Edited by: Lamar Giles
Number of Pages: 208
Average Rating: 3.92 / 5 stars
My Overall Rating: 3.6 / 5 stars
Published: August 2018
Read in October 2018
Summary According to Goodreads
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 colour outside the lines. All you need is fresh ink.
My Thoughts
This anthology was on my most anticipated releases for the year, and I am happy to say that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Some of these stories were inspiring and heartwarming, while others could have used more development to strengthen its plot.
As with every anthology or story collection that I read, I rated each story individually below and included any thoughts (if I had any).
Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds
4 stars
- Super cute love story about two teens dealing with the fact that one is moving away. I enjoyed reading as they reflected on their relationship and how they came to be.
Meet Cute by Malinda Lo
3 stars
- This wasn’t anything special, and a very similar plot to stories I’ve read before. I would have appreciated more base or background to the characters in order to connect with them.
Don’t Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth
4 stars
Be Cool For Once by Aminah Mae Safi
2 stars
- I really didn’t care for this story, in fact I found it kind of pointless. We spend the story listening to a girl describe a crush she has on a boy, but then continues to push him away when he pursues her. The characters were annoying, the plot was flat, and just not my taste overall.
Tags by Walter Dean Myers
5 stars
- This was amazing, I am only saddened by the fact it won’t be expanded due to the passing of Mr.Myers. There were some powering messages in this script regarding issues of racism and prejudice, and the dark consequences our skewed perspectives can have.
Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan
4 stars
- I thought this story was really fun and really cute, and especially appreciated the way it focused on family and how our main character showed so much respect to her grandmother.
A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older
2 stars
A Boy’s Duty by Sharon G. Flake
3 stars
One Voice by Melissa de la Cruz
4 stars
- This story was good, but fell just shy of great. There was such a big lead up to our character speaking out and rising as an influence, but instead fell into the crowd. It was a strong message, but wasn’t as powerful as it could have been.
Paladin / Samurai by Gene Luen Yang
3 stars
Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar
5 stars
- ALL THE STARS
Super Human by Nicola Yoon
5 stars
- This is another short story that I would give more stars to if I could, and is the reason that I am now encouraging my mom to read the entire collection. This story is so important and so relevant to today's issues, that I would love to see it developed into a full-length novel.
