paladin/Samurai,” which is brought to life by four voices and sound effects. Schuyler Bailar, the first “out” transgender swimmer in NCAA Division 1, brings empathy and meaning to his reading of his semiautobiographical story, “Catch, Pull, Drive.” And the story titled “Super Human” will leave listeners as torn as narrator Bahni Turpin sounds as she delivers the story’s dilemma. Each narration and production reflects care and attention. E.J.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2018-04-30
Thirteen leading YA voices from diverse backgrounds lend their talents to this anthology of 12 fictional short stories.The collection represents the lives of people of color, immigrants, poor, and nonheteronormative individuals, drawing the reader into narratives that touch on universal themes of love and youth in its many iterations. Whether the reader dives into Eric Gansworth's story of a youth from the rez grappling with racism and identity in high school, Malinda Lo's tale of sexism and gender-flipping costumes at a science-fiction convention, or Melissa de la Cruz's story of an undocumented Filipina student who wants "America to want me because I was already a part of the fabric of the country," each contribution reminds us of the diverse individuals that make up the United States. Together they form a beautiful quilt of marginalized voices that include both bestselling authors, such as Jason Reynolds and Gene Luen Yang, as well as up-and-coming writers. The complexities of intersectional identities are also explored, for example in Sara Farizan's story of a bisexual Iranian-American girl who introduces her girlfriend to her immigrant grandmother. United by vivid descriptions of food, language, and cultural norms, the collection will serve as both mirror and window to teens from all walks of life.This beautiful, moving, and insightful collection is quintessentially American and a valuable addition to all middle and high school classrooms. (Short stories. 12-18)
