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No Such Thing as the Real World
Graduation from high school?A senior thesis?A betrayal by someone you love?A loss of innocence?The death of a parent?Losing the family you always wished you had?Facing a harsh reality?What's the line that separates childhood from the "real world"? And what happens when it's nothing you imagined it would be?Do you want to be a published author?The editors at HarperCollins invite you to submit a short story about a character who has to face the "real world" for the first time. The story must involve a single, life-changing event. First prize is the opportunity to be published alongside your favorite authors in the paperback edition of the No Such Thing as the Real World collection. All stories must be between 5,000 and 10,000 words long, and all contributing authors must be between fourteen and nineteen years old.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2008
9 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
M.T. Anderson
55 books1,246 followersMatthew Tobin Anderson (M. T. Anderson), (1968- ) is an author, primarily of picture books for children and novels for young adults. Anderson lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
His picture books include Handel Who Knew What He Liked; Strange Mr. Satie; The Serpent Came to Gloucester; and Me, All Alone, at the End of the World. He has written such young adult books as Thirsty, Burger Wuss, Feed, The Game of Sunken Places, and Octavian Nothing. For middle grader readers, his novels include Whales on Stilts: M. T. Anderson's Thrilling Tales and its sequel, The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen.
-Wikipedia
His picture books include Handel Who Knew What He Liked; Strange Mr. Satie; The Serpent Came to Gloucester; and Me, All Alone, at the End of the World. He has written such young adult books as Thirsty, Burger Wuss, Feed, The Game of Sunken Places, and Octavian Nothing. For middle grader readers, his novels include Whales on Stilts: M. T. Anderson's Thrilling Tales and its sequel, The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 17, 2009
The title for this book is wrong. The current title: 'No Such This as the Real World' isn't the correct title. this book should be called 'No Such Thing as a Happy Ending.'
Now listen, lately, I understand that some people may enjoy the dark and depressing, but I am a firm believer in 'The Happy Ending'. No matter what happens in life, you will -overall- have a happy ending.
The first story tells about a jerk who is a teen preg. the story confused me a lot, and she ends up going to the land 'where her father, her grandfather, and her great-grandfather lived' Seriously? What is this junk.
The second had way too much swearing and creeped me out. I was halfway through the third story before I tossed the book to the ground. I couldn't handle it.
Maybe it's just because I am still in the early youth ages of 14, and that I am Mormon or something, but this book was not for me. this book gives books like 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' a BBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDD name.
Moral of the story:
Don't judge a book by its cover!
And, for a last note, I was excited to send in a story about stuff for the paperback version, but now that I attempted to read it, I wouldn't let my writing even be in the same book as these guys. know that there are 6 authors in this world I doubt I will ever give the chance to be read.
Now listen, lately, I understand that some people may enjoy the dark and depressing, but I am a firm believer in 'The Happy Ending'. No matter what happens in life, you will -overall- have a happy ending.
The first story tells about a jerk who is a teen preg. the story confused me a lot, and she ends up going to the land 'where her father, her grandfather, and her great-grandfather lived' Seriously? What is this junk.
The second had way too much swearing and creeped me out. I was halfway through the third story before I tossed the book to the ground. I couldn't handle it.
Maybe it's just because I am still in the early youth ages of 14, and that I am Mormon or something, but this book was not for me. this book gives books like 'Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul' a BBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAADDDDDDDD name.
Moral of the story:
Don't judge a book by its cover!
And, for a last note, I was excited to send in a story about stuff for the paperback version, but now that I attempted to read it, I wouldn't let my writing even be in the same book as these guys. know that there are 6 authors in this world I doubt I will ever give the chance to be read.
May 14, 2009
I wanted to like this. I really did. I mean M.T. Anderson, An Na, K.L. Going, Beth Kephart, Chris Lynch and Jacqueline Woodson? That is some heavy talent in the teen fiction world. But these stories...most of them just fell completely flat for me.
That said, there were a few bright points. Chris Lynch's story about a teen who learns some hard truths about his recently dead father when he takes over the family pawnshop made you wonder if it is better to know the truth or live with your perception of someone. Jacqueline Woodson's story of a gay dancer questioning the meaning of family was interesting. For me, the strongest of the collection was "Survival" by K.L. Going, a story where a girl learns the hard way that you can't always count on the people closest to you.
Overall, not really the best collection of stories. The coolest thing about the book is the contest that the editors are running. Teens between the ages of 14 and 19 are invited to submit a short story about a single, life changing event. The winner will have their story published in the paperback edition of the book. More info about that contest can be found on the HarperTeen website.
May 6, 2012
Lisa Campbell
Short Stories
This collection of stories reflects the tough real world situations many teens face. There are tales of rape and blackmail, suicide and forgiveness, sibling rivalry at its worst and facing the disillusionment of discovering who your father really is. One story is a complex conversation between a husband and wife as they look back over their marriage, but there is a definite twist at the end. In another, a young gay dancer sees the dark side of the dance world with all its prejudice and disappointments.
All of these tales are a bit dark, but they are so beautifully written by some of the finest young adult authors such as M. T. Anderson, K. L. Going, Beth Kephart, Chris Lynch, An Na, and Jacqueline Woodson. I would definitely recommend this for an older teen of 16-18 as it may be a bit too much for a younger child. The book does contain quite a lot of adult language and situations.
Short Stories
This collection of stories reflects the tough real world situations many teens face. There are tales of rape and blackmail, suicide and forgiveness, sibling rivalry at its worst and facing the disillusionment of discovering who your father really is. One story is a complex conversation between a husband and wife as they look back over their marriage, but there is a definite twist at the end. In another, a young gay dancer sees the dark side of the dance world with all its prejudice and disappointments.
All of these tales are a bit dark, but they are so beautifully written by some of the finest young adult authors such as M. T. Anderson, K. L. Going, Beth Kephart, Chris Lynch, An Na, and Jacqueline Woodson. I would definitely recommend this for an older teen of 16-18 as it may be a bit too much for a younger child. The book does contain quite a lot of adult language and situations.
March 3, 2010
This is a collection of stories all about the jump that one takes from being a child into the real world. While the line is thin, each has their own unique story about the crossing and these authors share the stories of six different individuals.
One character deals with the loss of a parent, who was special to the entire community, and how to uphold his business, which so many people relied on.
Another has to write her senior thesis, but it becomes more of a necessity than a requirement when her best friend commits suicide.
There is a graduation speech to be given, just after seeing your crush make-out with your sister. Then there is the monologue of two actors, who would normally never have crossed paths, who seem to be married until one forgets. Finally the stories about growing up wouldn’t be complete without a case of teen parenting.
I am quite new to reading anthologies, but I have to say they are quite fun. You get a brief view into another’s world, and while sometimes you wish there was more, more often then not it’s just the right amount. All the stories in this particular anthology were okay, nothing spectacular, and I felt like they still needed some more work, especially since they were so short.
Beth Kephart’s story was by far the best. While all the stories dealt with a tough issue that really defines one’s coming of age, Kephart made her story so much more believable and real. Her writing was absolutely superb and she dealt with the whole issue of suicide in such a way that didn’t make it seem so horrible. She made the main character relatable in the fact that she took out her sadness in writing and didn’t really want to think about what had happened. I definitely think that Kephart was able to fully capture the essence of a short story and leave a lingering thought in the reader’s brain on how they would react to the situation.
Overall the anthology was decent and I recommend it to all of you looking for a good dose of reality. Appropriate for all teenagers and older readers I think this is a good book to help you see the “real world.”
One character deals with the loss of a parent, who was special to the entire community, and how to uphold his business, which so many people relied on.
Another has to write her senior thesis, but it becomes more of a necessity than a requirement when her best friend commits suicide.
There is a graduation speech to be given, just after seeing your crush make-out with your sister. Then there is the monologue of two actors, who would normally never have crossed paths, who seem to be married until one forgets. Finally the stories about growing up wouldn’t be complete without a case of teen parenting.
I am quite new to reading anthologies, but I have to say they are quite fun. You get a brief view into another’s world, and while sometimes you wish there was more, more often then not it’s just the right amount. All the stories in this particular anthology were okay, nothing spectacular, and I felt like they still needed some more work, especially since they were so short.
Beth Kephart’s story was by far the best. While all the stories dealt with a tough issue that really defines one’s coming of age, Kephart made her story so much more believable and real. Her writing was absolutely superb and she dealt with the whole issue of suicide in such a way that didn’t make it seem so horrible. She made the main character relatable in the fact that she took out her sadness in writing and didn’t really want to think about what had happened. I definitely think that Kephart was able to fully capture the essence of a short story and leave a lingering thought in the reader’s brain on how they would react to the situation.
Overall the anthology was decent and I recommend it to all of you looking for a good dose of reality. Appropriate for all teenagers and older readers I think this is a good book to help you see the “real world.”
November 18, 2012
Reviewed by Tasha for TeensReadToo.com
This is a collection of stories all about the jump that one takes from being a child into the real world. While the line is thin, each has their own unique story about the crossing and these authors share the tales of six different individuals.
One character deals with the loss of a parent, who was special to the entire community, and how to uphold his business, which so many people relied on. Another has to write her senior thesis, but it becomes more of a necessity than a requirement when her best friend commits suicide. There is a graduation speech to be given, just after seeing your crush make out with your sister. Then there is the monologue of two actors, who would normally never have crossed paths, who seem to be married until one forgets. Finally, the stories about growing up wouldn't be complete without a case of teen parenting.
I am quite new to reading anthologies, but I have to say they are quite fun. You get a brief view into another's world, and while sometimes you wish there was more, more often then not it's just the right amount. All the stories in this particular anthology were okay, nothing spectacular, and I felt like they still needed some more work, especially since they were so short.
Beth Kephart's story was by far the best. While all the stories dealt with a tough issue that really defines one's coming of age, Kephart made her story so much more believable and real. Her writing was absolutely superb and she dealt with the whole issue of suicide in such a way that didn't make it seem so horrible. She made the main character relatable in the fact that she took out her sadness in writing and didn't really want to think about what had happened. I definitely think that Kephart was able to fully capture the essence of a short story and leave a lingering thought in the reader's brain on how they would react to the situation.
Overall, NO SUCH THING AS THE REAL WORLD twas decent and I recommend it to all of you looking for a good dose of reality. Appropriate for all teenagers and older readers, I think this is a good book to help you see the "real world."
This is a collection of stories all about the jump that one takes from being a child into the real world. While the line is thin, each has their own unique story about the crossing and these authors share the tales of six different individuals.
One character deals with the loss of a parent, who was special to the entire community, and how to uphold his business, which so many people relied on. Another has to write her senior thesis, but it becomes more of a necessity than a requirement when her best friend commits suicide. There is a graduation speech to be given, just after seeing your crush make out with your sister. Then there is the monologue of two actors, who would normally never have crossed paths, who seem to be married until one forgets. Finally, the stories about growing up wouldn't be complete without a case of teen parenting.
I am quite new to reading anthologies, but I have to say they are quite fun. You get a brief view into another's world, and while sometimes you wish there was more, more often then not it's just the right amount. All the stories in this particular anthology were okay, nothing spectacular, and I felt like they still needed some more work, especially since they were so short.
Beth Kephart's story was by far the best. While all the stories dealt with a tough issue that really defines one's coming of age, Kephart made her story so much more believable and real. Her writing was absolutely superb and she dealt with the whole issue of suicide in such a way that didn't make it seem so horrible. She made the main character relatable in the fact that she took out her sadness in writing and didn't really want to think about what had happened. I definitely think that Kephart was able to fully capture the essence of a short story and leave a lingering thought in the reader's brain on how they would react to the situation.
Overall, NO SUCH THING AS THE REAL WORLD twas decent and I recommend it to all of you looking for a good dose of reality. Appropriate for all teenagers and older readers, I think this is a good book to help you see the "real world."
April 29, 2011
"No Such Thing" is a collection of short stories for young adults that are written by already grown adults. The first story "Complication" is about a teen mom who seduces and exploits her rapist's brother in an attempt to find happiness. One of the other stories, "Arrangements", has the most real world feel of the whole collection. It illustrates how the death of a father can force a young adult to have to grow up and taking over the family business. Overall, the reader will either find themselves loving the craziness of the stories or finding zero connection with any of the protagonist in the short stories.
In the introduction of the book the editor notes that they are looking for teens to contribute to this collection of short stories. The blandness and non-believability of these stories will encourage young adults to write and submit their own short stories about growing up. 'No Such Thing' attempts to tackle "real world" challenges such as teen pregnancy and betrayal of a sibling. This title is misleading, it uses buzz words such as "Real World", "Growing Up", and "Getting a Life" in an attempt to gain popularity with teens. What ends up happening here is that the stories are so ridiculously over-the-top that you end up taking them as fiction rather than relating to them.
In the introduction of the book the editor notes that they are looking for teens to contribute to this collection of short stories. The blandness and non-believability of these stories will encourage young adults to write and submit their own short stories about growing up. 'No Such Thing' attempts to tackle "real world" challenges such as teen pregnancy and betrayal of a sibling. This title is misleading, it uses buzz words such as "Real World", "Growing Up", and "Getting a Life" in an attempt to gain popularity with teens. What ends up happening here is that the stories are so ridiculously over-the-top that you end up taking them as fiction rather than relating to them.
March 17, 2011
This collection of short stories includes a variety of tales about teens and their conflicts in life. This first story opens with a teenage girl who is meeting a friend at a club. She meets a guy there, who she seems to have been previously looking for, and they discuss his brother, having both known him. It is unclear as to what their relationship is; however, we find out at the end that she had a baby with his brother who is now deceased. She meet the man so he would give her money to support her son. Another interesting story takes place in a pawn shop. Charles' father has passed away and he is left to run the shop. After meeting an array of "interesting" people, he realizes that his dad might have been loved for some reasons that Charlie does not think he will be able to fill. Another story is a high school graduates tale of how she survived high school. She shows her relationship with her sister, Sarah, and the boy she has a crush on, Kenneth. Right before she is about to give her graduation speech she sees the two of them kissing. Anther heart-wrenching story comes from a teenage girl who is reliving memories of her best friend who has recently committed suicide. I would recommend this book to teenagers ages 13 and up.
March 23, 2011
This collection of short stories centers on teens facing circumstances that force them to face the real world. However, many of the stories are driven by plots and circumstances that appear exceptional, hardly like the real world for most teens. These include the story of a teen working as a call girl who frequents the brother of the now-deceased man with whom she had a child and that of a young man who takes over his father’s pawn shop that represents the primary spot for social convergence in his harbor town. As a whole, the stories in this collection often appear darker and more difficult to understand than typical young adult literature. The complex and vague plot of the first story appears likely to turn some readers off. Still, the story of the high school senior constantly living in the shadow of her sister is a relatable and slightly endearing aspect of this book. Author of Inexcusable, Chris Lynch, penned Arrangements, and the short story contains many of the cynical and disturbing elements found in that novel. Nevertheless, the young adult male protagonist in the short story proves much more sympathetic.
This book should be directed toward mature readers, 16 and up.
This book should be directed toward mature readers, 16 and up.
June 11, 2009
Maybe I'm just really excited about this because I was happy to be reading something other than just straight fiction, but I honestly enjoyed these short stories. It also helps that these stories were written by some of the best authors for young adults: An Na, MT Anderson, and KL Going. I thought the stories were varied, diverse, and relevant. Added bonus: the book reads quickly, probably helped by the short story format. Cool thing to note: they're hoping to publish a second edition of the book with an additional work of short fiction submitted and written by a teen! Awesome--I like that. I'll probably check the book out again once it's republished just to scope out what they pick.
September 20, 2017
No such Thing as the Real World by An Na was an interesting book. Instead of one main story telling the reader about the struggles of growing up, it is split into five smaller stories that made it easier to touch on the various points that represent becoming an adult. Some examples were more abrupt than others, but the passages were successful in their job of representing the difficulties and challenges of life like going to college, getting a job, or losing a friend. Although there was one chapter that was almost painful to get through because it was so boring, overall the stories in this book taught me that other people are going through the same exact thing as you are or worse.
June 20, 2013
I don't read short story collections very frequently and my teens don't tend to pick them up on their own, but this collection by well-known authors that explores the "real world" teens and young adults have to face, whatever that entails, is a great collection and one that my teens might actually choose on their own based on the authors. Honestly, I didn't know what tied these realistic fiction stories together, except excellent writing and sometimse harsh situations, many of which involved LGBT themes (and then I read more about it and realized the "real world" tied them together).
September 2, 2009
Six short stories meant for older teens. All about growing up, graduating, dealing with lousy, difficult adult-stuff like death and betrayal. Some of the writing is very good, some is so murky that I didn't understand the story even when it was over -- but the main feeling it left me with is that growing up sucks. Which I don't believe to be true. There are tough things, yes, but there are also definite benefits.
May 3, 2011
I could not even begin to imagine why this book was written and put together. There seems to be little point other than to reinforce the idea that the world is a horrifically sad place. The first three stories were so convoluted and depressing that I just gave up on the rest of the book. Even as a librarian, I can't imagine running across a teenager and saying, "Here, try this. This seems to be right up your alley." Maybe if the kid gave off crazy vibes.
April 26, 2011
This book is about six stories written from a collection of short stories about growing up and getting a real life. NO SUCH THING AS THE REAL WORLD are about characters who are thrown into the real world and they soon find out that’s it is not exactly what they imagined it would be, and they struggle to find themselves. This book is written by some of the best young adult authors in YA literature.
February 22, 2010
wow! this one is already at four stars, and I've only read the first two stories, by An Na and M.T. Anderson. still to come: K.L. Going, Beth Kephart, Chris Lynch, Jacqueline Woodson. so it's likely I'll have to upgrade the rating to at least five stars.
April 8, 2014
yeah, YA is all about the big bummer. I just didn't think the majority of these shorts was well-written. a little more editorial intervention could have.done wonders. (even the MT Anderson was clunky, imho.)
May 9, 2009
Can't wait to see all of the short stories submitte by teenagers in the paperback version. Something tells me they could be better than the ones in here.
September 4, 2009
Disappointment. I enjoyed the one about the friend's suicide...The others I didn't understand.
An Na's infuriated me. That's all.
An Na's infuriated me. That's all.
December 9, 2009
Extra stars for M.T. Anderson and Jacqueline Woodson.
February 25, 2010
Best stories are by Beth Kephart and Jacqueline Woodson. Both extremely touching and true to life, hopeful without being sentimental.
April 21, 2010
YA short stories; probably for older than 7th grade, but I've only read one so far.
August 4, 2010
the first story in the collection is so gripping, stuck to me so fast. the others are good, but i can't shake the first one.
May 29, 2012
Compilation of short stories growing up and getting a life. OK
May 21, 2014
Fun YA short stories. Nothing hugely standout, which is surprising, considering the caliber of writers.
September 2, 2016
This book was okay... took me less than two hours to finish. I think I just had high expectations because it was written by so many of my favorite authors.
January 29, 2023
Imagine that you're invited to a small, intimate dinner party being given by an author friend of yours. You eagerly accept because you've been to previous dinner parties at this friend's home, which is how you know your friend is a fabulous cook.
Tonight's get-together is a potluck. Five other writers will be joining you and your friend. You've heard of a few of these folks, but three of them are brand new to you. You go to the dinner knowing that you're going to find something wonderful on the menu (your friend's offering) and because they are peers of your friend, something new to surprise you. Chances are, you'll make at least one new friend as well.
That's what my experience was like upon seeing the short story collection No Such Thing as the Real World: Stories About Growing Up and Getting a Life on the young adult (YA) shelf of our local library. I knew beforehand that author Beth Kephart had a story included within, and I was highly anticipating reading "The Longest Distance" as I'm a big fan of her work. (Beth Kephart could pretty much write the same sentence repeatedly - like grade school kids once had to do as a punishment - and I'd probably still stand up and applaud its brilliance. I also, in the interest of full disclosure, consider Beth a friend.)
With that, it's probably no surprise that, among the six stories in No Such Thing as the Real World, Beth Kephart's "The Longest Distance" stands out to me as the strongest (and is my favorite). For Kephart fans, this story about the shock and aftermath of grieving one's best friend has glimmers of all that we loved about Nothing But Ghosts.
That's certainly not to dismiss the other authors and their stories - quite the opposite, actually. Like the fictional dinner party example earlier, I came away from No Such Thing as the Real World especially wanting more after sampling the offerings of Chris Lynch's "Arrangements" and An Na's darkly written "Complication." Along with Kephart's story, these two were particularly memorable. I loved the first line of "Arrangements," which immediately sets the tone of the story by stating:
"The thing to remember about a funeral is that it's not about you. At least you hope not." (pg. 175)
and continues with
"Dad insisted - insisted - on appearing at his own wake with a big smile across his face. Whatever the process is in the funeral business for freezing a toothy smile on a guy - probably involving toothpicks, since the undertaker was a local - they must have undertaken it, because Dad lit up the proceedings with this electro grin like the expression on a very fat skeleton head. Some people found the effect unsettling." (pg. 176)
I also liked K.L. Going's "Survival" and Jacqueline Woodson's "The Company." M.T. Anderson's "The Projection: A Two-Part Invention" was innovative in its structure, but came across as a little disjointed to me. (No worries, M.T.: I'm still planning to read your The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing series, so we're all good.)
In all of these stories, issues of loss and disappointment figure poignantly. All of the characters - contemporaries of the target audience that publisher HarperTeen strives to reach with this collection - are wrestling with grown-up issues such as parental abandonment, the aftermath of incest, the sudden death of a best friend, unrequited love, and inheriting a business (and a reputation) after the death of a parent. Hence, the the title of this collection, which more than lives up to its name by showing that because young adults are dealing with very real issues, the real world is very much right here and now.
Tonight's get-together is a potluck. Five other writers will be joining you and your friend. You've heard of a few of these folks, but three of them are brand new to you. You go to the dinner knowing that you're going to find something wonderful on the menu (your friend's offering) and because they are peers of your friend, something new to surprise you. Chances are, you'll make at least one new friend as well.
That's what my experience was like upon seeing the short story collection No Such Thing as the Real World: Stories About Growing Up and Getting a Life on the young adult (YA) shelf of our local library. I knew beforehand that author Beth Kephart had a story included within, and I was highly anticipating reading "The Longest Distance" as I'm a big fan of her work. (Beth Kephart could pretty much write the same sentence repeatedly - like grade school kids once had to do as a punishment - and I'd probably still stand up and applaud its brilliance. I also, in the interest of full disclosure, consider Beth a friend.)
With that, it's probably no surprise that, among the six stories in No Such Thing as the Real World, Beth Kephart's "The Longest Distance" stands out to me as the strongest (and is my favorite). For Kephart fans, this story about the shock and aftermath of grieving one's best friend has glimmers of all that we loved about Nothing But Ghosts.
That's certainly not to dismiss the other authors and their stories - quite the opposite, actually. Like the fictional dinner party example earlier, I came away from No Such Thing as the Real World especially wanting more after sampling the offerings of Chris Lynch's "Arrangements" and An Na's darkly written "Complication." Along with Kephart's story, these two were particularly memorable. I loved the first line of "Arrangements," which immediately sets the tone of the story by stating:
"The thing to remember about a funeral is that it's not about you. At least you hope not." (pg. 175)
and continues with
"Dad insisted - insisted - on appearing at his own wake with a big smile across his face. Whatever the process is in the funeral business for freezing a toothy smile on a guy - probably involving toothpicks, since the undertaker was a local - they must have undertaken it, because Dad lit up the proceedings with this electro grin like the expression on a very fat skeleton head. Some people found the effect unsettling." (pg. 176)
I also liked K.L. Going's "Survival" and Jacqueline Woodson's "The Company." M.T. Anderson's "The Projection: A Two-Part Invention" was innovative in its structure, but came across as a little disjointed to me. (No worries, M.T.: I'm still planning to read your The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing series, so we're all good.)
In all of these stories, issues of loss and disappointment figure poignantly. All of the characters - contemporaries of the target audience that publisher HarperTeen strives to reach with this collection - are wrestling with grown-up issues such as parental abandonment, the aftermath of incest, the sudden death of a best friend, unrequited love, and inheriting a business (and a reputation) after the death of a parent. Hence, the the title of this collection, which more than lives up to its name by showing that because young adults are dealing with very real issues, the real world is very much right here and now.
May 25, 2018
Overall, this is a well-rounded collection of young adult short stories. All of the tales connect back to that transition between childhood and adulthood, and each one has some pretty intense thematic moments.
"Complication" by An Na (4/5 stars) is a much darker story than I expected from Na. A young woman forms a relationship with an older man who turns out to be the brother of the woman's young child. There is extortion and probably prostitution.
"The Projection: A Two-Part Invention" by M. T. Anderson (5/5 stars) is my favorite story in the collection. It would fit in well with a science fiction anthology and would make an ideal episode of Black Mirror. Two high school students participate in an improvisational theater project, but the story blurs the lines between this set-up and a the notion that one of the participants is actually a saved personality imprint in a computer. Very interesting tale!
"Survival" by K. L. Going (2/5 stars) is the weakest story in the book for me, but I could see how it is the most relevant for teen readers. This story deals with a sibling rivalry, high school crushes, the friend zone, and emotional baggage. It's just not up to par with some of the others.
"The Longest Distance" by Beth Kephart (3.5/5 stars) is a coming of age and dealing with grief tale as a teenage girl comes to terms with the suicide of her best friend. The narrator waxes philosophic about time, life, and meaning.
"Arrangements" by Chris Lynch (3/5 stars) is another story that deals with grief as a young man takes over his deceased father's pawn shop. The story doesn't really go anywhere, but it does uncover some of the hidden family secrets that all young adults eventually learn about.
"The Company" by Jacqueline Woodson (2/5 stars) is a tonal miss for me, but it would be appropriate for the right reader. A young dancer relates how he came to his position in an urban dance troupe including navigating the travails of gender fluidity and racial discrimination. This would be a moving tale for the right reader.
"Complication" by An Na (4/5 stars) is a much darker story than I expected from Na. A young woman forms a relationship with an older man who turns out to be the brother of the woman's young child. There is extortion and probably prostitution.
"The Projection: A Two-Part Invention" by M. T. Anderson (5/5 stars) is my favorite story in the collection. It would fit in well with a science fiction anthology and would make an ideal episode of Black Mirror. Two high school students participate in an improvisational theater project, but the story blurs the lines between this set-up and a the notion that one of the participants is actually a saved personality imprint in a computer. Very interesting tale!
"Survival" by K. L. Going (2/5 stars) is the weakest story in the book for me, but I could see how it is the most relevant for teen readers. This story deals with a sibling rivalry, high school crushes, the friend zone, and emotional baggage. It's just not up to par with some of the others.
"The Longest Distance" by Beth Kephart (3.5/5 stars) is a coming of age and dealing with grief tale as a teenage girl comes to terms with the suicide of her best friend. The narrator waxes philosophic about time, life, and meaning.
"Arrangements" by Chris Lynch (3/5 stars) is another story that deals with grief as a young man takes over his deceased father's pawn shop. The story doesn't really go anywhere, but it does uncover some of the hidden family secrets that all young adults eventually learn about.
"The Company" by Jacqueline Woodson (2/5 stars) is a tonal miss for me, but it would be appropriate for the right reader. A young dancer relates how he came to his position in an urban dance troupe including navigating the travails of gender fluidity and racial discrimination. This would be a moving tale for the right reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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