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What Doesn't Kill You: An Anthology of YA Short Fiction
24 short stories by 24 different authors. The characters in these pages have gone through some stuff. They've been tricked out of money, given up their innocence, and even ended up accidentally traveling through time with the Devil. They've thought they'd killed people-and even actually done it. They've come out, struggled with eating disorders and OCD, and even had to take on parenting responsibilities.
258 pages, Paperback
Published September 28, 2018
12 people want to read
About the author
Phillip Frey
14 books24 followersPhillip Frey grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where he performed as a child actor at The Cleveland Playhouse. He then later moved to New York where he performed with The New York Shakespeare Festival, followed by The Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center.
With a change of interest Phillip wrote, directed, and edited 3 short films, all of which had international showings, including The New York Film Festival.
With yet another change of interest Phillip returned to Los Angeles to become a produced screenwriter. He is now devoted only to writing prose. The books "Dangerous Times" and "Hym and Hur" were his first published works of fiction. More recently he has had the privilege of having short stories published in various literary journals and anthologies. As for some of them:
"Epilogue"
A bizarre short story published in The Minnesota Review, Issue 92: https://read.dukeupress.edu/the-minne...
"The Doors"
A memoir about Phillip Frey's night out with Jim Morrison and Allen Ginsberg. It may be read in the literary journal "Florida English." It may be read now at: http://floridaenglish.org/journal/the...
"The Hero of Lost Causes"
This contest-winning romantic comedy is published in Scribes Valley Publishing's annual short story anthology, "Slow the Pace." Available on Amazon in print and digital. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EP4UK6A
"The Red Goddess"
A hellish story about an unstoppable wildfire. May be read in the literary journal "Whatever Our Souls," issue #2. Available on Amazon in print and digital. https//www.amazon.com/dp/B073VVCL8S
"Memoria"
A tragic story narrated by a cat. Published in the literary journal "Alcyone," Issue 1. Available on Amazon in print and digital. Since it is the first story, it may be read in full by clicking on the cover for a Look Inside. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1976864453/
"The Uninvited"
A ghost story published in "Dark Dossier Magazine." Available on Amazon in print and digital. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1722069236
"Manure"
In this 1950's humorous story, teenage Hank becomes infatuated with a Marilyn Monroe lookalike. Published in the anthology "What Doesn't Kill You." Available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578209837
With a change of interest Phillip wrote, directed, and edited 3 short films, all of which had international showings, including The New York Film Festival.
With yet another change of interest Phillip returned to Los Angeles to become a produced screenwriter. He is now devoted only to writing prose. The books "Dangerous Times" and "Hym and Hur" were his first published works of fiction. More recently he has had the privilege of having short stories published in various literary journals and anthologies. As for some of them:
"Epilogue"
A bizarre short story published in The Minnesota Review, Issue 92: https://read.dukeupress.edu/the-minne...
"The Doors"
A memoir about Phillip Frey's night out with Jim Morrison and Allen Ginsberg. It may be read in the literary journal "Florida English." It may be read now at: http://floridaenglish.org/journal/the...
"The Hero of Lost Causes"
This contest-winning romantic comedy is published in Scribes Valley Publishing's annual short story anthology, "Slow the Pace." Available on Amazon in print and digital. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EP4UK6A
"The Red Goddess"
A hellish story about an unstoppable wildfire. May be read in the literary journal "Whatever Our Souls," issue #2. Available on Amazon in print and digital. https//www.amazon.com/dp/B073VVCL8S
"Memoria"
A tragic story narrated by a cat. Published in the literary journal "Alcyone," Issue 1. Available on Amazon in print and digital. Since it is the first story, it may be read in full by clicking on the cover for a Look Inside. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1976864453/
"The Uninvited"
A ghost story published in "Dark Dossier Magazine." Available on Amazon in print and digital. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1722069236
"Manure"
In this 1950's humorous story, teenage Hank becomes infatuated with a Marilyn Monroe lookalike. Published in the anthology "What Doesn't Kill You." Available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578209837
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 22, 2019
These 24 stories are split into sections based on the age of the protagonist which ranges from 13-18. Many of the stories didn’t seem to really fit the theme, and most could have used further input from an editor. With very few standouts and lots of misses this title is not recommended for school library collections.
Thirteen:
Let Me Hear From You Urgently by Eliot Schrefer 3 stars
Cherry Baby by Abby Maguire 2 Stars
Manure by Phillip Frey 1.5 stars This story was silly and frivolous in a book that’s supposed to be about characters who have “gone through some stuff.”
It was so hot by Deborah Meltvedt 2 stars
The Exorcism of Jupiter Rain by Sierra C. Morris 1.75 stars This was an absurd story. seemingly meant as satire? Execution fell flat.
Fourteen:
Butchie and the Garbage Man by J. J. Steinfeld 2.5 stars While I didn’t enjoy the writing style, Butchie’s friendship with the garbage man was heartwarming and his prank with the pets was hilariously cruel.
Open. Closed. by Jessica Laskey 3 Stars
Sight by Guffy Bergman 2 stars
All apologies by Matthue Roth 2 stars
Fifteen:
Wyatt’s Tonic by Seth Pilevsky 3 stars
Thunderstruck by Rebecca Washney 4 stars
I, Monster by Louis Bourgeois 1 Star
The Fall of Light by Tiffany L. Berryman 3 stars
Sixteen:
Saturday-me by Jenny Ferguson 2 stars
Impossibly Back by Tracy Gold 4 stars
Why the Anger by Sophie Jupillat Posey 3 stars
Seventeen:
Hell: Birthday Barbecue by Becky Fine-Firesheets 4 stars
Last Kiss by Mercel Meyers 3 stars
Why You Ain’t Got No Girlfriend by P Joshua Laskey 3 stars This could have been a great story but something about it feels unauthentic. Tried to discover the author’s ethnicity, but could not determine. Reads kind of like a white person’s poor attempt to write black characters. However, I’m a white person too so maybe I’m wrong. 🤷🏻♀️
After We Survive This by Laura E. Adams 3.75 stars
Eighteen:
Oranges by Mallary Alderman 4 stars
Pas de Deux by Erika Staiger 4 stars
Conundrum Trail by Chris Wiewiora 3 stars
One Year and a Day by Hedgecock 3 stars
Thirteen:
Let Me Hear From You Urgently by Eliot Schrefer 3 stars
Cherry Baby by Abby Maguire 2 Stars
Manure by Phillip Frey 1.5 stars This story was silly and frivolous in a book that’s supposed to be about characters who have “gone through some stuff.”
It was so hot by Deborah Meltvedt 2 stars
The Exorcism of Jupiter Rain by Sierra C. Morris 1.75 stars This was an absurd story. seemingly meant as satire? Execution fell flat.
Fourteen:
Butchie and the Garbage Man by J. J. Steinfeld 2.5 stars While I didn’t enjoy the writing style, Butchie’s friendship with the garbage man was heartwarming and his prank with the pets was hilariously cruel.
Open. Closed. by Jessica Laskey 3 Stars
Sight by Guffy Bergman 2 stars
All apologies by Matthue Roth 2 stars
Fifteen:
Wyatt’s Tonic by Seth Pilevsky 3 stars
Thunderstruck by Rebecca Washney 4 stars
I, Monster by Louis Bourgeois 1 Star
The Fall of Light by Tiffany L. Berryman 3 stars
Sixteen:
Saturday-me by Jenny Ferguson 2 stars
Impossibly Back by Tracy Gold 4 stars
Why the Anger by Sophie Jupillat Posey 3 stars
Seventeen:
Hell: Birthday Barbecue by Becky Fine-Firesheets 4 stars
Last Kiss by Mercel Meyers 3 stars
Why You Ain’t Got No Girlfriend by P Joshua Laskey 3 stars This could have been a great story but something about it feels unauthentic. Tried to discover the author’s ethnicity, but could not determine. Reads kind of like a white person’s poor attempt to write black characters. However, I’m a white person too so maybe I’m wrong. 🤷🏻♀️
After We Survive This by Laura E. Adams 3.75 stars
Eighteen:
Oranges by Mallary Alderman 4 stars
Pas de Deux by Erika Staiger 4 stars
Conundrum Trail by Chris Wiewiora 3 stars
One Year and a Day by Hedgecock 3 stars
December 29, 2018
Several of these short stories were well written, but the remainder needed re-writes. A few felt as though they weren't edited at all. I bought the book because a fellow classmate from a writing course contributed a story to the anthology. His was engaging, captivating prose. It's worth the read for the stories that worked. I planned to give it to my niece after reading it, but the subject matter is far too adult for her (at 12).
February 4, 2021
While some stories were more engaging than others, Thunderstruck by Rebecca Washney stood out to me above the rest. Captivating and well-written - this author is going to go places!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews