Fresh Ink: An Anthology by Lamar Giles

Synopsis:

In partnership with We Need Diverse Books, thirteen of the most recognizable, diverse authors come together in this remarkable YA anthology featuring ten short stories, a graphic short story, and a one-act play from Walter Dean Myers never before in-print. 

Careful--you are holding fresh ink. And not hot-off-the-press, still-drying-in-your-hands ink. Instead, you are holding twelve stories with endings that are still being written--whose next chapters are up to you. 

Because these stories are meant to be read. And shared.

Thirteen of the most accomplished YA authors deliver a label-defying anthology that includes ten short stories, a graphic novel, and a one-act play. This collection will inspire you to break conventions, bend the rules, and color outside the lines. All you need is fresh ink. 

Publishing Co.: Random House Children's Crown Books for Young Readers
Rating:★★★

Review:

I received this eARC copy from the Random House Children's via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. 

I really enjoyed seven out of the twelve stories, four I thought were just "okay", and one I skipped entirely because I just wasn't feeling it. I love the different messages, in all of the different walks of life that this collection puts out. Most of these were so good that I just want a whole novel wrapped around those characters and their stories alone.

To get specific about a couple of my favorite stories:

I really liked Don't Pass Me by Eric Gansworth for two specific reasons: 1. We don't get to see too many Native American stories often & 2. I love how it's telling you to be yourself no matter what, even if it might make life a little harder on you than it is on others (A.K.A our Caucasian brothers and sisters)

Tags by Walter Dean Myers is the 1 act play included the anthology and I love that it is focused on gun violence and gang retaliation. I like the whole concept and the ending of the play but I didn't care too much for how it started out. I wish it would have started out a little more cleaned up then it did.

One of my top three stories was Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan and it is also one of the lgbt stories. I was happy that I felt a connection with all of the characters but I felt my strongest connection with Yasaman's grandma almost like she was very my own. Also, I really enjoyed how cute and gradually progressive this story was, and I'm not usually a fan of "cute" romance. There was something about it that didn't just slap you in the face and it wasn't at all insta-lovey. 

A Boy's Duty by Sharon G. Flake is another of my top three. The main thing that made this story stand out from the other eleven was how in depth it went for a short story and how touching it was. This particular story is set back in WWII days so you can't help but want to hug, love, and build up the characters.

"Words matter as much as actions," I added. "They might only be letters on a wall, but I feel like the graffiti claimed my mental space." Melissa de la Cruz's One Voice: A Something in Between Story did not disappoint the masses!! I loved this story and it's message so much. In today's society people have it stuck in their heads that if someone is not PHYSICALLY touching you then it is then not causing you harm...and by now we should all know that is a load of bull. What made this so amazing and mind grabbing to me was that Melissa didn't say anything particularly spectacular or anything that we already haven't heard but it really leaves it's mark. Sometimes words leave a bigger scar the an actual knife will and we see it happen every day, sad but true. I think it goes without saying that this was my number one. 

I think this anthology is for many that feel like they're not included in YA or in the book world and I would really love an Adult collection like this. 

A Christmas Gift by Stella Wilkinson

Synopsis:

Holly and Caleb had been best friends as children, growing up on the same street, but as teenagers they couldn't be further apart. When Caleb unexpectedly asked Holly to help him pick out a Christmas gift for his girlfriend, neither of them anticipated where it would lead. 
A young adult romantic comedy, from Stella Wilkinson, acclaimed author of The Flirting Games Series. 

A Christmas Gift is a "clean" romance, suitable for ALL ages

Rating:★★★½

Review:

This was really cute but also really cheesy, but I guess that's to be expected when this is a holiday love story. I felt like this took me on a trip back to high school, just seeing all of the drama unfolding and seeing Holly struggle between wanting to remain herself and wanting to be accepted.

There was one thing I didn't agree with and I felt was just the worst thing you could ever tell a 16 year old or a person period and that was the advice from Holly's mother to Holly. She told her she should changer her appearance to be more acceptable for a boy. You should never teach a girl that it is okay to change the way you look just for the acceptance a boy or for anyone for that matter. I feel like that's teaching girls not to be comfortable in their own skin or with themselves.

Besides that I think this was a cute but predictably cheesy short story.

Senior Season by Tom Perrotta

Synopsis:

A glimpse into parallel lives in a suburban town Tom Perrotta has made recognizably his in novels like ELECTION, LITTLE CHILDREN and this fall’s THE LEFTOVERS.  Clay wouldn’t have said his life was defined by his place on the high school football team’s roster, but when he’s sidelined by injury, everything, including his sense of self, seems different.  And it’s not just that his concussion was bad enough to cause his parents and doctors to worry, to make him have trouble concentrating.  It’s that he’s seeing the previously familiar people in his world—from his girlfriend Megan to his geriatric neighbor Mrs. Scotto—from a new perspective.  Perrotta’s warmth and ability to describe the dramatic moments in the average lives of characters of every age are perfectly presented in “Senior Season”, a story that will add a layer to fans’ pleasure in this author’s themes and concerns. This e-book also includes an excerpt of THE LEFTOVERS.

Rating:★★★★★

Review:

For some odd reason, that I can't put my finger on, I've been really craving short stories or anthologies lately and this has put a real dent in my hunger. I honestly could not think of reason to give this book anything less than 5 stars. 

In my opinion, this did everything a short story was supposed to do. It gave the right amount of insight into the current situation, it had the right amount of drama and character relatability, and it ended off leaving you with just the right amount of wonder, but not confusion that some short stories leave you hanging onto. Long story short, it just had the right amount of everything!

I also really loved the excerpt of The Leftovers! It really makes you think deeper into the rapture, what it may mean, and who it will include; Or if the rapture didn't happen in this town, what really happened to all of the people that just vanished into thin air?

It goes without question that I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a quick, light read or to anyone in general. I just loved this book all around and I'm excited to read the full version of The Leftovers. 

Strangers at a Funeral by: P.T. Phronk

Synopsis:

Brandon notices them at his grandpa’s funeral first: a pair of men in sunglasses who nobody seems to know. They’re not family, they're not friends, they’re just … there. No big deal, until they show up again at the next funeral. Drawn into a world of funeral selfies and burial crashers, Brandon needs to know what these strangers want from the dead. 

Only problem is, nobody gives a crap except him, and his school frowns upon skipping classes to watch people get buried. His sanity can’t take many more funerals, and those bulges under the strangers’ coats probably aren’t concealing anything pleasant.

Rating:★★

Review:

For a short story it actually had a nice plot tempo going on throughout the book but I don't know if maybe I shouldn't have read this while I was tired but I think the ending completely went over my head. This definitely makes me want to scan the crowd at any funerals I go to now but I'm just not sure what was going on at the end. I feel like the ending got really shaken up and so much was going on I don't feel like I got a clear enough explanation for what was really happening. Of course I can always make my own speculations but they may be far from what the author was trying to say. 

So to wrap this up, I wouldn't put this in the horror category but it does tingle your paranoia, the ending definitely needs some cleaning up in my opinion, and I wouldn't recommend this because it can get pretty confusing since the conclusion is unclear.