Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance

by Jason Reynolds, Samira Ahmed, L. D. Lewis, Ray Stoeve, Laura Silverman

Overview

A young adult anthology featuring fictional stories of everyday resistance.

You might be the kind of person who stands up to online trolls.Or who marches to protest injustice.Perhaps you are #DisabledAndCute and dancing around your living room, alive and proud.Or perhaps you are the trans mentor that you wish you had when you were younger.Maybe you call out false allies, or stand up to loved ones. Maybe you speak your truth and drop the mic, or maybe you take it with you when you leave.This anthology features fictional stories—in poems, prose, and art—that reflect a slice of the varied and limitless ways that readers like you resist every day. Take the Mic's powerful collection of stories features work by literary luminaries and emerging talent alike, including Newbery-winner Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestseller Samira Ahmed, anthologist and contributor Bethany C. Morrow, Darcie Little Badger, Keah Brown, Laura Silverman, L.D. Lewis, Sofia Quintero, Ray Stoeve, Yamile Mendez, and Connie Sun, with cover and interior art by Richie Pope.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338343700
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	35,910
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	HL730L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Yamile (sha-MEE-lay) Saied Méndez is the author of Blizzard Besties, Random Acts of Kittens, Wish Upon a Stray, and many other books for young readers, including Furia, a Reese's YA Book Club selection and winner of a Pura Belpré YA Author Medal. She was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina, and now lives in Utah with her family. A Walter Dean Myers Grant recipient, she is also a graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Connect with her at yamilesmendez.com.
Bethany C. Morrow is author of speculative stories that run the gamut between science fiction and speculative literary fiction. Her debut novel, Mem (Unnamed Press, 2018), was an ABA Indies Introduce and Indies Next pick. Her debut YA novel is forthcoming from Tor in 2020. She is also a sensitivity reader.

Editorial Reviews

10/01/2019

Gr 7 Up—With situations and language that feel contemporary and up-to-the-minute, this collection of short stories, poetry, and art capture small moments of everyday resistance. Editor Morrow has gathered works from a mix of big names and new faces, each demonstrating the tiny moments that underlie what it means to be a teen of color, to worship differently, to live with a disability, or to be your school's lone representative of your culture. These talented writers and artists, including Newbery honoree Jason Reynolds, New York Times best-selling author Samira Ahmed, and webcomic artist Connie Sun, explore themes including microaggressions, fear of the police, resistance fatigue, hate speech on social media platforms, and allyship in a way that feels visceral and real. Readers who find their own experiences reflected in these stories will feel seen and heard, and for others, the book provides windows into the everyday experiences of the teen members of various marginalized groups. VERDICT This anthology is a valuable addition to a social justice collection for its accessibility and breadth, encouraging readers to take the first step toward empathy and compassion for others. —Erin Downey, Boise School District, ID

School Library Journal

2019-07-21
Central themes emerge in this collection of short stories by a diverse and representative group of authors: courage, bravery, and a refusal to be silenced.

In two stories by Darcie Little Badger (contributor: Mythic Journeys, 2019, etc.), Lipan Apache Grace won't be forced into anything, either by boys or so-called allies. Samira Ahmed's (Internment, 2019, etc.) story in verse "Are You the Good Kind of Muslim?" shines a light on Islamophobia and how marginalized people cope with bigotry. In "Aurora Rising" by Yamile Saied Méndez (Where Are You From?, 2019, etc.), Rory, whose mother is from Argentina, won't back down to appease abusive white "friends." Laura Silverman (editor: It's a Whole Spiel, 2019, etc.) chronicles in "Ruth" how a Jewish book blogger addresses internet trolls—and casual anti-Semitism from a friend. Jason Reynolds (contributor: Black Enough, 2019, etc.) and Keah Brown (The Pretty One, 2019, etc.) contribute poems on the cracks in U.S. society, revolution, and the myriad manifestations of resistance, including being #DisabledAndCute. Author and cartoonist Connie Sun contributes a short graphic chapter on heartbreak and hope. Some entries are more successful than others, but overall this is a solid and relevant anthology in which readers of many backgrounds will see their lives mirrored.

This ambitious collection is ultimately both worthwhile and timely. (contributor bios) (Anthology. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews