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I See Reality: Twelve Short Stories About Real Life
Twelve original stories by top MCPG authors explore real issues for real teens.
Through prose and comics alike, these heart-pounding short stories ask hard questions about a range of topics from sexuality and addiction to violence and immigration. Here is the perfect tool for starting tough discussions or simply as an introduction to realistic literary fiction. In turns funny, thought-provoking, and heartbreaking, I See Reality will resonate with today's teens long after the last page has been turned.
Contributing authors include Jay Clark, Kristin Clark, Heather Demetrios, Stephen Emond, Patrick Flores-Scott, Faith Hicks, Trisha Leaver, Kekla Magoon, Marcella Pixley, James Preller, Jason Schmidt, and Jordan Sonnenblick.
Through prose and comics alike, these heart-pounding short stories ask hard questions about a range of topics from sexuality and addiction to violence and immigration. Here is the perfect tool for starting tough discussions or simply as an introduction to realistic literary fiction. In turns funny, thought-provoking, and heartbreaking, I See Reality will resonate with today's teens long after the last page has been turned.
Contributing authors include Jay Clark, Kristin Clark, Heather Demetrios, Stephen Emond, Patrick Flores-Scott, Faith Hicks, Trisha Leaver, Kekla Magoon, Marcella Pixley, James Preller, Jason Schmidt, and Jordan Sonnenblick.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 26, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
December 28, 2016
I See Reality is a collection of 12 short stories about real life. These heart-pounding stories ask hard questions about a range of topics from sexuality and addiction to violence and immigration.
Rating for each of the stories (with potential *spoilers*):
Three Imaginary Conversations With You by Heather Demetrios— 4/5 stars
This follows Jessa’s imaginary conversations trying to break up with her abusive boyfriend.
“I’ll open my mouth, but the words won’t come. Despite everything, I won’t want to break your heart. And I won’t want you to break mine. I just want us to … drift away from each other. I’ll wish there didn’t have to be words. Or that you, for once, could be the one who has to say the hard thing.”
This was a really hard read for me. Both emotional and physical abuse are topics that I find really difficult to read about. And Heather Demetrios definitely made me feel a lot while reading this short story. I felt both pain and pride and sorrow while reading from Jessa's point of view— and I’m really glad with that ending.
A truly strong start that stayed with me till the end of the collection.
The Downside of Fabulous by Kristin Elizabeth Clark— 2.5/5 stars
We start out in Mr. Megars’ class, where Chris confides to the reader that he has a crush on Tom Waters. And Liz (his best friend and confidant) doesn’t believe him when he comes out to her.
To say that Liz really, really bothered me would be an understatement.
“What am I doing here, trying to assert my … gaytivity? And who the hell does Liz think she is to question me? I wrap the cord around my controller and slam it down on the TV stand.
“I wanted you to know this thing.” I raise my voice. “This one really important thing about me. I didn’t realize I’d have to pass the gay SAT to get your tiny mind to accept it!”
And since this story focused a lot more, in my opinion, on Liz rather than developing Tom and Chris— I ended up feeling underwhelmed.
I didn’t care for what Liz thought he should do to get Tom to notice him. And, frankly, she can stick her opinions and unasked advice up her ass.
Everything just went downhill after that, which really disappointed me.
The Night of the Living Creeper by Stephen Emond— 3/5 stars
The opening paragraph to this one was fantastic:
“A warning to you, dear reader, this is a terrifying tale, a scary story, a haunting hullaballoo. Should you frighten easily, please turn back now. But for those who can’t deny their curiosity, what’s so grave that you should shut this book and place it on the shelf, you ask? Why, it’s a story about a creeper, of course.”
This tale is told from the point of view of a cat named Skittles, who's observing her dorky, innocent human. For the purpose of this story she calls her Fairy.
The haunting ghostly creeper tale begins when Fairy and her friends decide to play an odd little game involving questions and answers, inappropriateness and giggles.
The conversations they had with one another tried to answer really important questions, but it felt a bit preachy and nonsensical. I didn't feel like I was listening in on a real (and crucial) conversation, rather more like the author found a convenient way to drop information on sexuality and creepers.
But it did include illustrations, which always cheers me up.
Makeshift by Kekla Magoon— 3.5/5 stars
“I still can’t believe any of this is happening. It doesn’t feel real.”
This tale opens with Kayse and her mother who have just moved into their new apartment in Harlem, New York. And the topic of domestic abuse was touched upon in a very resonating way.
“It’s temporary, I remind myself. We’ll only be here a little while. He’s going to have to pay her alimony, eventually. Or child support. He has to, right? They were married my whole life. He’s my dad, for Christ’s sake.”
I do wish that this story would have been longer, but other than that Makeshift really harrowed me.
“It’s only temporary. The bruise. The fear. The dent in our force field. The world outside doesn’t matter. Tomorrow doesn’t matter. Mom is here, and that’s more than nothing. For tonight it’s just the two of us, inside this wrapping paper bubble.”
Things You Get Over, Things You Don't by Jason Schmidt— 3/5 stars
This follows the aftermaths of a school shooting. The events that were described felt a bit rushed, so I couldn't fully understand what was happening until it happened. But I definitely had to take a breather after this one.
Coffee Chameleon by Jay Clark— no rating
This started out from the point of view of an addict. But it didn't pull me in at all.
Hush by Marcella Pixley— no rating
Hush kind of creeped me out, so I gave up with only a few pages left. Also, the fact that I had no idea where it was going didn't really help.
Blackbird by Trisha Leaver— 2/5 stars
Lilly is part of the tech crew for her upcoming high school musical.
“I knew every word to the song Rachel was belting out, could hit every note, transition seamlessly between breaks. Two years ago, that would’ve been me out there, anchoring the chorus. Two years and four schools back, that was me.”
But ever since her brother intentionally killed a girl, she’s been hiding in the shadows.
“I’d learned that trick a long time ago. Keep people out, make it clear you have no interest in talking to them, and they will leave you alone. Blissfully, agonizingly alone.”
Blackbird started out interesting enough, but I really, really didn’t appreciate the girl-hating in this one.
And it also had some insta-love, but at that point I didn’t even have high enough expectations to care.
Gone From This Place by Faith Erin Hicks— 3.5/5 stars
Faith Erin Hicks is one of the reasons why I picked up this collection. And it did not disappoint. I loved both the art and writing.
It was a really short story with a sweet ending.
The Sweeter the Sin by Jordan Sonnenblick— 3/5 stars
We follow David's love-hate relationship with Elizabeth from freshman to senior year. To be frank, I wasn't expecting to like it, but The Sweeter the Sin was a quick and compelling read. (Even if I didn't really understand what was happening towards the end.)
The Mistake by James Preller— 3/5 stars
The Mistake follows Angela’s decision to terminate her pregnancy. The tale is told from both Angel’s point of view and of her boyfriend’s, Malcolm.
The premise of this story really had me from the beginning, but unfortunately the writing wasn’t really to my liking. It felt like it was trying too hard to be poetic. There were also random poems thrown in that I didn’t really care for.
“Then you appeared, then you appeared …
I wasn’t unhappy
Wasn’t happy neither
Just drifting
Aimless you know
A sail in any old wind”
But I really liked Angela and would've loved to have gotten more from her point of view.
“Oh Mal, can’t you see? I am the poem.
I am strong, and brave, and beautiful. And though my bones feel heavy, and my heart aches, I will be the one who writes the next verse.
I am the one who decides.”
The Good Brother by Patrick Flores-Scott— 3.5/5 stars
This story describes the process of immigration and its unfairness towards two brothers.
“José, you crossed four days too late to be eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.”
And when the hearing doesn’t go in José’s favor, his twin brother Javier (who took his place in court) gets deported to Mexico.
“You got blinders on, Jos.
I know that’s what it takes to succeed in this country. Narrow your vision so you don’t see the shitty mess this place is. So you can believe in right and wrong … good and bad. Justice. And you can chase the fantasy. I’m sure that can actually work, Jos … if you got papers and parents who got papers.”
This story, in its short amount of pages, really punctured me. I have to know more about what will happen next for José and his family.
To sum up, some stories really resonated with me and some didn't— but that's why I love reading anthologies. And I See Reality was no exception.
*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying I See Reality, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*
This review and more can be found on my blog.
Rating for each of the stories (with potential *spoilers*):
Three Imaginary Conversations With You by Heather Demetrios— 4/5 stars
This follows Jessa’s imaginary conversations trying to break up with her abusive boyfriend.
“I’ll open my mouth, but the words won’t come. Despite everything, I won’t want to break your heart. And I won’t want you to break mine. I just want us to … drift away from each other. I’ll wish there didn’t have to be words. Or that you, for once, could be the one who has to say the hard thing.”
This was a really hard read for me. Both emotional and physical abuse are topics that I find really difficult to read about. And Heather Demetrios definitely made me feel a lot while reading this short story. I felt both pain and pride and sorrow while reading from Jessa's point of view— and I’m really glad with that ending.
A truly strong start that stayed with me till the end of the collection.
The Downside of Fabulous by Kristin Elizabeth Clark— 2.5/5 stars
We start out in Mr. Megars’ class, where Chris confides to the reader that he has a crush on Tom Waters. And Liz (his best friend and confidant) doesn’t believe him when he comes out to her.
To say that Liz really, really bothered me would be an understatement.
“What am I doing here, trying to assert my … gaytivity? And who the hell does Liz think she is to question me? I wrap the cord around my controller and slam it down on the TV stand.
“I wanted you to know this thing.” I raise my voice. “This one really important thing about me. I didn’t realize I’d have to pass the gay SAT to get your tiny mind to accept it!”
And since this story focused a lot more, in my opinion, on Liz rather than developing Tom and Chris— I ended up feeling underwhelmed.
I didn’t care for what Liz thought he should do to get Tom to notice him. And, frankly, she can stick her opinions and unasked advice up her ass.
Everything just went downhill after that, which really disappointed me.
The Night of the Living Creeper by Stephen Emond— 3/5 stars
The opening paragraph to this one was fantastic:
“A warning to you, dear reader, this is a terrifying tale, a scary story, a haunting hullaballoo. Should you frighten easily, please turn back now. But for those who can’t deny their curiosity, what’s so grave that you should shut this book and place it on the shelf, you ask? Why, it’s a story about a creeper, of course.”
This tale is told from the point of view of a cat named Skittles, who's observing her dorky, innocent human. For the purpose of this story she calls her Fairy.
The haunting ghostly creeper tale begins when Fairy and her friends decide to play an odd little game involving questions and answers, inappropriateness and giggles.
The conversations they had with one another tried to answer really important questions, but it felt a bit preachy and nonsensical. I didn't feel like I was listening in on a real (and crucial) conversation, rather more like the author found a convenient way to drop information on sexuality and creepers.
But it did include illustrations, which always cheers me up.
Makeshift by Kekla Magoon— 3.5/5 stars
“I still can’t believe any of this is happening. It doesn’t feel real.”
This tale opens with Kayse and her mother who have just moved into their new apartment in Harlem, New York. And the topic of domestic abuse was touched upon in a very resonating way.
“It’s temporary, I remind myself. We’ll only be here a little while. He’s going to have to pay her alimony, eventually. Or child support. He has to, right? They were married my whole life. He’s my dad, for Christ’s sake.”
I do wish that this story would have been longer, but other than that Makeshift really harrowed me.
“It’s only temporary. The bruise. The fear. The dent in our force field. The world outside doesn’t matter. Tomorrow doesn’t matter. Mom is here, and that’s more than nothing. For tonight it’s just the two of us, inside this wrapping paper bubble.”
Things You Get Over, Things You Don't by Jason Schmidt— 3/5 stars
This follows the aftermaths of a school shooting. The events that were described felt a bit rushed, so I couldn't fully understand what was happening until it happened. But I definitely had to take a breather after this one.
Coffee Chameleon by Jay Clark— no rating
This started out from the point of view of an addict. But it didn't pull me in at all.
Hush by Marcella Pixley— no rating
Hush kind of creeped me out, so I gave up with only a few pages left. Also, the fact that I had no idea where it was going didn't really help.
Blackbird by Trisha Leaver— 2/5 stars
Lilly is part of the tech crew for her upcoming high school musical.
“I knew every word to the song Rachel was belting out, could hit every note, transition seamlessly between breaks. Two years ago, that would’ve been me out there, anchoring the chorus. Two years and four schools back, that was me.”
But ever since her brother intentionally killed a girl, she’s been hiding in the shadows.
“I’d learned that trick a long time ago. Keep people out, make it clear you have no interest in talking to them, and they will leave you alone. Blissfully, agonizingly alone.”
Blackbird started out interesting enough, but I really, really didn’t appreciate the girl-hating in this one.
And it also had some insta-love, but at that point I didn’t even have high enough expectations to care.
Gone From This Place by Faith Erin Hicks— 3.5/5 stars
Faith Erin Hicks is one of the reasons why I picked up this collection. And it did not disappoint. I loved both the art and writing.
It was a really short story with a sweet ending.
The Sweeter the Sin by Jordan Sonnenblick— 3/5 stars
We follow David's love-hate relationship with Elizabeth from freshman to senior year. To be frank, I wasn't expecting to like it, but The Sweeter the Sin was a quick and compelling read. (Even if I didn't really understand what was happening towards the end.)
The Mistake by James Preller— 3/5 stars
The Mistake follows Angela’s decision to terminate her pregnancy. The tale is told from both Angel’s point of view and of her boyfriend’s, Malcolm.
The premise of this story really had me from the beginning, but unfortunately the writing wasn’t really to my liking. It felt like it was trying too hard to be poetic. There were also random poems thrown in that I didn’t really care for.
“Then you appeared, then you appeared …
I wasn’t unhappy
Wasn’t happy neither
Just drifting
Aimless you know
A sail in any old wind”
But I really liked Angela and would've loved to have gotten more from her point of view.
“Oh Mal, can’t you see? I am the poem.
I am strong, and brave, and beautiful. And though my bones feel heavy, and my heart aches, I will be the one who writes the next verse.
I am the one who decides.”
The Good Brother by Patrick Flores-Scott— 3.5/5 stars
This story describes the process of immigration and its unfairness towards two brothers.
“José, you crossed four days too late to be eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.”
And when the hearing doesn’t go in José’s favor, his twin brother Javier (who took his place in court) gets deported to Mexico.
“You got blinders on, Jos.
I know that’s what it takes to succeed in this country. Narrow your vision so you don’t see the shitty mess this place is. So you can believe in right and wrong … good and bad. Justice. And you can chase the fantasy. I’m sure that can actually work, Jos … if you got papers and parents who got papers.”
This story, in its short amount of pages, really punctured me. I have to know more about what will happen next for José and his family.
To sum up, some stories really resonated with me and some didn't— but that's why I love reading anthologies. And I See Reality was no exception.
*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying I See Reality, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*
This review and more can be found on my blog.
January 18, 2016
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
3.5*
Anthologies are both very hard to review and very easy. Hard because you almost can't review it as one entity- or at least, you can only review it for a sentence or two as one entity. And easy because you have a very set outline to work with, and it's pretty easy to keep track of your thoughts while reading, which I did. (I won't lie, it made me feel like a super organized blogger, which we all know to be false, but it was fun for a few days.)
I figure first I will go through the stories individually, then I will sum it all up. Good? Good. Oh, and these are also going to be weird because I don't want to give much away about any of the stories, since they are short. Expect vagueness.
3.5*
Anthologies are both very hard to review and very easy. Hard because you almost can't review it as one entity- or at least, you can only review it for a sentence or two as one entity. And easy because you have a very set outline to work with, and it's pretty easy to keep track of your thoughts while reading, which I did. (I won't lie, it made me feel like a super organized blogger, which we all know to be false, but it was fun for a few days.)
I figure first I will go through the stories individually, then I will sum it all up. Good? Good. Oh, and these are also going to be weird because I don't want to give much away about any of the stories, since they are short. Expect vagueness.
Story #1: Three Imaginary Conversations with You by Heather Demetrios
This is a fabulous way to start things off. It also sets a very high standard. First, Heather Demetrios has such a gorgeous writing style, it would be hard not to fall in love. I was blown away by how connected I was to the narrator in less than thirty pages. I felt her struggle because the story was so, so plausible, and I know that many women of all ages have gone through the same thing- many women that I know personally even. Heather's story sets the book off on a hugely relatable and moving note, and I just flew through her story.
Story #2: The Downside of Fabulous by Kristin Elizabeth Clark
The message in this one was very sweet and very appropriate, especially in today's culture of wanting to make everyone fit into a stereotype. It was a tad unrealistic, but definitely sweet and worthwhile, especially for anyone who has ever tried to fit themselves into a box of "rules" for being who they are. 
Story #3: The Night of the Living Creeper by Stephen Emond
So this is a hard one for me, because on one hand, I loved it. It is narrated by a cat. Yes, a cat. And it is brilliant! Very witty and clever, and the discussions that the cat hears its "humans" having are also very relevant- all kinds of things, but the conversation gets intense about guys taking advantage of girls, and the titular "creeper" situation. Oh, and there are super fun illustrations. This would have been a home run for me, but then the end got a little weird and I didn't know what to make of it, so there's that.
Story #4: Makeshift by Kekla Magoon
This was incredibly short, almost too short to make an impact. There were also a lot of different topics being broached, so I wasn't sure exactly where the story was trying to go. Clearly, the main character was going through a rough time, but with so many different issues in a very limited number of pages, I just couldn't connect.
Story #5: Things You Get Over, Things You Don't by Jason Schmidt
This was so, so sad, but also quite touching. Again, I am not going into detail because of potential spoilers, but I was impressed by the emotional connection in such a short story!
Story #6: Coffee Chameleon by Jay Clark
So, the addiction piece was very good, I think that it's something that we should be talking about more, but don't. And the parents being concerned and involved was also a huge plus. But then the romance stuff just really confused me, and I still don't get it. At all. 
Story #7: Hush by Marcella Pixley
This was messed up. But it was also incredibly captivating and well done. I dare say I would read an entire book devoted to this story. You kind of need to read it for yourself to understand, so do it.
Story #8: Blackbird by Trisha Leaver
First, the use of the song was perfection. Second, I loved the perspective that this story was told from, because sadly, I think it's all too realistic (sorry, vagueness, I know). Third, I will always read anything that Trisha Leaver writes, because she writes it beautifully, and this is definitely no exception. There were feels.
Story #9: Untitled by Faith Erin Hicks
This is a graphic short story, so that was cool. Otherwise um, didn't love it. There were some decent things, like not wanting to be defined by one's sexuality. But then some random stuff starts going down that makes little to no sense, and I was just thinking that it was too absurd to be real.
Story #10: The Sweeter the Sin by Jordan Sonnenblick
This one had a lot of emotions wrapped up in it: It was sweet, sad, and ultimately so frustratingly true. I loved that it was a story about our choices and our mistakes, and how they can change things. And the narrator made me chuckle a lot, with random things like this:
"There's just something so... erotic... about an angry girl with surgical tools who's just mistakenly dismembered a gestational hog."
Bittersweet, but a win.
Story #11: The Mistake by James Preller
This was so incredibly hard to read on a personal level. I'll be damned if it wasn't one of the most honest stories in the book, but it ripped my heart to shreds. I wanted answers too. I wanted to know why the characters made the choices they did, but I suppose in a short story there isn't a ton of room for that sort of thing. Haunting, no question.
Story #12: The Good Brother by Patrick Flores-Scott
I think it's a great commentary on some of the issues in our country, specifically the way we treat people who are just looking to come here for a better life. I would have liked to know more of what happened after, but I think that is probably just a problem with me and short stories in general- I want to know all the things. Some of it seemed farfetched, but never being in a situation like that, who knows?
Bottom Line
This was a really good group of stories that were definitely true to the book's title and promise of stories about real life. I think there is absolutely something for everyone in this book, as it is absolutely full of diversity and tough topics, but also about some of the universal life struggles that we all share.
Copy provided by publisher for review*
Quote taken from uncorrected proof, subject to change.**
February 22, 2020
Full Review on The Candid Cover
3.5 Stars
I See Reality is a book filled with a set of very realistic short stories written by a variety of YA authors. This book tackles issues such as addiction and AIDS and addresses them in a way that is believable. While many of these stories may not have been my cup of tea, there were quite a few that are absolutely fantastic.
The fact that this anthology contains stories surrounding various social issues is quite refreshing and eye-opening. The topics that are discussed are presented in a way that educates, yet brings the issues to light in a manner that does not have a condescending tone. I found this to be a very interesting set of stories that tackle important issues of today. This book can be an asset in any classroom discussing the topics contained within.
Blackbird by Trisha Leaver is my absolute favourite story in the collection. This particular story is about a girl who is part of tech crew, yet is also a truly amazing singer who is afraid to show her talents on stage. The main character is also faced with the judgments of others because of an act committed by her brother. Both the storyline and the writing are fantastic. Definitely one worth reading. It was a story that I wish had been a little bit longer, as I found it so relatable!
As there are multiple stories in an anthology, it is always difficult to give a star rating or even review these types of books. I See Reality contains some works that are definitely five star material, however there were a few stories that were just not my taste. I do think that this book of realistic fiction is one that will appeal to many.
If you are looking to read something that deals with realistic issues in a manner that is both entertaining and educational, I suggest that you pick up I See Reality. There are some incredible authors and fabulous writing that makes this a collection not to be missed.
3.5 Stars
I See Reality is a book filled with a set of very realistic short stories written by a variety of YA authors. This book tackles issues such as addiction and AIDS and addresses them in a way that is believable. While many of these stories may not have been my cup of tea, there were quite a few that are absolutely fantastic.
The fact that this anthology contains stories surrounding various social issues is quite refreshing and eye-opening. The topics that are discussed are presented in a way that educates, yet brings the issues to light in a manner that does not have a condescending tone. I found this to be a very interesting set of stories that tackle important issues of today. This book can be an asset in any classroom discussing the topics contained within.
Blackbird by Trisha Leaver is my absolute favourite story in the collection. This particular story is about a girl who is part of tech crew, yet is also a truly amazing singer who is afraid to show her talents on stage. The main character is also faced with the judgments of others because of an act committed by her brother. Both the storyline and the writing are fantastic. Definitely one worth reading. It was a story that I wish had been a little bit longer, as I found it so relatable!
As there are multiple stories in an anthology, it is always difficult to give a star rating or even review these types of books. I See Reality contains some works that are definitely five star material, however there were a few stories that were just not my taste. I do think that this book of realistic fiction is one that will appeal to many.
If you are looking to read something that deals with realistic issues in a manner that is both entertaining and educational, I suggest that you pick up I See Reality. There are some incredible authors and fabulous writing that makes this a collection not to be missed.
March 23, 2016
As with any anthology, I am going to love some of the stories, think some are okay, and really dislike others. Because of this, I am going to do 1-2 sentence mini reviews for each story and average out all of my ratings for the overall rating of the book.
Three Imaginary Conversations With You by Heather Demetrios: 5 stars
An amazing and very raw story about an emotionally and verbally abusive relationship. This one was very hard to read because I felt for the main character and wanted the very best for her. It was very well written and one of my favorites in here.
The Downside of Fabulous by Kristin Elizabeth Clark: 4 stars
A really interesting take on stereotypes of different types of people and how these can be extremely misconstrued. I really liked this one and the message in it.
The Night of the Living Creeper by Stephen Emond: 2 stars
This one was told from a cat's point of view and it did have doodles and small images but it was very odd and I found myself just wanting it to be over.
Makeshift by Kekla Magoon: 3 stars
This one was a very tough story to read but it was interesting and gave me a point of view of something I don't read much about in literature, catcalling. I did appreciate the acknowledgement of catcalling and how degrading it is to women. I also liked the hopeful ending but there was just something missing in this one but I can't quite put my finger on it. Still very enjoyable though.
Things You Get Over, Things You Don't by Jason Schmidt: 4 stars
Stories about school shootings are always so rough but this one felt so real to me. I was hooked with this one and just wanted our characters to come out happy. I loved the ending of this story.
Coffee Chameleon by Jay Clark: 1 star
This one was just so weird and odd and I kept checking how many pages I had left until it was over which is never a good sign...
Hush by Marcella Pixley: 4 stars
I was hesitant with this one because I had read one of Pixley's regular sized novels and I really didn't enjoy it. However, I ended up really enjoying this one. It was a pretty emotional one but a really well written and told story.
Blackbird by Trisha Leaver: 4 stars
I really liked this one! It shows how people can be shadowed in the wrongdoings of other people and how much that sucks. I also really liked the theater aspect of this one and the character's relationships. Also, that ending was great and left me wanting so much more.
Gone From This Place by Faith Erin Hicks: 5 stars
This one was told in a comic style and I just loved it. It was super quick but I would have loved to read a regular sized graphic novel about these characters. The ending was awesome and also quite funny. I really loved this one.
The Sweeter the Sin by Jordan Sonnenblick: 4 stars
I enjoyed this story a lot more than I thought I would when starting it. It had a great message and I really appreciated that.
The Mistake by James Preller: 5 stars
I haven't read too many books with teenage pregnancies or with the question of abortion at hand. Obviously, this one was super rough to read but it was magnificently written and just amazing. Loved this one!
The Good Brother by Patrick Flores-Scott: 3 stars
Sort of a bummer to leave out on. It was interesting but at times I was confused as to what and why. The ending was very vague which I didn't really like.
Overall, the average rating of the 12 stories was a 3.6 stars which I will bump up to a 4. Overall, it was a mostly very well done anthology with a lot more stories that I liked/loved than didn't like. Very happy I read this!
Three Imaginary Conversations With You by Heather Demetrios: 5 stars
An amazing and very raw story about an emotionally and verbally abusive relationship. This one was very hard to read because I felt for the main character and wanted the very best for her. It was very well written and one of my favorites in here.
The Downside of Fabulous by Kristin Elizabeth Clark: 4 stars
A really interesting take on stereotypes of different types of people and how these can be extremely misconstrued. I really liked this one and the message in it.
The Night of the Living Creeper by Stephen Emond: 2 stars
This one was told from a cat's point of view and it did have doodles and small images but it was very odd and I found myself just wanting it to be over.
Makeshift by Kekla Magoon: 3 stars
This one was a very tough story to read but it was interesting and gave me a point of view of something I don't read much about in literature, catcalling. I did appreciate the acknowledgement of catcalling and how degrading it is to women. I also liked the hopeful ending but there was just something missing in this one but I can't quite put my finger on it. Still very enjoyable though.
Things You Get Over, Things You Don't by Jason Schmidt: 4 stars
Stories about school shootings are always so rough but this one felt so real to me. I was hooked with this one and just wanted our characters to come out happy. I loved the ending of this story.
Coffee Chameleon by Jay Clark: 1 star
This one was just so weird and odd and I kept checking how many pages I had left until it was over which is never a good sign...
Hush by Marcella Pixley: 4 stars
I was hesitant with this one because I had read one of Pixley's regular sized novels and I really didn't enjoy it. However, I ended up really enjoying this one. It was a pretty emotional one but a really well written and told story.
Blackbird by Trisha Leaver: 4 stars
I really liked this one! It shows how people can be shadowed in the wrongdoings of other people and how much that sucks. I also really liked the theater aspect of this one and the character's relationships. Also, that ending was great and left me wanting so much more.
Gone From This Place by Faith Erin Hicks: 5 stars
This one was told in a comic style and I just loved it. It was super quick but I would have loved to read a regular sized graphic novel about these characters. The ending was awesome and also quite funny. I really loved this one.
The Sweeter the Sin by Jordan Sonnenblick: 4 stars
I enjoyed this story a lot more than I thought I would when starting it. It had a great message and I really appreciated that.
The Mistake by James Preller: 5 stars
I haven't read too many books with teenage pregnancies or with the question of abortion at hand. Obviously, this one was super rough to read but it was magnificently written and just amazing. Loved this one!
The Good Brother by Patrick Flores-Scott: 3 stars
Sort of a bummer to leave out on. It was interesting but at times I was confused as to what and why. The ending was very vague which I didn't really like.
Overall, the average rating of the 12 stories was a 3.6 stars which I will bump up to a 4. Overall, it was a mostly very well done anthology with a lot more stories that I liked/loved than didn't like. Very happy I read this!
February 5, 2016
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more!
Anthologies are one of the best styles of writing that could really describe a theme, or a bunch of themes. I See Reality, which is written by many authors who I have heard of (or whose books I have read), and some who are even Canadian (supporting my nation here, people) is absolutely pleasing and nourishing for the mind. Readers could pick and choose to read which stories they would like one by one, or read them all at once in a sitting, like I did. The authors feature different themes that affect our modern society today—and some could be issues in society, like discrimination—that I cannot keep out of mind. Brace yourselves for a stunning complete set of tales that are each formatted differently, that each have specks of romance and moments to blush at. But before I set off from here, LET US JUST EMBRACE THIS COVER, FOR GOODNESS' SAKE.
It is especially important to me when a cover sincerely matches what the story/novel/anthology is written about. The polaroid prints that each have an author's name on it shows that every story has its main idea, its main figure that hooks readers. I found myself constantly flipping back and forth to the cover and back to see how the photo related to the author's story. I See Reality really is about, in fact, seeing reality and the events that make it up. Every event could honestly occur in anyone's life, but the choice is there to let it happen. Now, I feel like I am getting too philosophical for a review. Watch me present lectures to audiences one day. *jokes*
I could not, and do not have the time to go over each story individually, but I must note that there are a few that caught my eye. The authors each have their own meaning and point to their story. These are, obviously, short stories, which means that they last for about twenty pages or so and capture the audience from the first page. The one that I remember catching me the most was Heather Demetrios' story, Three Imaginary Conversations With You. Whimsical and imaginative, the main character tells her perspective on three conversations that go through her mind when she decides that she wants to break up with her boyfriend. This was not cliché in any sense, and I would absolutely beg for a full-length novel relating to something like this. It was my absolute favourite.
Another favourite was The Night of the Living Creeper by Stephen Emond. I just need to say one word about the narrator and I bet that you all will be hooked: cat. THE NARRATOR IS A CUTE, FUZZY, STROLLING-ON-THE-FENCE CAT. I am pretty sure that your insides are glimmering and your brain is sending rapid impulses around your body (science has gotten to me) to get your fingers moving to head onto a website, grab your credit card, and purchase this book. Anyways.
A final mentionable one? Untitled by Faith Erin Hicks. IT IS A GRAPHIC SHORT STORY, PEOPLE. Untitled featured a theme of sexuality (LGBT themes, hooray for diversity) and a mix of other hilarious phrases and mimics that kept me going.
This is an anthology written with simplicity. You must trust me, it is not meant to be a bland novel at all. The simplicity is what makes the stories stronger, that make readers feel like there is a point to everything and how society could be super supportive and everything. It is a refreshing read that makes absolute sense for how our world is evolving and in a constant flux. I would read a hundred of these stories if they were handed to me. Authors, please, please, please take after this collection. We need more of them in our lives.
I See Reality could brighten up the picture of reality for many. From romance, addiction, immigration to insecurity, sexuality and coming of age, every author focuses on a different aspect that affects us all. Although some stories were weaker than others, my life has changed after the outcome of this precious, precious story that all could place something in everyone's hearts.
*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review! Thank you so much!*
Anthologies are one of the best styles of writing that could really describe a theme, or a bunch of themes. I See Reality, which is written by many authors who I have heard of (or whose books I have read), and some who are even Canadian (supporting my nation here, people) is absolutely pleasing and nourishing for the mind. Readers could pick and choose to read which stories they would like one by one, or read them all at once in a sitting, like I did. The authors feature different themes that affect our modern society today—and some could be issues in society, like discrimination—that I cannot keep out of mind. Brace yourselves for a stunning complete set of tales that are each formatted differently, that each have specks of romance and moments to blush at. But before I set off from here, LET US JUST EMBRACE THIS COVER, FOR GOODNESS' SAKE.
It is especially important to me when a cover sincerely matches what the story/novel/anthology is written about. The polaroid prints that each have an author's name on it shows that every story has its main idea, its main figure that hooks readers. I found myself constantly flipping back and forth to the cover and back to see how the photo related to the author's story. I See Reality really is about, in fact, seeing reality and the events that make it up. Every event could honestly occur in anyone's life, but the choice is there to let it happen. Now, I feel like I am getting too philosophical for a review. Watch me present lectures to audiences one day. *jokes*
I could not, and do not have the time to go over each story individually, but I must note that there are a few that caught my eye. The authors each have their own meaning and point to their story. These are, obviously, short stories, which means that they last for about twenty pages or so and capture the audience from the first page. The one that I remember catching me the most was Heather Demetrios' story, Three Imaginary Conversations With You. Whimsical and imaginative, the main character tells her perspective on three conversations that go through her mind when she decides that she wants to break up with her boyfriend. This was not cliché in any sense, and I would absolutely beg for a full-length novel relating to something like this. It was my absolute favourite.
Another favourite was The Night of the Living Creeper by Stephen Emond. I just need to say one word about the narrator and I bet that you all will be hooked: cat. THE NARRATOR IS A CUTE, FUZZY, STROLLING-ON-THE-FENCE CAT. I am pretty sure that your insides are glimmering and your brain is sending rapid impulses around your body (science has gotten to me) to get your fingers moving to head onto a website, grab your credit card, and purchase this book. Anyways.
A final mentionable one? Untitled by Faith Erin Hicks. IT IS A GRAPHIC SHORT STORY, PEOPLE. Untitled featured a theme of sexuality (LGBT themes, hooray for diversity) and a mix of other hilarious phrases and mimics that kept me going.
This is an anthology written with simplicity. You must trust me, it is not meant to be a bland novel at all. The simplicity is what makes the stories stronger, that make readers feel like there is a point to everything and how society could be super supportive and everything. It is a refreshing read that makes absolute sense for how our world is evolving and in a constant flux. I would read a hundred of these stories if they were handed to me. Authors, please, please, please take after this collection. We need more of them in our lives.
I See Reality could brighten up the picture of reality for many. From romance, addiction, immigration to insecurity, sexuality and coming of age, every author focuses on a different aspect that affects us all. Although some stories were weaker than others, my life has changed after the outcome of this precious, precious story that all could place something in everyone's hearts.
*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review! Thank you so much!*
April 2, 2016
This had its ups and downs, but doesn't every anthology? Not every story can be as good as the other. Especially when they're all about very different things with different writing styles or formats. Because of this, I decided I'll just write short reviews for each story.
Three Imaginary Conversations with You: 5/5
This story is my favorite hands down. It's about an abusive relationship. Not physical, but verbal. A boy who manipulates a girl who he controls and doesn't make happy. It hit kind of close to home, so I just really found myself feeling sympathetic for the girl, even in this short amount of time. The point of view is also really amazing. It's told in second person, and I am always impressed when authors can pull that off. Took my breath away really.
The Downside of Fabulous: 2/5
It tells the story of Chris (who is gay) and how he has a crush on this boy named Josh. He comes out to his best friend, and she refuses to believe him. That was one of the reasons I just didn't love this one. She just kept saying "you don't act like a gay guy." Stereotypically, no. However, there is no text-book definition of how a gay person should act or look, and that was the saving grace for this book at the end. The romance was also rushed.
The Night of the Living Creeper: 3/5
I didn't know what to expect going into this book. It was a mixture of pictures and writing, which was interesting and cute. However, the message was my favorite thing. It reminded me of this one time this woman came in to talk to my Psychology class about how sexual predators don't have to be creepy old men. Interesting perspective too, told from a cat.
Makeshift: 4/5
This one broke my heart. It involved so many issues that need to be addressed more in literature: race, abuse, sexual harassment, etc. Kept me interested.
Things You Get Over, Things You Don't: 3.5/5
Although a short story about a school shooting, it packed the punch of a full length book on the topic. The ending was open, but in a good way that I liked.
Coffee Chameleon: 1.5/5
I liked the spin the author tried to give this story, but I could see from the reviews that a lot of people were confused about it, and I kind of was too. If it were longer, maybe the execution could have been better. I don't know.
Hush: 4/5
A chilling story about a mother with OCD about germs to the point where she won't let her daughter go to bed without taking a bath in boiling hot water with bleach. It was very sad, but I loved the ending. I couldn't stop reading this one.
Blackbird: 4/5
This was absolutely adorable and so inspiring. It was all about moving forward from your past and finding yourself. Brilliant.
Gone From This Place: 2.5/5
This was a graphic novel completely, and it was cute. I like the whole idea about "recreating" yourself after high school, but it was short and hard to feel anything more than "meh" about.
The Sweeter the Sin: 2/5
I like how the relationship had a history, I always am a sucker for that. However, it just left me feeling just numb. I didn't care for either character.
The Mistake: 4/5
An eye-opening read about abortion. I liked how the boyfriend was there for her with her choice. I honestly could have read a whole book about this. There's so many questions I have after reading it, and not in a bad way!
The Good Brother: 4/5
You know, I've never encountered a book with the topic of immigration as the main story line. It was so touching and interesting how the story was mostly told from a letter. I liked it. Good ending.
All of the stories have one central theme: teenagers finding them self and bettering them self based off of things that happen in their life. I think this is a really well put together collection of stories. I'm pleasantly surprised.
Three Imaginary Conversations with You: 5/5
This story is my favorite hands down. It's about an abusive relationship. Not physical, but verbal. A boy who manipulates a girl who he controls and doesn't make happy. It hit kind of close to home, so I just really found myself feeling sympathetic for the girl, even in this short amount of time. The point of view is also really amazing. It's told in second person, and I am always impressed when authors can pull that off. Took my breath away really.
You went on and on about how hard I am to love with my negativity and strict parents and my crazy ideas about chastity. You call me Eeyore, as in the depressive donkey from Winnie-the Pooh, and not always affectionately. You say I'm a wet blanket and a tease and don't care how much I get punished when I come home after curfew. You don't care what price I have to pay for us to be together. This is my ammunition and I have storied it carefully inside me: proof we are bad together.
The Downside of Fabulous: 2/5
It tells the story of Chris (who is gay) and how he has a crush on this boy named Josh. He comes out to his best friend, and she refuses to believe him. That was one of the reasons I just didn't love this one. She just kept saying "you don't act like a gay guy." Stereotypically, no. However, there is no text-book definition of how a gay person should act or look, and that was the saving grace for this book at the end. The romance was also rushed.
The Night of the Living Creeper: 3/5
I didn't know what to expect going into this book. It was a mixture of pictures and writing, which was interesting and cute. However, the message was my favorite thing. It reminded me of this one time this woman came in to talk to my Psychology class about how sexual predators don't have to be creepy old men. Interesting perspective too, told from a cat.
Makeshift: 4/5
This one broke my heart. It involved so many issues that need to be addressed more in literature: race, abuse, sexual harassment, etc. Kept me interested.
Things You Get Over, Things You Don't: 3.5/5
Although a short story about a school shooting, it packed the punch of a full length book on the topic. The ending was open, but in a good way that I liked.
Coffee Chameleon: 1.5/5
I liked the spin the author tried to give this story, but I could see from the reviews that a lot of people were confused about it, and I kind of was too. If it were longer, maybe the execution could have been better. I don't know.
Hush: 4/5
A chilling story about a mother with OCD about germs to the point where she won't let her daughter go to bed without taking a bath in boiling hot water with bleach. It was very sad, but I loved the ending. I couldn't stop reading this one.
Blackbird: 4/5
This was absolutely adorable and so inspiring. It was all about moving forward from your past and finding yourself. Brilliant.
Gone From This Place: 2.5/5
This was a graphic novel completely, and it was cute. I like the whole idea about "recreating" yourself after high school, but it was short and hard to feel anything more than "meh" about.
The Sweeter the Sin: 2/5
I like how the relationship had a history, I always am a sucker for that. However, it just left me feeling just numb. I didn't care for either character.
The Mistake: 4/5
An eye-opening read about abortion. I liked how the boyfriend was there for her with her choice. I honestly could have read a whole book about this. There's so many questions I have after reading it, and not in a bad way!
The Good Brother: 4/5
You know, I've never encountered a book with the topic of immigration as the main story line. It was so touching and interesting how the story was mostly told from a letter. I liked it. Good ending.
All of the stories have one central theme: teenagers finding them self and bettering them self based off of things that happen in their life. I think this is a really well put together collection of stories. I'm pleasantly surprised.
February 14, 2017
I’m always looking for good young adult anthologies, so when I saw this one at a scratch-and-dent sale, I knew it needed to come home with me.
These short stories focus on real-life topics that teens think about. They cover everything from sexuality and pregnancy to abuse and school shootings. Like all anthologies, some of the stories are much better than others.
These are my favorites:
The book starts out strong with “Three Imaginary Conversations with You” by Heather Demetrios. The narrator imagines three potential events that could occur after she breaks up with her boyfriend. Demetrios is a fabulous writer, and this story has the most realistic characters in the anthology.
“Things You Get Over, Things You Don’t” by Jason Smith follows a couple who is trying to survive a school shooting. The story has a nonlinear structure, so it’s up to the reader to piece the events together.
In the comic-strip-style story “Gone from This Place” by Faith Erin Hicks, a girl confesses to her best friend that she’s a lesbian. Her romance with the most popular boy in school isn’t real. I like the art, and I didn’t see the twist at the end coming. This is my favorite story. I’ll have to see if the author has any full-length graphic novels.
In “The Mistake” by James Preller, a girl debates if she should get an abortion. The writing style is a bit strange, but the plot is sad and suspenseful. It shows that an unplanned teen pregnancy can affect the boy and girl very differently.
My biggest struggle with this anthology is the heavy-handedness. I know this book is meant for teens, and they might need the moral of a story to be obvious, but some of the morals are really obvious. Don’t believe stereotypes, kids. Bring a friend if you’re going to break up with your abusive boyfriend. Drugs are bad. Some of the stories are too educational for my tastes. Cynical teenage-me would have rolled her eyes.
The description of this anthology says that it’s meant to introduce teens to literary fiction. I think it accomplishes that. I didn’t love the majority of the stories, but I appreciate the variety of characters and writing styles. There’s something in here for everyone.
These short stories focus on real-life topics that teens think about. They cover everything from sexuality and pregnancy to abuse and school shootings. Like all anthologies, some of the stories are much better than others.
These are my favorites:
The book starts out strong with “Three Imaginary Conversations with You” by Heather Demetrios. The narrator imagines three potential events that could occur after she breaks up with her boyfriend. Demetrios is a fabulous writer, and this story has the most realistic characters in the anthology.
“I’ll open my mouth, but the words won’t come. Despite everything, I won’t want to break your heart . . . I’ll wish there didn’t have to be words. Or that you, for once, could be the one who has to say the hard thing.” – I See Reality
“Things You Get Over, Things You Don’t” by Jason Smith follows a couple who is trying to survive a school shooting. The story has a nonlinear structure, so it’s up to the reader to piece the events together.
In the comic-strip-style story “Gone from This Place” by Faith Erin Hicks, a girl confesses to her best friend that she’s a lesbian. Her romance with the most popular boy in school isn’t real. I like the art, and I didn’t see the twist at the end coming. This is my favorite story. I’ll have to see if the author has any full-length graphic novels.
In “The Mistake” by James Preller, a girl debates if she should get an abortion. The writing style is a bit strange, but the plot is sad and suspenseful. It shows that an unplanned teen pregnancy can affect the boy and girl very differently.
“I am the poem.
I am strong, and brave, and beautiful. And though my bones feel heavy, and my heart aches, I will be the one who writes the next verse.
I am the one who decides.” – I See Reality
My biggest struggle with this anthology is the heavy-handedness. I know this book is meant for teens, and they might need the moral of a story to be obvious, but some of the morals are really obvious. Don’t believe stereotypes, kids. Bring a friend if you’re going to break up with your abusive boyfriend. Drugs are bad. Some of the stories are too educational for my tastes. Cynical teenage-me would have rolled her eyes.
The description of this anthology says that it’s meant to introduce teens to literary fiction. I think it accomplishes that. I didn’t love the majority of the stories, but I appreciate the variety of characters and writing styles. There’s something in here for everyone.
September 10, 2017
Rachel Wargo
Ap Language
Mrs. Smeenk
9/10/17
I See Reality
Twelve different stories put into one book. This is not a normal book someone would pick off the shelf but it was an amazing book. The author gave the reader twelve different stories about real life events, this is called a realistic fiction. And the book is called I See Reality by Kendall. Published in 2016.Kendall is known for writing fiction books, Her idea is to pull the readers in as if they were living in the moment and to not want to put the book down. She wants the readers to take something away from each of her books. This book really intrigues the readers because at some point in the reader’s life they will experience one of these moments or they already have. The reader gets to see a different point of view of each situation then they experienced. This book won’t be like any other book. It takes the reader into each different situation so it feel as if the reader is standing there in that very moment, and it makes the reader remember different moments about their life. Even though these event may have not happened to one specific person, each reader will find they have been in a situation almost exactly like the one told in the novel.
I See Reality is a novel about different life stories. These stories go from break ups, to friendships ending, to a teen girl whose parents are divorced, to being alone and scared, then happy with where you are, from being bullied, and ending with happy relationships. This book is geared towards teens. The daily life they live and the facts that they will be facing in life. Maybe it is to reassure them that they aren’t the only ones who go through this or just to talk about the life that teens live. The author seems to want to reach out to teens in this world and catch their attention, and what better way to do that than to talk about the situations they are going through right at this very moment?
Each character had their own story. They did not mesh together and they did have very few similarities but they were each dealing with different situations. One girl had her heart broken by a boy while the other one had their heartbroken by her family. They were each heart broken in different ways. Each character did stick out in their own way and in their own story. The author made the characters passionate about what they were talking about and personally I think that is very important to a reader. The reader can relate to at least one of these characters because they know what it is like to be in a situation exactly like that and to feel what the character is feeling, but the author could have put more emotion into the characters, so the reader could really tell when the character was hurting, or sad or happy. Then the reader can relate to the character and feel more part of the story.
Most of the stories i read in I See Reality i felt as though I could relate too in one way. For example i have been through a heartbreak before with a relationship, so I felt that i could relate to that character, and in another one called Makeshift her parents had split and she had to pick up her life and move it and i’ve also been in that type of situation. Of course in those stories I could not relate to everything. The daughter had to leave her dad with her mom and they had to move into a little broken down house, for me i did not have to leave my dad and i did not have to go that far away, but to some points i did go through some of the same events she did. And in Three Imaginary Conversations With You, She always wanted to break up with the boyfriend she was with, but he guilt tripped her to stay and by the time she finally did it she was heartbroken and I could only relate to the heartbreaking part and the urge to want to end it all, but i was never forced it was a self decision to stay.
This book is not compared to most books i have read. I did read a book called When and it was about a girl who could read death dates. She was accused of murdering people because she knew when they would die, so it is a story about her trying to find the murder. This only related to one story in I See Reality called, Things You Get Over, Things You Don’t. A man had shot up and school and it was a story told by Caleb who was there in the moment and he watched as his girlfriend almost died in his arms and he saw the man shoot a person, but both stories have a different point the only similarity was their were both murders. This book is full of different stories and different problems going on in this world, like. The school shooting, or it talks about a boy coming out gay to his friends, and many readers may take these to heart or not agree but all of these are different problems in the world whether it’s a girl with a broken heart, a guy losing his friends because he is gay, or a school shooting.
This novel is full of life leason. The reader will see different ways to handle situations that they will face in their daily life and they will learn about different situations that people face every day of their life. The main point to this novel was to reach out to the teens who face these challenges and help them to know they do not face this alone and this is reality we all go through these different struggles and it is hard but eventually they will go through these different chapter in life and see these exact situations pop up. Most teenage girls would be intrigued to this novel and I think it is appropriate for any high school teen who is struggling or is looking for a nice read, because it is a easy read, but very helpful and helpful to teens my age.
This novel digs deep into reality and reaches out to the young teens in the world who want help or reassurance or who just want an easy read to enjoy. I think this book is helpful in our everyday life and it shows that the things they thought they went through alone they don’t. All teens face these challenges and they want to know they are not alone, but the novel I See Reality will show the reader that they aren’t. This book will relate to each reader in one way, and it will take the reader right into the story as if they are the main character.
Ap Language
Mrs. Smeenk
9/10/17
I See Reality
Twelve different stories put into one book. This is not a normal book someone would pick off the shelf but it was an amazing book. The author gave the reader twelve different stories about real life events, this is called a realistic fiction. And the book is called I See Reality by Kendall. Published in 2016.Kendall is known for writing fiction books, Her idea is to pull the readers in as if they were living in the moment and to not want to put the book down. She wants the readers to take something away from each of her books. This book really intrigues the readers because at some point in the reader’s life they will experience one of these moments or they already have. The reader gets to see a different point of view of each situation then they experienced. This book won’t be like any other book. It takes the reader into each different situation so it feel as if the reader is standing there in that very moment, and it makes the reader remember different moments about their life. Even though these event may have not happened to one specific person, each reader will find they have been in a situation almost exactly like the one told in the novel.
I See Reality is a novel about different life stories. These stories go from break ups, to friendships ending, to a teen girl whose parents are divorced, to being alone and scared, then happy with where you are, from being bullied, and ending with happy relationships. This book is geared towards teens. The daily life they live and the facts that they will be facing in life. Maybe it is to reassure them that they aren’t the only ones who go through this or just to talk about the life that teens live. The author seems to want to reach out to teens in this world and catch their attention, and what better way to do that than to talk about the situations they are going through right at this very moment?
Each character had their own story. They did not mesh together and they did have very few similarities but they were each dealing with different situations. One girl had her heart broken by a boy while the other one had their heartbroken by her family. They were each heart broken in different ways. Each character did stick out in their own way and in their own story. The author made the characters passionate about what they were talking about and personally I think that is very important to a reader. The reader can relate to at least one of these characters because they know what it is like to be in a situation exactly like that and to feel what the character is feeling, but the author could have put more emotion into the characters, so the reader could really tell when the character was hurting, or sad or happy. Then the reader can relate to the character and feel more part of the story.
Most of the stories i read in I See Reality i felt as though I could relate too in one way. For example i have been through a heartbreak before with a relationship, so I felt that i could relate to that character, and in another one called Makeshift her parents had split and she had to pick up her life and move it and i’ve also been in that type of situation. Of course in those stories I could not relate to everything. The daughter had to leave her dad with her mom and they had to move into a little broken down house, for me i did not have to leave my dad and i did not have to go that far away, but to some points i did go through some of the same events she did. And in Three Imaginary Conversations With You, She always wanted to break up with the boyfriend she was with, but he guilt tripped her to stay and by the time she finally did it she was heartbroken and I could only relate to the heartbreaking part and the urge to want to end it all, but i was never forced it was a self decision to stay.
This book is not compared to most books i have read. I did read a book called When and it was about a girl who could read death dates. She was accused of murdering people because she knew when they would die, so it is a story about her trying to find the murder. This only related to one story in I See Reality called, Things You Get Over, Things You Don’t. A man had shot up and school and it was a story told by Caleb who was there in the moment and he watched as his girlfriend almost died in his arms and he saw the man shoot a person, but both stories have a different point the only similarity was their were both murders. This book is full of different stories and different problems going on in this world, like. The school shooting, or it talks about a boy coming out gay to his friends, and many readers may take these to heart or not agree but all of these are different problems in the world whether it’s a girl with a broken heart, a guy losing his friends because he is gay, or a school shooting.
This novel is full of life leason. The reader will see different ways to handle situations that they will face in their daily life and they will learn about different situations that people face every day of their life. The main point to this novel was to reach out to the teens who face these challenges and help them to know they do not face this alone and this is reality we all go through these different struggles and it is hard but eventually they will go through these different chapter in life and see these exact situations pop up. Most teenage girls would be intrigued to this novel and I think it is appropriate for any high school teen who is struggling or is looking for a nice read, because it is a easy read, but very helpful and helpful to teens my age.
This novel digs deep into reality and reaches out to the young teens in the world who want help or reassurance or who just want an easy read to enjoy. I think this book is helpful in our everyday life and it shows that the things they thought they went through alone they don’t. All teens face these challenges and they want to know they are not alone, but the novel I See Reality will show the reader that they aren’t. This book will relate to each reader in one way, and it will take the reader right into the story as if they are the main character.
May 24, 2016
one of the best short stories I have read. yes some of the stories were not good but most were. I think of the twelve I didn't like 3 of them. a must read!!!
September 25, 2018
I didn’t like it but I also did like it. In a good way. And I think sometimes those are the best types of books because, for me, this means that the text (or texts as is the case in this book) has really made me think. I really liked all of the stories; they were interesting snapshots (like the cover art suggests) into these characters’ lives, their personalities, their hopes, their dreams, their struggles. And I love reading in general because a good book gives that to you: a look into someone else’s life, perspective, opinions. And a good reader takes that and ruminates over it, runs with it, leaves part of it behind and takes a part with them as their own. And I felt like I was able to do this with I See Reality. Did I absolutely love all of the stories? No. Did I agree with all of the ideas represented? No way. Will I take away all of the opinions and morph them into my own? No. But did I come up close and personal with ideas and thoughts that I could grapple with, take parts of, and think critically about? Yes, most definitely.
On a purely “aesthetic” note this book was written beautifully. I loved Heather Demetrios’ first person talking to the reader in the second person writing; I liked the glimpse, glimpse, glimpse way that Jason Schmidt gave us the story about the school shooting; Jay Clark’s wry humor shone in his writing; Marcella Pixley’s on-the-edge-of-creepy-yet-poignantly-beautiful writing was so densely juicy. These authors did a great job painting small, yet vivid portrait for the reader.
This book is not for everyone. There are a lot of hard topics, some language, some sexual content. But for the reader ready to grapple with these, this book will be a great glimpse in to a lot of various topics and the stories will leave the critical reader thinking and wanting to discuss.
On a purely “aesthetic” note this book was written beautifully. I loved Heather Demetrios’ first person talking to the reader in the second person writing; I liked the glimpse, glimpse, glimpse way that Jason Schmidt gave us the story about the school shooting; Jay Clark’s wry humor shone in his writing; Marcella Pixley’s on-the-edge-of-creepy-yet-poignantly-beautiful writing was so densely juicy. These authors did a great job painting small, yet vivid portrait for the reader.
This book is not for everyone. There are a lot of hard topics, some language, some sexual content. But for the reader ready to grapple with these, this book will be a great glimpse in to a lot of various topics and the stories will leave the critical reader thinking and wanting to discuss.
April 18, 2018
I loved this book! It got a little confusing at times, since it's 12 different stories, but they all revolved around real life situations, that any of us could come over at any point in time. It gave real life problems with different authors to give different points of views on different topics, which I absolutely loved!!
October 26, 2017
I See Reality compiled by Grace Kendall is an eye-opening book of 12 short stories that cover different situations that could occur during a teenagers life in the modern era. It covers topics such as abuse, abortion, immigration, gender issues and more. Other authors include Jay Clark, Kristin Elizabeth Clark, Heather Demetrios, Stephen Emond, Patrick Flores-Scott, Faith Emir Hicks, Trisha Leaver, Kekla Magoon, Marcella Pixley, James Preller, Jason Schmidt, and Jordan Sonnenblick.
The strengths of these different stories are that they are all able to cover situations from perspectives that some people would never have heard from. The stories give an intricate and detailed perspective on what is happening in their lives and how they feel about the situation’s they’re stuck in. A weakness within the collection of stories was that there wasn’t anything holding the stories together. Although they all covered different issues in the ‘now’, they did not seem to connect to each other. For example, the first story is about a coming female High School student in an abusive relationship with a college boy, the second story is a boy’s story about coming out to people, there is no "in between" sentence or anything that connects them together.
Personally, I loved this book. I have a soft spot for real-world issues like the ones covered in the stories. I personally like how they make you think and realize that these issues are happening in the world possibly right next to you without you even knowing. Viewing the perspectives of the kids opened up my eyes to be able to sympathize with them and understand their pain. The best part of the story was the perspectives of the storytelling because it was very well written for all of the short stories.
The strengths of these different stories are that they are all able to cover situations from perspectives that some people would never have heard from. The stories give an intricate and detailed perspective on what is happening in their lives and how they feel about the situation’s they’re stuck in. A weakness within the collection of stories was that there wasn’t anything holding the stories together. Although they all covered different issues in the ‘now’, they did not seem to connect to each other. For example, the first story is about a coming female High School student in an abusive relationship with a college boy, the second story is a boy’s story about coming out to people, there is no "in between" sentence or anything that connects them together.
Personally, I loved this book. I have a soft spot for real-world issues like the ones covered in the stories. I personally like how they make you think and realize that these issues are happening in the world possibly right next to you without you even knowing. Viewing the perspectives of the kids opened up my eyes to be able to sympathize with them and understand their pain. The best part of the story was the perspectives of the storytelling because it was very well written for all of the short stories.
December 24, 2015
With a book containing so many short stories, it is really difficult to give an overall rating. There were some stories I liked better than others.
My favorites:
"Hush" had a familiar feel to it and it became my favorite. It's about a girl and her mother dealing with life after her father passes away from AIDS. The mother basically becomes a germaphobe and shows that she doesn't understand how AIDS is transmitted. The daughter's life is bleak but the ending is spectacular!
The first story in the book "Three Imaginary Conversations with You" really sets the tone. About a teenage girl caught up in a toxic relationship, it is heart wrenching.
"The Good Brother" contains the title in a prominent way. It is a story about illegal immigration, the dangers of life on the streets, and how the aspirations of the children of illegal immigrants are essentially cut off from what their realities can be. I found it very thought provoking.
My second favorite story in the book is called "Untitled" and it's a graphic short story. Brilliant! I wish a few more had been included to break up the constant text. The story itself is an excellent one about finding yourself and admitting who you are. It also shows why people find it necessary to hide from their peers.
"Things you get over, things you don't" (the story about the school shooting) was good...I just wish I hadn't already read "This is Where it Ends" by Marieke Nijkamp. I think reading her novel made the short story format less satisfying. However, I am happy to see YA authors taking on this topic and doing it well!
"The Mistake" (the abortion story)...oh my heart aches. So beautiful. So good. So realistic. I can't say enough good things about it.
There were a couple of stories I didn't care for. I felt "Coffee Chameleon" just dragged on and on - which is odd because it is about Adderall addiction and coffee. "Night of the Living Creeper" which is told from the perspective of a cat at a house party was just odd. I felt like the dialogue between characters was really forced. Perhaps writing from the perspective of a person involved would have aided this.
If I didn't mention the story's title in this review, it's because I didn't feel strongly about it either way. Or I just didn't remember it which is almost worse than not liking it, right? I can't compare this book to anything. It is a great book and I'll encourage my patrons to read it - and make sure they know that it's okay to skip one or two if you don't like them right away.
My favorites:
"Hush" had a familiar feel to it and it became my favorite. It's about a girl and her mother dealing with life after her father passes away from AIDS. The mother basically becomes a germaphobe and shows that she doesn't understand how AIDS is transmitted. The daughter's life is bleak but the ending is spectacular!
The first story in the book "Three Imaginary Conversations with You" really sets the tone. About a teenage girl caught up in a toxic relationship, it is heart wrenching.
"The Good Brother" contains the title in a prominent way. It is a story about illegal immigration, the dangers of life on the streets, and how the aspirations of the children of illegal immigrants are essentially cut off from what their realities can be. I found it very thought provoking.
My second favorite story in the book is called "Untitled" and it's a graphic short story. Brilliant! I wish a few more had been included to break up the constant text. The story itself is an excellent one about finding yourself and admitting who you are. It also shows why people find it necessary to hide from their peers.
"Things you get over, things you don't" (the story about the school shooting) was good...I just wish I hadn't already read "This is Where it Ends" by Marieke Nijkamp. I think reading her novel made the short story format less satisfying. However, I am happy to see YA authors taking on this topic and doing it well!
"The Mistake" (the abortion story)...oh my heart aches. So beautiful. So good. So realistic. I can't say enough good things about it.
There were a couple of stories I didn't care for. I felt "Coffee Chameleon" just dragged on and on - which is odd because it is about Adderall addiction and coffee. "Night of the Living Creeper" which is told from the perspective of a cat at a house party was just odd. I felt like the dialogue between characters was really forced. Perhaps writing from the perspective of a person involved would have aided this.
If I didn't mention the story's title in this review, it's because I didn't feel strongly about it either way. Or I just didn't remember it which is almost worse than not liking it, right? I can't compare this book to anything. It is a great book and I'll encourage my patrons to read it - and make sure they know that it's okay to skip one or two if you don't like them right away.
May 30, 2016
Not all of these stories were 5 stars for me but I think that some of these stories were very realistic. Some of these stories are so heartbreaking and some are laugh out loud hilarious. I'm just going to rate each of the stories down below.
Three Imaginary Conversations With You: I gave this story 5 stars. It was a great story with amazing insight into what emotional abuse is. Sometimes relationships are abusive just not in the way you usually think and this story captures that perfectly.
The Downside of Fabulous: Another 5 star story, I'm not usually up for these types of stories but I thought this was hilarious. The main character was hilarious and it dealt with stereotyping homosexuals really well.
The Night of The Living Creeper: 1.5 stars, this was just really weird because it was from the point of view of a cat. It was kind of cute with the little doodles but it was more just weird.
Makeshift: I'm going to give this story a 3.5 stars because I didn't like it as much as the others but it was a good narrative about domestic abuse from the view of the child.
Things You Get Over, Things You Don't: I gave this 5 stars because this was incredibly heartbreaking, it is about a school shooting and the aftermath of it. It was really moving.
Coffee Chameleon: This one is really hard to rate. I think going to give it a 3.75, it was about addictions and how hard it is to move on. But I'm kind of confused about the ending.
Hush: 2 stars, it was an interesting concept but I really wasn't into it.
Blackbird: 5 stars, this was another book about school shootings but the aftermath and effects on the family of the shooter. It was really sad and motivating at the same time.
Gone From This Place: 0.5 stars, I really didn't like this. This is so unrealistic and just way too coincidental. So yep, no more words.
The Sweeter the Sin: 3 stars, this was good but it didn't really leave anything to think about.
The Mistake: Hooo boy. This one is a hard one to rate, I think I'd say 4 stars but this is about a very controversial topic. Abortion. It was super heartbreaking, even though I have my own opinions about abortion I can understand how scary it is to be pregnant when you weren't planning it.
The Good Brother: 4.5 stars, this was good I just wanted to know more about what happened to the character after the short story ended.
Three Imaginary Conversations With You: I gave this story 5 stars. It was a great story with amazing insight into what emotional abuse is. Sometimes relationships are abusive just not in the way you usually think and this story captures that perfectly.
The Downside of Fabulous: Another 5 star story, I'm not usually up for these types of stories but I thought this was hilarious. The main character was hilarious and it dealt with stereotyping homosexuals really well.
The Night of The Living Creeper: 1.5 stars, this was just really weird because it was from the point of view of a cat. It was kind of cute with the little doodles but it was more just weird.
Makeshift: I'm going to give this story a 3.5 stars because I didn't like it as much as the others but it was a good narrative about domestic abuse from the view of the child.
Things You Get Over, Things You Don't: I gave this 5 stars because this was incredibly heartbreaking, it is about a school shooting and the aftermath of it. It was really moving.
Coffee Chameleon: This one is really hard to rate. I think going to give it a 3.75, it was about addictions and how hard it is to move on. But I'm kind of confused about the ending.
Hush: 2 stars, it was an interesting concept but I really wasn't into it.
Blackbird: 5 stars, this was another book about school shootings but the aftermath and effects on the family of the shooter. It was really sad and motivating at the same time.
Gone From This Place: 0.5 stars, I really didn't like this. This is so unrealistic and just way too coincidental. So yep, no more words.
The Sweeter the Sin: 3 stars, this was good but it didn't really leave anything to think about.
The Mistake: Hooo boy. This one is a hard one to rate, I think I'd say 4 stars but this is about a very controversial topic. Abortion. It was super heartbreaking, even though I have my own opinions about abortion I can understand how scary it is to be pregnant when you weren't planning it.
The Good Brother: 4.5 stars, this was good I just wanted to know more about what happened to the character after the short story ended.
March 15, 2016
Plot:
I See Reality: 12 Short Stories About Real Life describes numerous struggles in the teenage population through the perspective of a protagonist, spectator, or narrator. Complications in sexuality, addictions, immigration, and violence demonstrate the hardships of the classical adolescent. Through emotional expressions, descriptions of experiences, and excellent imagery, the characters formed a sensation of reality.
Characterization:
“Three Imaginary Conversations with You” - Heather Demetrios
Jessa, the main character, lacked the courage to annihilate her affectionate relationship towards Gavin. She contemplated her method by rehearsing the scene inside her mind. Throughout Jessa’s journey, she gained strength by announcing her departure to Gavin.
The overall conclusion of the characters is a desire for acceptance. In the beginning, the characters are altering their actions, personalities, and behaviors to meet the expectations of the teenage world. Towards the final stages of the scenes, the characters are overwhelmed by the insufficiency of acceptance towards themselves, never discovering closure.
Target Audience:
The target audience of I See Reality: 12 Short Stories About Real Life is for primarily teenagers. Females and males can relate to numerous characters, considering there is a mixture of gender. The jumble of storylines, vivid descriptions, and adolescent experiences will intrigue the audience.
Personal Response:
I give I See Reality: 12 Short Stories About Real Life five out of five stars. I adored the motivation of the individuals to strive for acceptance. The novel maintained my attention by adjusting perspective, describing experiences, and containing minute humor.
I See Reality: 12 Short Stories About Real Life describes numerous struggles in the teenage population through the perspective of a protagonist, spectator, or narrator. Complications in sexuality, addictions, immigration, and violence demonstrate the hardships of the classical adolescent. Through emotional expressions, descriptions of experiences, and excellent imagery, the characters formed a sensation of reality.
Characterization:
“Three Imaginary Conversations with You” - Heather Demetrios
Jessa, the main character, lacked the courage to annihilate her affectionate relationship towards Gavin. She contemplated her method by rehearsing the scene inside her mind. Throughout Jessa’s journey, she gained strength by announcing her departure to Gavin.
The overall conclusion of the characters is a desire for acceptance. In the beginning, the characters are altering their actions, personalities, and behaviors to meet the expectations of the teenage world. Towards the final stages of the scenes, the characters are overwhelmed by the insufficiency of acceptance towards themselves, never discovering closure.
Target Audience:
The target audience of I See Reality: 12 Short Stories About Real Life is for primarily teenagers. Females and males can relate to numerous characters, considering there is a mixture of gender. The jumble of storylines, vivid descriptions, and adolescent experiences will intrigue the audience.
Personal Response:
I give I See Reality: 12 Short Stories About Real Life five out of five stars. I adored the motivation of the individuals to strive for acceptance. The novel maintained my attention by adjusting perspective, describing experiences, and containing minute humor.
February 3, 2016
Alright. I would give this book a solid 3.5 stars. Some of the stories in here were great, but most weren't. The only stories I really liked were: Three Imaginary Conversations With You by Heather Demetrios Coffee Chameleon by Jay Clark Hush by Marcella Pixley The Good Brother by Patrick Flores-Scott The rest of the stories in this book kinda sucked.
August 24, 2015
Totally enjoyed the wide, textured variety of stories and voices. Great read!
February 4, 2016
This is one of the strongest short story anthologies I've read in some time.
Thoughts on individual stories to come.
Thoughts on individual stories to come.
January 5, 2018
i summed up my feelings about each story pretty well in my status updates, but i laughed out loud, so kudos to whichever author managed that??
May 2, 2016
I can't believe how good this was. Short stories rarely wring out emotion for me but, MAN, I loved this.
I have a book hangover and I don't know what to do with myself.
I have a book hangover and I don't know what to do with myself.
May 2, 2025
Some stories were better than others, as is typical for an anthology. I enjoyed most of them. There were a few that I feel were just "okay." But I still would very much read the entire book again.
The whole book felt very real. There were moments when the shifts within the stories felt abrupt or very fast paced, but that is kind of to be expected because they are short stories trying to get a point across in a couple of pages.
I know that some stories will hold more weight to some people depending on the reader's experiences in life.
I'll rate each one without giving very much detail as you should read it yourself.
THREE IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU - Heather Demetrios
5/5 Stars
Great premise. One of my faves.
THE DOWNSIDE OF FABULOUS - Kristen Elizabeth Clark
3/5 Stars
Some LGBTQ representation but a lil strange in the execution? Like I can't tell if it's good representation or mediocre representation.
THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING CREEPER - Stephen Edmond
2.5/5 Stars
Wished I liked the writing style more. It's just trying a lil too hard to be witty. However, it's saving grace is the fact that the narrator is a CAT!!!
MAKESHIFT - Kekla Magoon
4/5 Stars
Hopeful. Familial connection.
THINGS YOU GET OVER, THINGS YOU DONT - Jason Schmidt
4/5 Stars
Somber but real. Kind of hits you out of nowhere, but the topic calls for that kind of delivery. Weird sexual comments? But the story is from a teenage boy's perspective so not that out of place.
COFFEE CHAMELEON - Jay Clark
3.5/5 Stars
Addiction + romance
HUSH - Marcella Pixley
5/5 Stars
So good. If you are going to read any of these, read this one. It hurts. It's dark. The story itself is haunted with grief. It's glorious.
BLACKBIRD - Trisha Leaver
4/5 Stars
From the perspective of a relative of a school shooter. It's refreshing in that way. Also just a sucker for a love story paired with musical theater.
GONE FROM THIS PLACE - Faith Erin Hicks
3.5/5 Stars
Short little comic. Also gay soo
THE SWEETER THE SIN - Jordan Sonnenblick
3.5/5 Stars
Bittersweet
THE MISTAKE - James Preller
2.5/5
I know more people will resonate with this. I like that the topic of abortion is being addressed. I just didn't really enjoy the writing style.
THE GOOD BROTHER - Patrick Flores-Scott
4/5 Stars
Nice twist. Based on a sad reality for many.
The whole book felt very real. There were moments when the shifts within the stories felt abrupt or very fast paced, but that is kind of to be expected because they are short stories trying to get a point across in a couple of pages.
I know that some stories will hold more weight to some people depending on the reader's experiences in life.
I'll rate each one without giving very much detail as you should read it yourself.
THREE IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU - Heather Demetrios
5/5 Stars
Great premise. One of my faves.
THE DOWNSIDE OF FABULOUS - Kristen Elizabeth Clark
3/5 Stars
Some LGBTQ representation but a lil strange in the execution? Like I can't tell if it's good representation or mediocre representation.
THE NIGHT OF THE LIVING CREEPER - Stephen Edmond
2.5/5 Stars
Wished I liked the writing style more. It's just trying a lil too hard to be witty. However, it's saving grace is the fact that the narrator is a CAT!!!
MAKESHIFT - Kekla Magoon
4/5 Stars
Hopeful. Familial connection.
THINGS YOU GET OVER, THINGS YOU DONT - Jason Schmidt
4/5 Stars
Somber but real. Kind of hits you out of nowhere, but the topic calls for that kind of delivery. Weird sexual comments? But the story is from a teenage boy's perspective so not that out of place.
COFFEE CHAMELEON - Jay Clark
3.5/5 Stars
Addiction + romance
HUSH - Marcella Pixley
5/5 Stars
So good. If you are going to read any of these, read this one. It hurts. It's dark. The story itself is haunted with grief. It's glorious.
BLACKBIRD - Trisha Leaver
4/5 Stars
From the perspective of a relative of a school shooter. It's refreshing in that way. Also just a sucker for a love story paired with musical theater.
GONE FROM THIS PLACE - Faith Erin Hicks
3.5/5 Stars
Short little comic. Also gay soo
THE SWEETER THE SIN - Jordan Sonnenblick
3.5/5 Stars
Bittersweet
THE MISTAKE - James Preller
2.5/5
I know more people will resonate with this. I like that the topic of abortion is being addressed. I just didn't really enjoy the writing style.
THE GOOD BROTHER - Patrick Flores-Scott
4/5 Stars
Nice twist. Based on a sad reality for many.
October 22, 2024
I rated the book a 3.5 because it had strong and meaningful short stories but it also had some short stories I did not enjoy. This book had some meaningful stories that I enjoyed my two favorite stories were ¨Three Imaginary Conversations With You¨ and ¨Things You Get Over, Things You Dont¨ I like these two short stories because they were the ones I wanted to keep reading. These two stories are the main reason I gave the book a 3.5 they made me excited and also made me nervous. The other stories were nice to read as well having 12 short stories in a book helps with excitement because there is no overall theme to the book so you never know what is happening. That is why I gave it an overall 3.5 some of the stories made me wanna keep reading while other stories just were not the type of story I like to read.
One of my favorite quotes in the book was ¨ You stare at me. For once, you won't say a word. Because you'll know I meant it this time. And then I'll walk away from you. I won't look back.¨ I like this quote from ¨Three Imaginary Conversations With You¨" This quote makes me feel for the author and makes me excited for the character that she finally broke up with him and didn't look back. It is super strong and empowering to me it makes you excited and almost proud of the character in this short story. I love how you can almost feel all of the author's emotions from just their short quote. You can tell that it has been built up and feels like a lift being taken off your chest.
Overall, I feel like this can be a fun quick read that can be entertaining. The short stories together are all fun and interesting and when you read them sections at a time the stories can be all the more intriguing. I like how not all but most of the stories were new topics so that when you read it didn't feel repetitive and it felt more like their own moments.
One of my favorite quotes in the book was ¨ You stare at me. For once, you won't say a word. Because you'll know I meant it this time. And then I'll walk away from you. I won't look back.¨ I like this quote from ¨Three Imaginary Conversations With You¨" This quote makes me feel for the author and makes me excited for the character that she finally broke up with him and didn't look back. It is super strong and empowering to me it makes you excited and almost proud of the character in this short story. I love how you can almost feel all of the author's emotions from just their short quote. You can tell that it has been built up and feels like a lift being taken off your chest.
Overall, I feel like this can be a fun quick read that can be entertaining. The short stories together are all fun and interesting and when you read them sections at a time the stories can be all the more intriguing. I like how not all but most of the stories were new topics so that when you read it didn't feel repetitive and it felt more like their own moments.
May 7, 2017
"You have to tack, you understand? You've got to align with the wind - you can't ignore the wind, you see, you've got to make it work for you. That means you've got to zigzag toward your goal, zigging left, zagging right, like a tailback avoiding tackled, left, then right, catching the wind in your sails and then, at just the precise moment, letting go."
I have always loved reading anthologies and YA realistic fiction is my favorite genre so it's a no-brainer that I would really, really like this, right? Somehow, wrong. I'm still contemplating whether I'll rate this based on the average score that came from my different ratings for each short story but the overall appeal is just 2 stars for me. Unlike the past YA anthologies I've read in the past, this one came off as a little unmemorable. Anyway, I'll just have mini reviews for each story and rate them, just like what I did to other anthologies:
Three Imaginary Conversations With You by Heather Demetrios (3 stars) - I liked Heather Demtrios' Something Real so I think it add up a little on this one. I liked the writing and Jessa's feelings and thoughts resonated with me. I never had an emotionally and physically abusive relationship, thank God, but reading about it always made me feel for the victim. God, I hated Gavin to death, I wish I will never come across a guy like him in the future.
The Downside of Fabulous by Kristin Elizabeth Clark (3 stars) - Unlike a lot of readers, I appreciated the tone of the story. In here, the gay stereotype was pronounced and represented in Chris' dilemma. I think that's the focal point in here; teaching all the Liz of the world that there is no such thing as a "usual gay". Though yes, I wish that the romance in here would be more in depth, but yeah, this is not a romance anthology so I'll give this short story that.
The Night of the Living Creeper by Stephen Emond (2.5 stars) - The narration is kind of new to me but it is really interesting plus the little comics inserted every now and then are fun to read. Though with that being said, the ending is a little bit of a letdown. The story revolved too much on unecessary details that the lack of mystery and the "big reveal" kind of bored me.
Makeshift by Kekla Magoon (No rating) - It's not like I skimmed this; I'm a lazy reader but I rarely quit on my reading material especially if I'm already near the middle. This one is just ... forgettable. I actually needed to flip the pages again to know what it was about but I decided it's not worth it. Plus, I have read a lot of books with the same plot, I can't see what's new to bother.
Things You Get Over, Things You Don't by Jason Schmidt (3 stars - I think this is well written. The fact that this is a short story proved to be difficult to fully form a background, plot, problem, climax and resolution. This one was written in parts and each part excelled on telling the needed background and flow for the resolution. I just think that the romance between Caleb and Lisa is kind of forced and desperate, but yeah, I'll give credit when credit is due.
Coffee Chameleon by Jay Clark (No rating) - Again, don't get me wrong, I actually finished this. When I saw a short story written by Jay Clark, I thought that I should give this a chance since Finding Mr. Brightside is such a letdown but I found too many similarities: that trying-too-hard-to-be-quirky storyline, dysfunctional characters and weird humor. Basically, I am disappointed but it's not like I've expected anything.
Hush by Marcella Pixley (3.5 stars) - This is really kind of depressing and painful to read that I had to take deep breaths before continuing. It's hard to imagine living June Bug's life and I feel as though I am suffocated alongside her. This is one of the memorable stories in this anthology and I surely wouldn't forget this.
Blackbird by Trisha Leaver (3 stars) - Okay, this one is a little predictable and cliched for my tastes but since this is a short story and you will never see unnecessary plot lines appearing every now and then, I enjoyed reading this. Sure it is predictable but it is direct to the point. That's what short stories should do.
Gone From This Place by Faith Erin Hicks (3.5 stars - Kind of similar to the The Night of the Living Creeper, this one is a full comic so I was delighted (though at first, I feel dumb for reading it from right to left. You can say that my past comic reading experience is only limited to mangas. I don't even really read mangas). This is a fast read but I really, really enjoyed this. It's direct to the point, the drawings are good and not overly detailed and the plot is just simple yet endearing.
The Sweeter The Sun by Jordan Sonnenblick (2 stars) - Give this story to me on a different day and I'll be a little more generous with my rating but this heightened my boredom towards this anthology, even if the past three stories kind of lift my mood a bit. Or maybe I had just enough with trying-so-hard-to-be-quirky plots?
The Mistake by James Preller (2.5 stars) - I've highlighted a bunch of quotes in here because Malcom's poems and narratives are really good, albeit weirdly ... overly poetic (??). Maybe that, or maybe because I couldn't like Angela that much that's why I couldn't fully appreciate the story.
The Good Brother by Patrick Flores-Scott (3.5 stars - THE GRAND FINALE! This one kind of filled the disappointment I got from most of the stories in here. I liked how this one is written mostly in letters; I could feel the brotherly love and concern between Jose and Javier without being overly, unrealistically sweet. I've only came across a couple of stories revolving around immigration problems and this one brought a much needed light on the issue. I think that this is really timely and this one is a good ending short story for the anthology.
May 20, 2017
Kendall, Grace I See Reality: Twelve Short Stories About Real Life, 286 pgs. Farrar Straus Giroux Books, 2016. $17.99 Language – R (136 swears, 22 “f”), Mature Content – PG13; Violence – PG;
These twelve stories capture unique perspectives, but they do not seem as “real life” as the title claims. However, maybe that is the point. Maybe the authors are trying to show that just because they are not real life to me does not mean that they are not real life for others. Nonetheless, I only enjoyed one story (“Blackbird” by Trisha Leaver); the other eleven were not appealing or pleasurable in any way (although “Things You Get Over, Things You Don’t” by Jason Schmidt was the most tolerable of those other eleven). As evidenced by the ratings above, I found far too much vulgarity in the stories for my liking.
HS – NO. Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
These twelve stories capture unique perspectives, but they do not seem as “real life” as the title claims. However, maybe that is the point. Maybe the authors are trying to show that just because they are not real life to me does not mean that they are not real life for others. Nonetheless, I only enjoyed one story (“Blackbird” by Trisha Leaver); the other eleven were not appealing or pleasurable in any way (although “Things You Get Over, Things You Don’t” by Jason Schmidt was the most tolerable of those other eleven). As evidenced by the ratings above, I found far too much vulgarity in the stories for my liking.
HS – NO. Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
May 30, 2021
It's very hit or miss with the stories
Three Imaginary Conversations I had with You 3/5
I liked it, not super memorable but it was good
The Downside of Fabulous 4/5
I love this one it talks about how not everyone fits into a fabulous gay man.
The Night of the Living Creeper 2/5
It's fine, the idea of telling this story from the cat's perspective is cool but you lose some nuance because the story is from the cat's perspective
Makeshift ???/5
I have zero memories of reading this one
Things You Get Over, This You Don't 4/5
This one is my favorite
Coffee Chameleon 1/5
The topic is tackled I don't remember it doing it well
Hush 2/5
It's fine
Blackbird 3/5
It's also fine
Gone from this Place 1/5
I hate this one, concepts there but the story fell flat
The Sweeter the Sin ???/5
I don't remember this one ether
The Mistake 2/5
It's fine I just wish it was from the girl's perspective
The Good Brother 3/5
It's good
Three Imaginary Conversations I had with You 3/5
I liked it, not super memorable but it was good
The Downside of Fabulous 4/5
I love this one it talks about how not everyone fits into a fabulous gay man.
The Night of the Living Creeper 2/5
It's fine, the idea of telling this story from the cat's perspective is cool but you lose some nuance because the story is from the cat's perspective
Makeshift ???/5
I have zero memories of reading this one
Things You Get Over, This You Don't 4/5
This one is my favorite
Coffee Chameleon 1/5
The topic is tackled I don't remember it doing it well
Hush 2/5
It's fine
Blackbird 3/5
It's also fine
Gone from this Place 1/5
I hate this one, concepts there but the story fell flat
The Sweeter the Sin ???/5
I don't remember this one ether
The Mistake 2/5
It's fine I just wish it was from the girl's perspective
The Good Brother 3/5
It's good
October 21, 2017
*3.75 Stars*
Some stories were better than others, but my favorite ones were: Three Imaginary Conversations With You, The Downside of Fabulous, Makeshift, Things You Get Over, Things You Don’t, Hush, Blackbird, The Mistake, and The Good Brother. I thought the short story by Stephen Emond would be my favorite (and it was a major reason why I bought the book) since I read his book Bright Lights, Dark Nights and it’s my favorite book so far this year, but sadly his was my least favorite. The last short story in the collection, The Good Brother, was so influential to me because of the topic of DACA and it’s relevance right now.
Some stories were better than others, but my favorite ones were: Three Imaginary Conversations With You, The Downside of Fabulous, Makeshift, Things You Get Over, Things You Don’t, Hush, Blackbird, The Mistake, and The Good Brother. I thought the short story by Stephen Emond would be my favorite (and it was a major reason why I bought the book) since I read his book Bright Lights, Dark Nights and it’s my favorite book so far this year, but sadly his was my least favorite. The last short story in the collection, The Good Brother, was so influential to me because of the topic of DACA and it’s relevance right now.
January 26, 2018
One of the best books I have read in awhile. This anthology consists of 12 short stories that are raw and real and they make you truely feel for the charcters and their situations. A lot of the stories are heart wrenching but they are situations real people deal with on a dailt basis and thats what makes this book to interesting to read. This book covers topics of realtionships, school shootings, sexuality, drug use, abortion, immigration, sexual assualt, self discovery. It is truely a great book even though it can be depressing at times. I definetly reccomend it to anyone who wants a better look at these topics. Each story is told beautifully by very talented authors.
October 21, 2018
I love short stories, especially ones with real voice about real life. Some stories in this collection are really good, even though some are really not. What I like most about those good ones, such as Makeshift, Things You Get Over, Things You Don't, Hush, The Mistake, is the way the stories are told, no twists at all, but the real sensibility and plain narratives about how those critical things in life go and how the protagonists feel about them. The tone is so real that it instantly drags you into the settings. I was feeling really hopeless and so desperate to find a way out while reading Hush. Realness is one thing I'm always seeking in a good story.
May 3, 2023
Three Imaginary Conversations with you: 4 stars
The Downside Of Fabulous: 3.5 stars
The Night Of The Living Creeper: 2.5 stars
MakeShift: 3 stars
Things You Get Over, Things You Don't: 3 stars
Coffee Chameleon: 3.7 stars
Hush: 3.5 stars
BlackBird: 5 stars
Gone From This Place: 3 stars
The Sweeter The Sin: 3.5 stars
The Mistake:3 stars
The Good Brother: 5 stars
The Downside Of Fabulous: 3.5 stars
The Night Of The Living Creeper: 2.5 stars
MakeShift: 3 stars
Things You Get Over, Things You Don't: 3 stars
Coffee Chameleon: 3.7 stars
Hush: 3.5 stars
BlackBird: 5 stars
Gone From This Place: 3 stars
The Sweeter The Sin: 3.5 stars
The Mistake:3 stars
The Good Brother: 5 stars
May 13, 2018
I did not really like this novel. I thought it was okay or average. The 12 short stories all mixed into one book really didn't flow, but I like the stories themselves. I really liked the first story because it might have helped someone in a bad relationship end it. Overall the stories were good, but the mashing wasn't.
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