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Imagine: A Collection of Short Stories and Poems from the Teen Writers' Nook Family
It's time to imagine...
Imagination.
Such a small word for such a huge impact it has. Every great story begins here—at that moment after the idea but before the story is completed. The spark. The vision. The idea that will expand into a story that clings to readers’ hearts for a lifetime. An author’s story is limited only by his imagination, and how far he is willing to go to breathe life into characters. To build the foundations of another world. To see the struggles and envision the victories. To search for the magic burning in the darkness.
Teen Writers’ Nook presents a collection of short stories and poems from talented young authors that will take you beyond the boundaries of your mind. From snarky protagonists to the tear-jerking sacrifice. From mystical fantasy worlds to indescribable sci-fi stories. Thrilling adventures, daring choices, inspiring messages, heartfelt romances, and everything beyond. Maybe—just maybe—these tales will have you journey past reality and to the depths of your imagination. Will you take the risk and embark through the pages of this book?
Featuring work from Alaine Darkwood, Alexa Peterson, Allie Jo Andersen, Chloe B. Christensen, Faith Elizabeth, Grace A. Johnson, Grey S. Park, Linyang Zhang, Lissa Johnson, Lorelei Angelino, Penelope Rugan, Selah Sigmon, Victoria Crooks, and V. L. Smith!
Imagination.
Such a small word for such a huge impact it has. Every great story begins here—at that moment after the idea but before the story is completed. The spark. The vision. The idea that will expand into a story that clings to readers’ hearts for a lifetime. An author’s story is limited only by his imagination, and how far he is willing to go to breathe life into characters. To build the foundations of another world. To see the struggles and envision the victories. To search for the magic burning in the darkness.
Teen Writers’ Nook presents a collection of short stories and poems from talented young authors that will take you beyond the boundaries of your mind. From snarky protagonists to the tear-jerking sacrifice. From mystical fantasy worlds to indescribable sci-fi stories. Thrilling adventures, daring choices, inspiring messages, heartfelt romances, and everything beyond. Maybe—just maybe—these tales will have you journey past reality and to the depths of your imagination. Will you take the risk and embark through the pages of this book?
Featuring work from Alaine Darkwood, Alexa Peterson, Allie Jo Andersen, Chloe B. Christensen, Faith Elizabeth, Grace A. Johnson, Grey S. Park, Linyang Zhang, Lissa Johnson, Lorelei Angelino, Penelope Rugan, Selah Sigmon, Victoria Crooks, and V. L. Smith!
166 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2021
1 person is currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Issabelle Perry
5 books222 followersIssabelle Perry is a proud Jesus follower, an extroverted writer, and a history major. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, hunting for Narnia in wardrobes, or envisioning herself wielding a magnificent sword (but due to her clumsiness, let’s hope that never happens). This self-proclaimed exclamation mark enthusiast can be found hanging at Teen Writers’ Nook, a community of teen authors Issabelle co-founded in 2020. She is the author of Don't Let Me Go (Sky's the Limit Press 2025), May We Make Them Proud (2023), and a co-editor for two anthologies. What she’s probably doing right now is fangirling about her favorite books to random people or scanning the pantries for chocolate. Subscribe to her newsletter to stay up-to-date on book releases and writing projects: https://vintagelyizzy.ck.page/newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 21, 2022
Stars: 5
This collection...y’all, this collection is the culmination of several young writers’ years of hard work, the beginning of so many new writing careers, and one of the most amazing anthologies out there. I am beyond proud to have been a part of this beautiful collection, this family of young, talented, Christian writers, to call these girls my sisters and friends.
I was honestly shocked by how well-written and put-together all these short stories and poems were. These girl have more talent than most experienced adult authors do when it comes to crafting intriguing, brilliant, and developed stories and breathtaking, inspiring poems. Of course, I’d read stories by several of the writers in this collection—Linyang Zhang, Grey S. Park, V. L. Smith—so I knew there would be quality work, but I hadn’t expected almost every single piece to be so good!
Admittedly, I’m writing this review way later than I’d hoped, so I’ll keep my thoughts on each story/poem brief.
• Cursed by Grace A. Johnson. Um...I kinda wrote this one, so of course I like it. Fun fact: this is actually a prequel story to a fairytale retelling series I hope to work on some this year! So, yes, that wretched ending isn’t actually the end!
• Shape-Shifter’s Code by Allie Jo Anderson. This story was action-packed, engaging, and left me hungry for more!
• Love, Lilly by Alaine Darkwood. Y’all, this story was so beautiful but so sorrowful. *sniffs*
• “Living Tapestries” by Faith Elizabeth. What a gorgeous poem and an even more beautiful concept!
• A Dragon’s Choice by Chloe B. Christensen. In comparison to the other stories, this one seemed a little...immature, I guess, but it was still well-written!
• Visionaries by Linyang Zhang. I ADORE all of Zhang’s work because of her unique style, engaging premises, and otherworldly depth, but Visionaries is probably one of my favorites! I was left longing for a whole series based on this one story!
• Chest of Lost Worlds by Lorelei Angelino. Christian. Romance. Fantasy. Nuff said. Seriously, though, Angelino wrote a story with as much sweetness and depth as Melanie Dickerson or Melanie Cellier novel but in such shorter form! I especially loved the faith elements she wove in!
• “Evil Queen” by V. L. Smith. This poem was melodic and dark, but with such a great message at the end! I loved how it gave the Snow White villain depth and heart.
• Sparks by Alexa Peterson. So sweet and inspirational!
• Hidden Magic by Penelope Rugan. Apart from the magic elements that y’all know I don’t agree with, this story was honestly kind of confusing and hard to follow.
• Illusionist by Lissa Johnson. I felt like I was missing something and I wanted more, but it was intriguing!
• “Beloved” by Lorelei Angelino. Positively gorgeous!
• Angel by Grey S. Park. So sweet and precious! I loved the emotion and heart in this story, and it’s probably one of Park’s best!
• To Risk the Truth by Victoria Crooks. Y’all, this one was ah-may-zing! So interesting and engaging with room for much more (which I’m really hoping for), and the Christian message was SO GOOD!
• Memories Return by Selah Sigman. This one was also really confusing, like I was missing something, and skipped around some.
• Though He Brings Grief by Faith Elizabeth. Absolutely precious and so inspiring!
• “Gift of Hope” by Lorelei Angelino. Angelino was bringing it, y’all! This poem was so beautiful!
All in all, this collection shows great promise for these writers! I can’t wait to see where the Lord takes them and to read much more of their work!
This collection...y’all, this collection is the culmination of several young writers’ years of hard work, the beginning of so many new writing careers, and one of the most amazing anthologies out there. I am beyond proud to have been a part of this beautiful collection, this family of young, talented, Christian writers, to call these girls my sisters and friends.
I was honestly shocked by how well-written and put-together all these short stories and poems were. These girl have more talent than most experienced adult authors do when it comes to crafting intriguing, brilliant, and developed stories and breathtaking, inspiring poems. Of course, I’d read stories by several of the writers in this collection—Linyang Zhang, Grey S. Park, V. L. Smith—so I knew there would be quality work, but I hadn’t expected almost every single piece to be so good!
Admittedly, I’m writing this review way later than I’d hoped, so I’ll keep my thoughts on each story/poem brief.
• Cursed by Grace A. Johnson. Um...I kinda wrote this one, so of course I like it. Fun fact: this is actually a prequel story to a fairytale retelling series I hope to work on some this year! So, yes, that wretched ending isn’t actually the end!
• Shape-Shifter’s Code by Allie Jo Anderson. This story was action-packed, engaging, and left me hungry for more!
• Love, Lilly by Alaine Darkwood. Y’all, this story was so beautiful but so sorrowful. *sniffs*
• “Living Tapestries” by Faith Elizabeth. What a gorgeous poem and an even more beautiful concept!
• A Dragon’s Choice by Chloe B. Christensen. In comparison to the other stories, this one seemed a little...immature, I guess, but it was still well-written!
• Visionaries by Linyang Zhang. I ADORE all of Zhang’s work because of her unique style, engaging premises, and otherworldly depth, but Visionaries is probably one of my favorites! I was left longing for a whole series based on this one story!
• Chest of Lost Worlds by Lorelei Angelino. Christian. Romance. Fantasy. Nuff said. Seriously, though, Angelino wrote a story with as much sweetness and depth as Melanie Dickerson or Melanie Cellier novel but in such shorter form! I especially loved the faith elements she wove in!
• “Evil Queen” by V. L. Smith. This poem was melodic and dark, but with such a great message at the end! I loved how it gave the Snow White villain depth and heart.
• Sparks by Alexa Peterson. So sweet and inspirational!
• Hidden Magic by Penelope Rugan. Apart from the magic elements that y’all know I don’t agree with, this story was honestly kind of confusing and hard to follow.
• Illusionist by Lissa Johnson. I felt like I was missing something and I wanted more, but it was intriguing!
• “Beloved” by Lorelei Angelino. Positively gorgeous!
• Angel by Grey S. Park. So sweet and precious! I loved the emotion and heart in this story, and it’s probably one of Park’s best!
• To Risk the Truth by Victoria Crooks. Y’all, this one was ah-may-zing! So interesting and engaging with room for much more (which I’m really hoping for), and the Christian message was SO GOOD!
• Memories Return by Selah Sigman. This one was also really confusing, like I was missing something, and skipped around some.
• Though He Brings Grief by Faith Elizabeth. Absolutely precious and so inspiring!
• “Gift of Hope” by Lorelei Angelino. Angelino was bringing it, y’all! This poem was so beautiful!
All in all, this collection shows great promise for these writers! I can’t wait to see where the Lord takes them and to read much more of their work!
December 24, 2021
We could debate if this review is biased or not, but I'd like to say it isn't. After all, I didn't actually write any of the stories, I just helped get them out into the world. And truly, it shouldn't even be my name listed on that book. It should be fourteen amazing authors!! I consider it a blessing and a joy to be one of the publishers of this anthology because I got to witness firsthand what many people who may read this book in the future will never exactly understand. It was a journey. A journey with mountains and valleys, trials and victories, tears and celebration. I got to witness and trek alongside fourteen young authors as they took this journey with us. The work and heart and love they have put into their stories are both incredible and inspiring. They challenge me not to give in when the road gets tough, when writers' block prevails and doubt and discouragement win out. When I've edited my story for so long I can't stand to look at it again, when another long writing night has stretched me thin. And I hope that when reading this anthology, you'll consider every sentence that was rewritten a thousand times, characters' names changed last second, plot that took a wrong turn and had to be corrected. Because I can say this much, no great story was amazingly written on the first try. And these authors have not failed to put every part of their heart into this story, and I think that deserves much more than just a simple five-star review on Goodreads. But that is why I am writing this!!! Not because I edited this book. But because fourteen amazing authors have written a heartfelt, enjoyable, fun and exciting collection of short stories and poems and have inspired me to keep writing! I hope you all enjoy this anthology and are as inspired as I am.
Keep on being awesome and never stop writing,
Issabelle Perry
Keep on being awesome and never stop writing,
Issabelle Perry
October 18, 2021
4.5 stars
Wow, this was so amazing! I absolutely love that every story in this anthology was written by teen authors. I have a feeling some more epic books are going to be coming onto the scene within the next few years. Thank you so much to the editors, Katherine, Issabelle, and Madeleine-Grace Perry, for coming up with this great idea and putting so much work in to bring it to fruition! I love the whole concept of supporting teen writers and sharing their amazing work with the world.
Now, since there are many shorts stories and poems, I thought I'd just say a couple things about every one instead of just one big review. I think each author deserves individual reviews!
"Cursed" (Grace A. Johnson)
This one took me by surprise. I've read a lot of Grace's work, and as usual, this story was well-written and so interesting from the very beginning! Learning that this is part of a longer story helped me wrap my head around this one - talk about a surprise ending! (I need to read the rest of the story now.)
"Shape-Shifter's Code" (Allie Jo Andersen)
This was so cool! Very creative idea dealing with futuristic technology. I loved the camaraderie between Ruby, Spencer, and Maisy. The pacing was really nice, and I enjoyed how it all tied up at the end. This could be turned into such an interesting concept for an entire book!
"Love, Lilly" (Alaine Darkwood)
Oh my, this one was such a heart-breaker! It wasn't long, but it gave me all the feelings. I haven't been through Lilly's trials, but I could definitely identify with her pain of betrayal. Really an emotional read, and the ending ... wow.
"Living Tapestries" (Faith Elizabeth)
I'm not huge into poetry in general, but I really enjoy devotional poetry. And this was no exception! Such beautiful language filled with so much truth. Lovely!
"A Dragon's Choice" (Chloe B. Christensen)
This one was really sweet. I loved how relatable the characters were even though they were in a fantasy land. And how cool that everyone got dragons! That was such a good scene. And let me tell you, baby dragons are adorable. (Kayda is precious!)
"Visionaries" (Linyang Zhang)
This one was exciting! The whole leader of the rebellion/on the run situations are always quite engaging. Avier and Roen were a good team, and Linyang did a good job setting up their entire scenario within the short pages of the story. This was another ending I wasn't expecting, and I won't spoil it for anyone, but ... wow.
"The Chest of Lost Worlds" (Lorelei Angelino)
This had a fairytale feeling for me, and add into that into being separated from your homeland - intriguing plot! Romances are hard to pull off in short stories because of the length, but I thought this one was sweet. I loved how the ending wasn't the perfect situation, but Auriella realized it was the Lord's Will for her, and that was enough. So beautiful!
"Evil Queen" (V. L. Smith)
Wow, another poem that was just great! The rhythm of this one with the refrain of "Evil queen! Evil queen!" was really nice. And what a great moral - what we believe and what we think is so important, and we have to get rid of wrong ideas or they can destroy us. Well done!
"Sparks" (Alexa Peterson)
This felt like a very normal teenage girl's life, and because of that, what a relatable moral. Parts of this were quite poetic, all to show that even the tiniest thing we do can help another. It just takes one spark! This was a very sweet story, and how important it is to love one another!
"Hidden Magic" (Penelope Rugan)
This one was all over the place! Lots of action and ... well, getting knocked out. That was humorous. If you can't tell from the title, there is magic in this story, which I'm not super comfortable with. However, this was quite well-written and the world-building was nice. And of course, I had no idea what was going to happen! Another ending that surprised me a little.
"Illusionist" (Lissa Johnson)
Ok. I was zero percent expecting for things to go this way. It was such a cool story, and I honestly felt like this could be a novel. I think I actually thought to myself that it must be a prologue or something of another book. The character development was so great - the character were so established, so strong, so chill. And then. I don't even know what to say, other than I was shocked. Wow.
"Beloved" (Lorelei Angelino)
This is such a beautiful poem! Another great devotional poem. (I need to read more of these. Do you think we can get an entire anthology of devotional poems from the authors at Teen Writers' Nook?) This was just so pretty and so true as it spoke of how much our Lord loves us. His love is so evident in such glorious ways!
"Angel" (Grey S. Park)
I really enjoyed this story. Jungsoon was such a real character, and Minji - can I just say I love Minji? She was just the sweetest little sister ever. I loved reading about them just hanging out and having such a great brother-sister relationship. And the ending? Aw. It was just so sweet. Well-written, well-paced ... I loved it!
"To Risk the Truth" (Victoria Crooks)
I really liked the angle Victoria took in this story. So many times, the protagonist is in the right and is fighting against the wrong. In this story, though, the MC is about to do something horrendous and needs to learn the truth. And Ezra was a great guy - I loved how he used Creation to point Sabrina to the Lord. Next stop, the Bible! Overall, a very creative approach to a dystopian book.
"Memories Returned" (Selah Sigmon)
Wow, another one with a surprise ending! (These short stories are dangerous. They are always shocking me. I need to prepare myself.) I was a little bit confused at first - probably because I wasn't expecting that ending! Even in these short pages, Selah set up a great feel for the world Simon lived in.
"Though He Brings Grief ..." (Faith Elizabeth)
Wow. This one made me tear up. I was confused at first by all the switching POVs, and then by a point in the story, I knew what was going to happen. I hoped it wouldn't. But then it did ... and it ended up being beautiful. Mandy's love and trust in the Lord was so amazing, and the way everything worked out was just gorgeous. Suffering is so hard to face, and we don't understand ... yet the Lord understands, and He brings all things to pass for a reason. So well done - this was amazing.
"Gift of Hope" (Lorelei Angelino)
Another beautiful poem! Wow! I love how Lorelei spoke of the stars and how they can remind us of the Lord's love for us. So many things show us God's love - but we have to open our eyes to see them. Very pretty and what a precious truth.
Wow, this was so amazing! I absolutely love that every story in this anthology was written by teen authors. I have a feeling some more epic books are going to be coming onto the scene within the next few years. Thank you so much to the editors, Katherine, Issabelle, and Madeleine-Grace Perry, for coming up with this great idea and putting so much work in to bring it to fruition! I love the whole concept of supporting teen writers and sharing their amazing work with the world.
Now, since there are many shorts stories and poems, I thought I'd just say a couple things about every one instead of just one big review. I think each author deserves individual reviews!
"Cursed" (Grace A. Johnson)
This one took me by surprise. I've read a lot of Grace's work, and as usual, this story was well-written and so interesting from the very beginning! Learning that this is part of a longer story helped me wrap my head around this one - talk about a surprise ending! (I need to read the rest of the story now.)
"Shape-Shifter's Code" (Allie Jo Andersen)
This was so cool! Very creative idea dealing with futuristic technology. I loved the camaraderie between Ruby, Spencer, and Maisy. The pacing was really nice, and I enjoyed how it all tied up at the end. This could be turned into such an interesting concept for an entire book!
"Love, Lilly" (Alaine Darkwood)
Oh my, this one was such a heart-breaker! It wasn't long, but it gave me all the feelings. I haven't been through Lilly's trials, but I could definitely identify with her pain of betrayal. Really an emotional read, and the ending ... wow.
"Living Tapestries" (Faith Elizabeth)
I'm not huge into poetry in general, but I really enjoy devotional poetry. And this was no exception! Such beautiful language filled with so much truth. Lovely!
"A Dragon's Choice" (Chloe B. Christensen)
This one was really sweet. I loved how relatable the characters were even though they were in a fantasy land. And how cool that everyone got dragons! That was such a good scene. And let me tell you, baby dragons are adorable. (Kayda is precious!)
"Visionaries" (Linyang Zhang)
This one was exciting! The whole leader of the rebellion/on the run situations are always quite engaging. Avier and Roen were a good team, and Linyang did a good job setting up their entire scenario within the short pages of the story. This was another ending I wasn't expecting, and I won't spoil it for anyone, but ... wow.
"The Chest of Lost Worlds" (Lorelei Angelino)
This had a fairytale feeling for me, and add into that into being separated from your homeland - intriguing plot! Romances are hard to pull off in short stories because of the length, but I thought this one was sweet. I loved how the ending wasn't the perfect situation, but Auriella realized it was the Lord's Will for her, and that was enough. So beautiful!
"Evil Queen" (V. L. Smith)
Wow, another poem that was just great! The rhythm of this one with the refrain of "Evil queen! Evil queen!" was really nice. And what a great moral - what we believe and what we think is so important, and we have to get rid of wrong ideas or they can destroy us. Well done!
"Sparks" (Alexa Peterson)
This felt like a very normal teenage girl's life, and because of that, what a relatable moral. Parts of this were quite poetic, all to show that even the tiniest thing we do can help another. It just takes one spark! This was a very sweet story, and how important it is to love one another!
"Hidden Magic" (Penelope Rugan)
This one was all over the place! Lots of action and ... well, getting knocked out. That was humorous. If you can't tell from the title, there is magic in this story, which I'm not super comfortable with. However, this was quite well-written and the world-building was nice. And of course, I had no idea what was going to happen! Another ending that surprised me a little.
"Illusionist" (Lissa Johnson)
Ok. I was zero percent expecting for things to go this way. It was such a cool story, and I honestly felt like this could be a novel. I think I actually thought to myself that it must be a prologue or something of another book. The character development was so great - the character were so established, so strong, so chill. And then. I don't even know what to say, other than I was shocked. Wow.
"Beloved" (Lorelei Angelino)
This is such a beautiful poem! Another great devotional poem. (I need to read more of these. Do you think we can get an entire anthology of devotional poems from the authors at Teen Writers' Nook?) This was just so pretty and so true as it spoke of how much our Lord loves us. His love is so evident in such glorious ways!
"Angel" (Grey S. Park)
I really enjoyed this story. Jungsoon was such a real character, and Minji - can I just say I love Minji? She was just the sweetest little sister ever. I loved reading about them just hanging out and having such a great brother-sister relationship. And the ending? Aw. It was just so sweet. Well-written, well-paced ... I loved it!
"To Risk the Truth" (Victoria Crooks)
I really liked the angle Victoria took in this story. So many times, the protagonist is in the right and is fighting against the wrong. In this story, though, the MC is about to do something horrendous and needs to learn the truth. And Ezra was a great guy - I loved how he used Creation to point Sabrina to the Lord. Next stop, the Bible! Overall, a very creative approach to a dystopian book.
"Memories Returned" (Selah Sigmon)
Wow, another one with a surprise ending! (These short stories are dangerous. They are always shocking me. I need to prepare myself.) I was a little bit confused at first - probably because I wasn't expecting that ending! Even in these short pages, Selah set up a great feel for the world Simon lived in.
"Though He Brings Grief ..." (Faith Elizabeth)
Wow. This one made me tear up. I was confused at first by all the switching POVs, and then by a point in the story, I knew what was going to happen. I hoped it wouldn't. But then it did ... and it ended up being beautiful. Mandy's love and trust in the Lord was so amazing, and the way everything worked out was just gorgeous. Suffering is so hard to face, and we don't understand ... yet the Lord understands, and He brings all things to pass for a reason. So well done - this was amazing.
"Gift of Hope" (Lorelei Angelino)
Another beautiful poem! Wow! I love how Lorelei spoke of the stars and how they can remind us of the Lord's love for us. So many things show us God's love - but we have to open our eyes to see them. Very pretty and what a precious truth.
tbr-2
October 25, 2022Free on Amazon (Oct. 23-26, 2022)!
April 18, 2022
This was a beautiful collection of stories and poems! Every writer did AMAZING on this!! Great job everyone! And great idea Perry sisters!
Second Read: I really enjoyed all those wonderful stories and poems! I love how it's a smattering of genres and topics which makes it really fun to read!! Great job! <33
Second Read: I really enjoyed all those wonderful stories and poems! I love how it's a smattering of genres and topics which makes it really fun to read!! Great job! <33
December 20, 2021
Beautiful collection of stories that left me inspired and wanting more!
Read
May 20, 2024I am not providing this book with an overall rating.
RATING OVERVIEW: (7) 5 Stars, (1) 4 Stars, (7) 3 Stars (some were 3.5), (1) 2.5 Stars, and (1) 1 Star
I wrote my thoughts as I read each individual short story. As with every collection, there are bound to be a few you aren’t all that fond of and a few you enjoy.
My thoughts and individual ratings for each short story are as follows:
Cursed by Grace A. Johnson
Rating: 1 Star
Wasn’t a fan of the writing style at all–too rambling and jumping all over the place with no cohesion or coherency–but that’s not what merits the single star. Yes, I know this is a fantasy world, but some things are unacceptable no matter the genre. In this short story others receive the deceased’s souls. That is downright creepy and just wrong. Plus, there are no such things as ghosts and being truly soulless. It just…no. Nope. It reeks of a weird mix of Kind-Of-Catholic Purgatory, other unBiblical beliefs, and the Hindi reincarnation. It is EXPLICIT in the Bible that after you die you don’t just wander around aimlessly (plus, how could you when you don’t have a soul, which is apparently this character’s problem?). You go one of two places. I don’t care if this was fantasy. We can’t allow false theology and unBiblical teachings, truths, and doctrines at all. And we definitely cannot use any particular genre as an excuse to include those incorrect elements.
This was a hard, absolutely-not nope for me. I do not recommend it at all.
Shape-Shifter’s Code by Allie Jo Andersen
Rating: 5 Stars
I’ve not read anything else by Andersen, and I’m going to rectify that. Such a fun story! The clever “worldbuilding” (regarding shape-shifting; what would you call that? Shape-shifting-building?). The humor was natural and I enjoyed the story. I hope it will someday be expounded upon. (And was I shipping Maisy and Spencer? Just a wee bit.)
Love, Lilly by Alaine Darkwood
Rating:5 Stars
I don’t know if I can put into words how poignant and touching this…this letter, really, is. That’s really all I can say. It reminds you how precious life is, how valuable loyalty is, and how deadly the actions of our consequences can be.
Living Tapestries by Faith Elizabeth
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This is a gentle poem about the goodness of God, really, and how He can turn us from broken into whole and from slogging in sin to one of His own saved through faith.
A Dragon’s Choice by Chloe B. Christensen
Rating: 3 Stars
This was a fun story, and of course I liked that dragons were included.
Visionaries by Linyang Zhang
Rating: 3 Stars
Zhang has a good writing style and her incorporation of wry wit and humor made me snort in amusement. The story felt confusing as it went on, though, and I get why the kids wanted harmony and peace, but that will never happen, especially for Christians. We’ll forever be at odds with the world until Christ returns.
The Chest of Lost Worlds by Lorelei Angelino
Rating: 5 Stars
Ah! This was such a good short story! A little rushed, obviously, due to the word count (short stories are 5,000 words or less), but still quite clever and intriguing. I’d really like to see this expanded into a longer novella or, possibly, a series. I’d read that. Totally would read that.
Evil Queen by V.L. Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
Admittedly, I’m not a poetry person. At all. This poem is one of the few I think are written well. With an interesting take on a character from Snow White, it imparts a lesson everyone needs to take to heart. The poetry itself is also quality, which is not something I think regarding most poems. Well done, Smith.
Sparks by Alexa Peterson
Rating: 3.5 Stars
This is a good reminder about how everyone, no matter how insignificant they view themselves, can make a difference. The other theme is to never let your anger win–as in, don’t hold grudges and let the sun go down on your anger.
Hidden Magic by Penelope Rugan
Rating: 3.5 Stars
The premise was ingenious, the worldbuilding intriguing, and the way the personalities clashed hilarious. The story ended too abruptly for my preference, though that probably won’t bother others. Anyway, I needed the sequel a week ago please and thank you.
Illusionist by Lissa Johnson
Rating 3
Okay. Johnson has a solid writing voice and included some absolutely hilarious snippets. And that plot twist. Chilling. Who-ee. I was not expecting that end. Not really sure what to think of it, really, since I’m still recovering. My primary beef was the liberal inclusion at the beginning. I almost DNF’d it for that reason but wanted to know how this story ended.
Beloved Lorelei Angelino
Rating: 5 Stars
*Clapping* A short poem that beautifully reinforces John 3:16.
Angel by Grey S. Park
Rating: 3 Stars
I’m not into Korean culture–music, literature, drama–at all, so it took a little for me to adjust to this. I really did like the heavy emphasis on quality familial ties and bonds, though. We don’t see that near enough in fiction these days and it was refreshing to read about.
To Risk the Truth by Victoria Crooks
Rating: 5 Stars
I always appreciate authors who are unafraid to include faith in their works, and Crooks is one of those. Weaving a captivating tale filled with dystopian hints, strong faith, and a woman struggling to be the best leader for her world, To Risk the Truth portrays the importance of sharing our faith. I will be looking into more of Crooks’ books in the near future.
Memories Returned by Selah Sigmon
Rating: 3.5 Stars
I was all ready to give this a five star rating until it ended. No. I need more. I need to know what happens. Please? You can’t just leave me at that unexpected revelation!
Though He Brings Grief by Faith Elizabeth
Rating: 2.5 stars
Faith Elizabeth can really weave a heartbreaking story. I liked the Bible verses. What I did not like was how Jesus appeared in dreams and spoke to a character. That is too much like the unBiblical “Heaven is Real” farce and all that malarkey. Dreams, visions, and actually being spoken to (I’m not talking about verses being impressed upon the heart) do not occur in the Western world. I believe God may use that approach in Muslim countries and other areas closed off to Christianity, but that’s a different topic.
Faith Elizabeth can write. I just can’t agree with how Jesus appeared and literally spoke to a character.
Gift of Hope by Lorelei Angelino
Rating 5 Stars
“Scattered pieces of the sun…” What a beautiful picture! Angelino can paint with words. That’s all I can really figure out what to say.
CONCLUSION
I really liked several, liked some, and heavily disliked one. That’s really my overall conclusion. Some of these authors show great promise, and I hope they do well in their future writing careers.
RATING OVERVIEW: (7) 5 Stars, (1) 4 Stars, (7) 3 Stars (some were 3.5), (1) 2.5 Stars, and (1) 1 Star
I wrote my thoughts as I read each individual short story. As with every collection, there are bound to be a few you aren’t all that fond of and a few you enjoy.
My thoughts and individual ratings for each short story are as follows:
Cursed by Grace A. Johnson
Rating: 1 Star
Wasn’t a fan of the writing style at all–too rambling and jumping all over the place with no cohesion or coherency–but that’s not what merits the single star. Yes, I know this is a fantasy world, but some things are unacceptable no matter the genre. In this short story others receive the deceased’s souls. That is downright creepy and just wrong. Plus, there are no such things as ghosts and being truly soulless. It just…no. Nope. It reeks of a weird mix of Kind-Of-Catholic Purgatory, other unBiblical beliefs, and the Hindi reincarnation. It is EXPLICIT in the Bible that after you die you don’t just wander around aimlessly (plus, how could you when you don’t have a soul, which is apparently this character’s problem?). You go one of two places. I don’t care if this was fantasy. We can’t allow false theology and unBiblical teachings, truths, and doctrines at all. And we definitely cannot use any particular genre as an excuse to include those incorrect elements.
This was a hard, absolutely-not nope for me. I do not recommend it at all.
Shape-Shifter’s Code by Allie Jo Andersen
Rating: 5 Stars
I’ve not read anything else by Andersen, and I’m going to rectify that. Such a fun story! The clever “worldbuilding” (regarding shape-shifting; what would you call that? Shape-shifting-building?). The humor was natural and I enjoyed the story. I hope it will someday be expounded upon. (And was I shipping Maisy and Spencer? Just a wee bit.)
Love, Lilly by Alaine Darkwood
Rating:5 Stars
I don’t know if I can put into words how poignant and touching this…this letter, really, is. That’s really all I can say. It reminds you how precious life is, how valuable loyalty is, and how deadly the actions of our consequences can be.
Living Tapestries by Faith Elizabeth
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This is a gentle poem about the goodness of God, really, and how He can turn us from broken into whole and from slogging in sin to one of His own saved through faith.
A Dragon’s Choice by Chloe B. Christensen
Rating: 3 Stars
This was a fun story, and of course I liked that dragons were included.
Visionaries by Linyang Zhang
Rating: 3 Stars
Zhang has a good writing style and her incorporation of wry wit and humor made me snort in amusement. The story felt confusing as it went on, though, and I get why the kids wanted harmony and peace, but that will never happen, especially for Christians. We’ll forever be at odds with the world until Christ returns.
The Chest of Lost Worlds by Lorelei Angelino
Rating: 5 Stars
Ah! This was such a good short story! A little rushed, obviously, due to the word count (short stories are 5,000 words or less), but still quite clever and intriguing. I’d really like to see this expanded into a longer novella or, possibly, a series. I’d read that. Totally would read that.
Evil Queen by V.L. Smith
Rating: 5 Stars
Admittedly, I’m not a poetry person. At all. This poem is one of the few I think are written well. With an interesting take on a character from Snow White, it imparts a lesson everyone needs to take to heart. The poetry itself is also quality, which is not something I think regarding most poems. Well done, Smith.
Sparks by Alexa Peterson
Rating: 3.5 Stars
This is a good reminder about how everyone, no matter how insignificant they view themselves, can make a difference. The other theme is to never let your anger win–as in, don’t hold grudges and let the sun go down on your anger.
Hidden Magic by Penelope Rugan
Rating: 3.5 Stars
The premise was ingenious, the worldbuilding intriguing, and the way the personalities clashed hilarious. The story ended too abruptly for my preference, though that probably won’t bother others. Anyway, I needed the sequel a week ago please and thank you.
Illusionist by Lissa Johnson
Rating 3
Okay. Johnson has a solid writing voice and included some absolutely hilarious snippets. And that plot twist. Chilling. Who-ee. I was not expecting that end. Not really sure what to think of it, really, since I’m still recovering. My primary beef was the liberal inclusion at the beginning. I almost DNF’d it for that reason but wanted to know how this story ended.
Beloved Lorelei Angelino
Rating: 5 Stars
*Clapping* A short poem that beautifully reinforces John 3:16.
Angel by Grey S. Park
Rating: 3 Stars
I’m not into Korean culture–music, literature, drama–at all, so it took a little for me to adjust to this. I really did like the heavy emphasis on quality familial ties and bonds, though. We don’t see that near enough in fiction these days and it was refreshing to read about.
To Risk the Truth by Victoria Crooks
Rating: 5 Stars
I always appreciate authors who are unafraid to include faith in their works, and Crooks is one of those. Weaving a captivating tale filled with dystopian hints, strong faith, and a woman struggling to be the best leader for her world, To Risk the Truth portrays the importance of sharing our faith. I will be looking into more of Crooks’ books in the near future.
Memories Returned by Selah Sigmon
Rating: 3.5 Stars
I was all ready to give this a five star rating until it ended. No. I need more. I need to know what happens. Please? You can’t just leave me at that unexpected revelation!
Though He Brings Grief by Faith Elizabeth
Rating: 2.5 stars
Faith Elizabeth can really weave a heartbreaking story. I liked the Bible verses. What I did not like was how Jesus appeared in dreams and spoke to a character. That is too much like the unBiblical “Heaven is Real” farce and all that malarkey. Dreams, visions, and actually being spoken to (I’m not talking about verses being impressed upon the heart) do not occur in the Western world. I believe God may use that approach in Muslim countries and other areas closed off to Christianity, but that’s a different topic.
Faith Elizabeth can write. I just can’t agree with how Jesus appeared and literally spoke to a character.
Gift of Hope by Lorelei Angelino
Rating 5 Stars
“Scattered pieces of the sun…” What a beautiful picture! Angelino can paint with words. That’s all I can really figure out what to say.
CONCLUSION
I really liked several, liked some, and heavily disliked one. That’s really my overall conclusion. Some of these authors show great promise, and I hope they do well in their future writing careers.
October 3, 2021
I'm using a slightly different (and out-of-alphabetical-order) review format because my normal format doesn't work great for anthologies.
Thoughts: I'm not a big reader of anthologies, but I was so impressed with this one! The writing, creativity, plots, characters, and editing were excellent! This collection contained something for almost every reader: dystopian, fantasy, contemporary, romance, thriller, poetry, Christian fiction, clean fiction ... and I'm probably forgetting something. And I loved that this was written, edited, and published by teens!
Language: Clean.
Random comments: A couple of the stories got a little dark/edgy. Magic was mentioned briefly in one story, and magic/spells appeared in another story; I definitely didn't like the inclusion of magic/spells.
Romance: Clean. Just a couple of kisses.
Overall: Imagine was an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction, clean fiction, fantasy, dystopian stories, romance, thrillers, contemporary fiction, short stories, and poetry.
Thoughts: I'm not a big reader of anthologies, but I was so impressed with this one! The writing, creativity, plots, characters, and editing were excellent! This collection contained something for almost every reader: dystopian, fantasy, contemporary, romance, thriller, poetry, Christian fiction, clean fiction ... and I'm probably forgetting something. And I loved that this was written, edited, and published by teens!
Language: Clean.
Random comments: A couple of the stories got a little dark/edgy. Magic was mentioned briefly in one story, and magic/spells appeared in another story; I definitely didn't like the inclusion of magic/spells.
Romance: Clean. Just a couple of kisses.
Overall: Imagine was an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy Christian fiction, clean fiction, fantasy, dystopian stories, romance, thrillers, contemporary fiction, short stories, and poetry.
October 3, 2021
This anthology is an amazing, inspiring read!!! With a variety of genres and poems, there’s something in here for everyone! All the stories are unique, creative, and GENIUS! The characters are WONDERFUL, and the poems are BEAUTIFUL! I was touched by reading all these stories, and I hope it touches your life as well. Every author in this anthology is so talented, and I consider it an honor to be their editor and publisher for this anthology! I am SUPER excited to see more work from these authors!!! I know God is using them to do great things for His Kingdom.
If you’re wondering what to read, I recommend you pick up Imagine and dive into the stories and journey with the fantastic characters!
If you’re wondering what to read, I recommend you pick up Imagine and dive into the stories and journey with the fantastic characters!
December 11, 2021
I loved this soooo much! All the stories are so creative and inventive...the poems were also enjoyable and I've that it was a collection of stories and poems written by all sorts of talented young people! Truly I can't pick a favorite! I loved them all!
November 5, 2021
Imagine: a collection of short stories and poems from the Teen Writers’ Nook Family
Okay. Wow. They're all so well written, and yet so unique, I can't do a "book review" in the normal sense; I'm just gonna do a couple sentences of what I thought of each :)
For anyone considering buying this book, a hard copy or kindle, I just gotta say DO IT! You won't regret (unless you're boring and don't enjoy feeling immersed in what you read).
Right now. Go. Buy it.
Cursed:
That's a horrible ending! Amazingly written but 😭how dare you leave us with a cliffhanger like that. 4.9/5 stars (-0.1 stars bc that CLIFFHANGERRR)
Shape-Shifter's Code:
Interesting plot twist! If Mr. Phillips was so great at technology, wouldn't he have sabotaged the tech used to arrest him, or at least have listened in? Just an idea :)
Love, Lilly:
That. Was. Incredible.
Amazing portrayal of what real life can be like sometimes. It felt so accurate, so incredibly lifelike, that I can sense her tears on the page. Well done!
Living Tapestries:
Straight facts. This poem shows so well how we're art in God's hands, and we can know that no matter what, no matter how broken we are, He can make us beautiful.
A Dragon's Choice:
That was great! Well written climax (gave me goosebumps), a great protagonist, and what could've been a much longer story was condensed perfectly. It deserves a sequel!
Visionaries:
Oh, wow.
I really like the switching back and forth, using the past to explain the present while not overloading the reader with information. Also, the different personalities! Amazing! Each character is so unique.
Chest of Lost Worlds:
Aha. Here comes the good stuff. The, dare I say it...
Romance.
*chef's kiss*
I LOVE it! (😏😏see what I did there)
Amazingly written, with just enough of a backstory to explain the present, and written in such a way that leaves you wanting to hear more of the future. And yet, it's a whole story in itself. Auriella's desperation was so tangible! The hook as well. It can be difficult to write hooks for short stories, but this one was masterfully done. Great job, Lorelei!
Evil Queen:
An interesting twist to a popular fairy tale! I like the life lesson reflected in the poem (sorry but I had to). Good job!
Sparks:
Definitely not crying. Not me. Nope.
"Changing the world doesn't have to be a big thing... Maybe it's writing a story that touches readers' hearts."
Well, you definitely did that!
Hidden Magic:
Whew, what a fun story! Honestly, there's a lot to think about in here. Great writing!
Illusionist:
HEY! You can't do that! Don't wanna spoil it but whyyy did you do that to your poor readers :(((
Amazing writing I suppose, really drew me in (AND THEN STABBED ME WHERE IT HURTS)
Beloved:
Short and sweet. Very meaningful, and a great reminder of how much God loves us!
Angel:
The emotion in this story is just... wow. Huge respect for Jungsoon! Keep being an amazing older brother!
To Risk The Truth:
Another great story. This one really makes you think as well. The buildup in this story, the climax in this story, the truth in this story...
Memories Returned:
Oh wow. that... was yet another cliffhanger 😭😭 what is it with you guys and cliffhangers just release full books already please
Though He Brings Grief:
You AUTHORS, always playing with my emotions! Great story, though. Another great one to ponder, another one to recommend, another one that made me cry. All these stories are so different, and yet a lot are alike in the ways that matter (all of them are alike in the amazing quality of writing, of course).
Gift of Hope:
What a great one to follow that last masterpiece by Faith! It's an amazing encouragement. Nature really does remind us of God's presence, if we allow it to.
Imagine: a collection of short stories and poems from the Teen Writers’ Nook Family:
5/5 for all of those amazing works of art 😭😭 (except you horrid people who include cliffhangers I only give you 4.9/5 so HA) go make more pls
To all you Perrys: Thank you so much for compiling this masterpiece collection!! Go tell them to make more (and release your own books because it’s obvious you know what good writing is)
Okay. Wow. They're all so well written, and yet so unique, I can't do a "book review" in the normal sense; I'm just gonna do a couple sentences of what I thought of each :)
For anyone considering buying this book, a hard copy or kindle, I just gotta say DO IT! You won't regret (unless you're boring and don't enjoy feeling immersed in what you read).
Right now. Go. Buy it.
Cursed:
That's a horrible ending! Amazingly written but 😭how dare you leave us with a cliffhanger like that. 4.9/5 stars (-0.1 stars bc that CLIFFHANGERRR)
Shape-Shifter's Code:
Interesting plot twist! If Mr. Phillips was so great at technology, wouldn't he have sabotaged the tech used to arrest him, or at least have listened in? Just an idea :)
Love, Lilly:
That. Was. Incredible.
Amazing portrayal of what real life can be like sometimes. It felt so accurate, so incredibly lifelike, that I can sense her tears on the page. Well done!
Living Tapestries:
Straight facts. This poem shows so well how we're art in God's hands, and we can know that no matter what, no matter how broken we are, He can make us beautiful.
A Dragon's Choice:
That was great! Well written climax (gave me goosebumps), a great protagonist, and what could've been a much longer story was condensed perfectly. It deserves a sequel!
Visionaries:
Oh, wow.
I really like the switching back and forth, using the past to explain the present while not overloading the reader with information. Also, the different personalities! Amazing! Each character is so unique.
Chest of Lost Worlds:
Aha. Here comes the good stuff. The, dare I say it...
Romance.
*chef's kiss*
I LOVE it! (😏😏see what I did there)
Amazingly written, with just enough of a backstory to explain the present, and written in such a way that leaves you wanting to hear more of the future. And yet, it's a whole story in itself. Auriella's desperation was so tangible! The hook as well. It can be difficult to write hooks for short stories, but this one was masterfully done. Great job, Lorelei!
Evil Queen:
An interesting twist to a popular fairy tale! I like the life lesson reflected in the poem (sorry but I had to). Good job!
Sparks:
Definitely not crying. Not me. Nope.
"Changing the world doesn't have to be a big thing... Maybe it's writing a story that touches readers' hearts."
Well, you definitely did that!
Hidden Magic:
Whew, what a fun story! Honestly, there's a lot to think about in here. Great writing!
Illusionist:
HEY! You can't do that! Don't wanna spoil it but whyyy did you do that to your poor readers :(((
Amazing writing I suppose, really drew me in (AND THEN STABBED ME WHERE IT HURTS)
Beloved:
Short and sweet. Very meaningful, and a great reminder of how much God loves us!
Angel:
The emotion in this story is just... wow. Huge respect for Jungsoon! Keep being an amazing older brother!
To Risk The Truth:
Another great story. This one really makes you think as well. The buildup in this story, the climax in this story, the truth in this story...
Memories Returned:
Oh wow. that... was yet another cliffhanger 😭😭 what is it with you guys and cliffhangers just release full books already please
Though He Brings Grief:
You AUTHORS, always playing with my emotions! Great story, though. Another great one to ponder, another one to recommend, another one that made me cry. All these stories are so different, and yet a lot are alike in the ways that matter (all of them are alike in the amazing quality of writing, of course).
Gift of Hope:
What a great one to follow that last masterpiece by Faith! It's an amazing encouragement. Nature really does remind us of God's presence, if we allow it to.
Imagine: a collection of short stories and poems from the Teen Writers’ Nook Family:
5/5 for all of those amazing works of art 😭😭 (except you horrid people who include cliffhangers I only give you 4.9/5 so HA) go make more pls
To all you Perrys: Thank you so much for compiling this masterpiece collection!! Go tell them to make more (and release your own books because it’s obvious you know what good writing is)
December 27, 2021
So, it took me like a month to read all the FANTABULOUS stories in here but I finally finished it!!! (Aaaand I finally finished this review that I started over a month ago as well...the props of being me) XD But WHOO-EE!!! This had to be one of my favorite anthologies ever! Because there are such awesome individual works in it, I won't do my normal very *cough* detailed reviews for all of them (or we'd be at this for about a good century or two). Instead I'll tackle each story/poem with a few thoughts/opinions/compliments/whatever you wanna call it and wrap it up with a brief "Content Cautions" section afterwards!
"Cursed" by Grace A. Johnson
Woooow, this story was definitely not what I expected. For one, I was 100% sure this would be one of the Imagine short stories with romance in it (since that's Grace's cup of tea) but there was actually none in it at all. (But there's a reason why, which I'll talk about in a second.) Plus, it was Fantasy (which I don't think she dabbles in too much) and surprisingly kind of dark. However, I really, really enjoyed it because 1) I found the plot to be very mysterious (which makes sense since this story is technically the prequel to a series (and why there was no romance)) and 2) THAT CLIFF-HANGER Y'ALL. If a reader didn't know it was a prequel to other books, they would probably find it to be the most depressing ending to a story ever. But me? AAHHHH!!!! It made me wanna get my hands on the rest of the to-be series SO BAAAAD!!!!! (So, Grace, if you're reading this, take that as a hint, lol.) ;P
The only "negative" thing about it is that, like I said, if someone didn't know it was a prequel (which I think was only shared on Grace's blog) then they would probably not enjoy it as much and find it confusing. So, it might be accepted better by unknowing people if a note had been written beforehand briefly explaining that it's a prequel. But that's just a small tip on my part. Other than that, I throughly enjoyed this short story and hope that Grace continues it with that series she mentioned!
"Shape-Shifter's Code" by Allie Jo Anderson
Y'all, this story was just FUN to read! The idea of the whole shapeshifting thing was so cool and I must say, I was NOT expecting that plot twist regarding the traitor! I also thought the part with Ruby (the MC) battling whether to trust another character was realistic and I LOVED how Allie tied up that conflict with such a sweet ending. Oh and SPENCER. That boy was by far my favorite character in the story!!! I loved his compassion and how he was willing to give the hard-to-trust-character a chance. ;) That said, if you enjoy heart-rendering sci-fi stories with a dash of suspense and mystery you'll absolutely enjoy this one!
"Love, Lilly" by Alaine Darkwood
First off, I LOVED how Alaine wrote this story in a letter format! That made it seem very personal and gave a better peek into the letter writer's head. What the writer, Lilly, wrote was so thought-provoking and was even sad to read. I'll try to avoid spoilers, but the main idea Lilly was talking about in the letter was death (as well as trying to come to terms with some things that had happened). Alaine showed these opinions and thoughts in what was clearly an unbeliever's point-of-view and Lilly questions God's existence and isn't sure if there's a Heaven or Hell (or if the recipient of the letter is in either place). You can also feel Lilly struggling with her emotions and how she's mad at the recipient, but knows it's wrong and that she still loves the recipient despite her concurrent anger too. It's honestly a very realistic portrayal of how someone might be so emotionally confused that they just have to write down all their thoughts to try to sort it out even though, in Lilly's case, she knows the recipient will never see the letter. Like I said before, because of these ideas, this short story was very thought-provoking and I really enjoyed reading it because of that!
"Living Tapestries" by Faith Elizabeth
Even though this was a pretty short poem, length never, EVER determines the inspiration that can come from any work of writing! This poem was so beautiful and I was very touched with the reminder that God makes us all for an amazing reason that is beyond our imagination but a part of his incredible plan!! It was such an encouragement for me and I will definitely be re-reading it often when I need to be encouraged!
"A Dragon's Choice" by Chloe B. Christensen
Like Shape-Shifter's Code, this was another fun and laid-back story to read! Plus, IT HAD DRAGONS Y'ALL. WHO DOESN'T LOVE DRAGONS!?!?! The plot was somewhat predictable, BUT I still loved reading about Liam and how he grew from being timid and not-so-confident to being brave and standing up for himself when he was bullied! Talk about a pep-talk story right there! ;) (OH, also,
"Visionaries" by Linyang Zhang
Um, let's just say this one put me in shock. Like all I could do was go back and read the ending 239,482,903,472,834 times because I was still trying to comprehend the wild ride I just went on. As wild as it was, however, this story was ASTOUNDING. Heck, I still haven't even recovered from it. XD It waaaas kind of confusing at some parts, and throughout the whole story I was never sure who was "right" but personally I think that was the goal. In the beginning there's this poem thing-y that at one part says: "Welcome to this new world, some maniac's passing dream..." and the end? Man, the end was DEEP. I just, I don't even know what to say about this story 'cause my thoughts are still so jumbled but nevertheless, I LOVED IT. As crazy as it was, this will be a story you will never forget and honestly, all I can say is: Be careful pursuing your dreams and visions. Because if they're led by (possibly) wrong motivations, they could end up being a disaster. So ALWAYS seek God for guidance regarding your dreams because with His leading and by following His Will rather than your own, they will always result in the BEST outcome no matter what happens.
"The Chest of the Lost Worlds" by Lorelei Angelino
Like the others, I LOVED this story! I really enjoyed the plot and this one actually had some romance in it! The romance stayed super clean and, even though I thought it progressed a little fast, that's kind of expected in a short story. I found it inspiring how much Auriella (GORGEOUS NAME CHOICE, Lorelei!!!) was devoted to her world and wanted to go home, but also how she decided to step out of her comfort zone and make some other brave choices too! Also, I ADORED Ceder!!! He was so gruff at first but then so sweet and commander-y with his troops. (Gotta love a soldier like that!) XD Overall, this was such a delightful story to read!
"Evil Queen" by V.L. Smith
This was another SUPER encouraging poem for me! The message was so rousing and an awesome reminder to never give into the Devil's lies and to keep your trust and identity in Christ. I also had fun reading the poem because of the incredible rhythm and catchy rhyming words! It's definitely one of the best poems I've ever read!!
"Sparks" by Alexa Peterson
I must say, out of all the stories in this anthology, I was most excited to read this one! (Which may or may not have to do with the fact that I'm really good friends with Alexa, BUT STILL.) XD Of course, this story did not disappoint!! I loved how it recounted the main character, Taliyah's, normal everyday routine and showed how she didn't know how she could use her life to make a difference in the world. Taliyah didn't seem to even thing she made a difference in the world. But then Alexa uses little sparks to reveal how YES, as boring as you may think your life is or that you may not think you can change the world, you CAN. Everyone had a spark inside of them and everyone can make a difference it they choose to—even if it's through the littlest things!
"Hidden Magic" by Penelope Rugan
Now, THIS was a very interesting story. I really liked the magical elements in it and Penelope was SUPER clever for coming up with such unique ideas for them!! I loved Sylvie and thought she was really funny and witty with some of her responses and just how chill she was at parts even with all of the unexpected surprises going on. XD I also LOVED the name Zev but wasn’t always sure what to think of him or his buddy…The ending kinda surprised me and left me a little confused with what was right or not for the MC to do (I guess her plan was supposed to be good?) but other than that I found it to be a delightful read!
"Illusionist" by Lissa Johnson
You guys, I'm 99% sure I died a little bit on the inside after reading this story. Like, THAT ENDING. WUT JUST HAPPENED. O.O I literally gasped out loud with that last scene and I...I just can't. *shakes head* But instead of incoherent stuttering, lemme actually try to find some words to describe this story a bit. XD I LOVED Lian and her relationship with Brett and thought they were so cute together! I also loved Lian's relationship with her sister and how they jested and bantered with each other so much. ;) Lissa did a really great job with bringing Lian's emotions and thoughts regarding the Illusionist to life and I could easily see (even feel) how painful certain memories were to her. As for the Illusionist...*shivers* Y'all, let's just say I was NOT by ANY MEANS expecting that ending at all. This story definitely left me speechless and I'm so amazed with how creative Lissa Johnson was with this story!
"Beloved" by Lorelei Angelino
Although this poem was only three stanzas, it packed so much truth and encouragement that I believe everyone should be reminded of! My favorite stanza was the last one where it talks about how God gave us His Son because of His love for us even before we were born. This is so, so true and whenever I need that encouragement I will definitely be re-reading this poem!
"Angel" by Grey S. Park
Yep, my heart was definitely ripped out of my body, crushed in a blender, and smushed back into my chest with this story (not to sound weird or anything...) XD Seriously though, Jungsoon and Minji's relationship just about made this ole gal cry. I've always, always, always wanted an older brother and what Jungsoon did for his lil' sis made me want one even MORE. (I mean, I get that not every older bro would be like Jungsoon but still. It doesn't hurt to dream, amiright?) ;) The fact that he sacrificed his after school plans to hang out with Minji and then risked getting beat up by bullies to protect her pulled on my heartstrings...especially when Minji called him her "angel" even though he saw himself as a loser. This story was so sweet and full of such heartwarming sibling interaction!!
"To Risk the Truth" by Victoria Crooks
OH LOOK. ThAt NaMe SeEmS FaMiLiAr. (I wonder why...)
For real though: I honestly have no idea what to say about this one. I mean, I wRoTe iT and reviewing my own work is kinda weird soooo... *slowly shrugs* I guess I'll say that I do like it (even though I'll forever be finding things to make it better) and, to be honest, of all the short stories I've ever written "To Risk the Truth" is actually probably my favorite. (Especially with the behind-the-scenes of how it came to be. *wiggles eyebrows mysteriously* Don't worry, I will eventually share what happened concerning that on my blog someday...) ;) But to be frank, this wasn't really my story. It's God's 'cause it was by Him alone that I got the inspiration for it (and I know a lot of people say that but in this case, it's SO true. Like, I could almost hear God telling what He wanted me to write). So, this of course, is a very special story to me (despite the self-criticism I give myself) XD and, even though I can't say it's my favorite story in this anthology, I will always see it as my first real publication and one of my own favorite works!
"Memories Returned" by Selah Sigmon
This story was very short but I liked how the main character had amnesia (don't get me started on the amnesia trope, y'all...it's one of my FAVES) XD and I thought the ending was really cool! It didn't outright shock me like some of the other stories, but it makes me very curious of what happened to the MC, Simon, and even inspired me to wanna write fanfiction for it. ;) I think the plot could have had a few more embellishments to make it more full and a bit longer (not sure the story was even 2,000-3,000 words) but the simplicity made it an easy read and one that someone could enjoy without trying to follow complex plot threads and such! ;)
"Though He Brings Grief" by Faith Elizabeth
Y'all, what is UP with all of these emotional stories!?!?! XD This one...*shakes head* I really really hate picking favorites but I gotta admit this story was definitely in the top three...or two *coughs* (but that's all I'm gonna narrow it down to). XD I actually did cry with this one and I think EVERYONE needs to read it. It was just...*SOBS* IT WAS SO GOOD AND HEART WRENCHING AND ASLKJFSJHFLGJS. I have NEVER EVER felt so much more longing for death to see Jesus and live in Heaven with Him after reading this story. Mandy's faith throughout her trials was SO inspiring and her love for God was even MORE inspiring and watching how her hardship effected so many people in an eventual positive way has made my trust in God's plans for me even greater. I NEEDED this story y'all, and I know it will also affect others the same way as well. And who knows...that may end up being YOU. So go read it!!! I 100% can't recommend it enough and THANK YOU, Faith, for sharing such an impactful story with us. I hope you know how much it has strengthened my walk with God!
"Gift of Hope" by Lorelei Angelino
Aaaaand last but not least, we have another WONDERFUL poem that is a great finale for this anthology! This poem is another one to remind us of God's love and I love how Lorelei uses such beautiful words and similes to describe what He feels for us! This poem is so comforting and heartwarming and, like Lorelei's other poem "Beloved", I will definitely read this one whenever I need the reminder of how much God loves me.
Content Cautions
Language: Clean (maybe a couple uses of dang or crap or something but not in anger).
Violence: Some of the stories talk about death and/or there are some death scenes, but nothing is graphic. Some of the characters from different stories get beat up (but there's nothing graphic either).
Spirituality: Most spiritual references are towards God and, I believe, are theologically correct. I think there are a couple references towards "spirits" or "ghosts" (?) but there's not much description about them.
Romance: Just a few (not described) kisses and hugs, but nothing more than that.
Other Comments: There's some magic in many of the stories and some of it gets a little dark, but not so much that it bothered me. People who don't like to read magic, however, might want to steer away from them.
So there we have it folks! Another monster (and late) review by yours truly, but I absolutely couldn't pass up the chance for explaining WHY this anthology gets the good ole five star rating! ;) CONGRATULATIONS to all the amazing authors featured in this anthology and I want all of y'all to know how much I enjoyed reading your stories and poems!!
"Cursed" by Grace A. Johnson
Woooow, this story was definitely not what I expected. For one, I was 100% sure this would be one of the Imagine short stories with romance in it (since that's Grace's cup of tea) but there was actually none in it at all. (But there's a reason why, which I'll talk about in a second.) Plus, it was Fantasy (which I don't think she dabbles in too much) and surprisingly kind of dark. However, I really, really enjoyed it because 1) I found the plot to be very mysterious (which makes sense since this story is technically the prequel to a series (and why there was no romance)) and 2) THAT CLIFF-HANGER Y'ALL. If a reader didn't know it was a prequel to other books, they would probably find it to be the most depressing ending to a story ever. But me? AAHHHH!!!! It made me wanna get my hands on the rest of the to-be series SO BAAAAD!!!!! (So, Grace, if you're reading this, take that as a hint, lol.) ;P
The only "negative" thing about it is that, like I said, if someone didn't know it was a prequel (which I think was only shared on Grace's blog) then they would probably not enjoy it as much and find it confusing. So, it might be accepted better by unknowing people if a note had been written beforehand briefly explaining that it's a prequel. But that's just a small tip on my part. Other than that, I throughly enjoyed this short story and hope that Grace continues it with that series she mentioned!
"Shape-Shifter's Code" by Allie Jo Anderson
Y'all, this story was just FUN to read! The idea of the whole shapeshifting thing was so cool and I must say, I was NOT expecting that plot twist regarding the traitor! I also thought the part with Ruby (the MC) battling whether to trust another character was realistic and I LOVED how Allie tied up that conflict with such a sweet ending. Oh and SPENCER. That boy was by far my favorite character in the story!!! I loved his compassion and how he was willing to give the hard-to-trust-character a chance. ;) That said, if you enjoy heart-rendering sci-fi stories with a dash of suspense and mystery you'll absolutely enjoy this one!
"Love, Lilly" by Alaine Darkwood
First off, I LOVED how Alaine wrote this story in a letter format! That made it seem very personal and gave a better peek into the letter writer's head. What the writer, Lilly, wrote was so thought-provoking and was even sad to read. I'll try to avoid spoilers, but the main idea Lilly was talking about in the letter was death (as well as trying to come to terms with some things that had happened). Alaine showed these opinions and thoughts in what was clearly an unbeliever's point-of-view and Lilly questions God's existence and isn't sure if there's a Heaven or Hell (or if the recipient of the letter is in either place). You can also feel Lilly struggling with her emotions and how she's mad at the recipient, but knows it's wrong and that she still loves the recipient despite her concurrent anger too. It's honestly a very realistic portrayal of how someone might be so emotionally confused that they just have to write down all their thoughts to try to sort it out even though, in Lilly's case, she knows the recipient will never see the letter. Like I said before, because of these ideas, this short story was very thought-provoking and I really enjoyed reading it because of that!
"Living Tapestries" by Faith Elizabeth
Even though this was a pretty short poem, length never, EVER determines the inspiration that can come from any work of writing! This poem was so beautiful and I was very touched with the reminder that God makes us all for an amazing reason that is beyond our imagination but a part of his incredible plan!! It was such an encouragement for me and I will definitely be re-reading it often when I need to be encouraged!
"A Dragon's Choice" by Chloe B. Christensen
Like Shape-Shifter's Code, this was another fun and laid-back story to read! Plus, IT HAD DRAGONS Y'ALL. WHO DOESN'T LOVE DRAGONS!?!?! The plot was somewhat predictable, BUT I still loved reading about Liam and how he grew from being timid and not-so-confident to being brave and standing up for himself when he was bullied! Talk about a pep-talk story right there! ;) (OH, also,
"Visionaries" by Linyang Zhang
Um, let's just say this one put me in shock. Like all I could do was go back and read the ending 239,482,903,472,834 times because I was still trying to comprehend the wild ride I just went on. As wild as it was, however, this story was ASTOUNDING. Heck, I still haven't even recovered from it. XD It waaaas kind of confusing at some parts, and throughout the whole story I was never sure who was "right" but personally I think that was the goal. In the beginning there's this poem thing-y that at one part says: "Welcome to this new world, some maniac's passing dream..." and the end? Man, the end was DEEP. I just, I don't even know what to say about this story 'cause my thoughts are still so jumbled but nevertheless, I LOVED IT. As crazy as it was, this will be a story you will never forget and honestly, all I can say is: Be careful pursuing your dreams and visions. Because if they're led by (possibly) wrong motivations, they could end up being a disaster. So ALWAYS seek God for guidance regarding your dreams because with His leading and by following His Will rather than your own, they will always result in the BEST outcome no matter what happens.
"The Chest of the Lost Worlds" by Lorelei Angelino
Like the others, I LOVED this story! I really enjoyed the plot and this one actually had some romance in it! The romance stayed super clean and, even though I thought it progressed a little fast, that's kind of expected in a short story. I found it inspiring how much Auriella (GORGEOUS NAME CHOICE, Lorelei!!!) was devoted to her world and wanted to go home, but also how she decided to step out of her comfort zone and make some other brave choices too! Also, I ADORED Ceder!!! He was so gruff at first but then so sweet and commander-y with his troops. (Gotta love a soldier like that!) XD Overall, this was such a delightful story to read!
"Evil Queen" by V.L. Smith
This was another SUPER encouraging poem for me! The message was so rousing and an awesome reminder to never give into the Devil's lies and to keep your trust and identity in Christ. I also had fun reading the poem because of the incredible rhythm and catchy rhyming words! It's definitely one of the best poems I've ever read!!
"Sparks" by Alexa Peterson
I must say, out of all the stories in this anthology, I was most excited to read this one! (Which may or may not have to do with the fact that I'm really good friends with Alexa, BUT STILL.) XD Of course, this story did not disappoint!! I loved how it recounted the main character, Taliyah's, normal everyday routine and showed how she didn't know how she could use her life to make a difference in the world. Taliyah didn't seem to even thing she made a difference in the world. But then Alexa uses little sparks to reveal how YES, as boring as you may think your life is or that you may not think you can change the world, you CAN. Everyone had a spark inside of them and everyone can make a difference it they choose to—even if it's through the littlest things!
"Hidden Magic" by Penelope Rugan
Now, THIS was a very interesting story. I really liked the magical elements in it and Penelope was SUPER clever for coming up with such unique ideas for them!! I loved Sylvie and thought she was really funny and witty with some of her responses and just how chill she was at parts even with all of the unexpected surprises going on. XD I also LOVED the name Zev but wasn’t always sure what to think of him or his buddy…The ending kinda surprised me and left me a little confused with what was right or not for the MC to do (I guess her plan was supposed to be good?) but other than that I found it to be a delightful read!
"Illusionist" by Lissa Johnson
You guys, I'm 99% sure I died a little bit on the inside after reading this story. Like, THAT ENDING. WUT JUST HAPPENED. O.O I literally gasped out loud with that last scene and I...I just can't. *shakes head* But instead of incoherent stuttering, lemme actually try to find some words to describe this story a bit. XD I LOVED Lian and her relationship with Brett and thought they were so cute together! I also loved Lian's relationship with her sister and how they jested and bantered with each other so much. ;) Lissa did a really great job with bringing Lian's emotions and thoughts regarding the Illusionist to life and I could easily see (even feel) how painful certain memories were to her. As for the Illusionist...*shivers* Y'all, let's just say I was NOT by ANY MEANS expecting that ending at all. This story definitely left me speechless and I'm so amazed with how creative Lissa Johnson was with this story!
"Beloved" by Lorelei Angelino
Although this poem was only three stanzas, it packed so much truth and encouragement that I believe everyone should be reminded of! My favorite stanza was the last one where it talks about how God gave us His Son because of His love for us even before we were born. This is so, so true and whenever I need that encouragement I will definitely be re-reading this poem!
"Angel" by Grey S. Park
Yep, my heart was definitely ripped out of my body, crushed in a blender, and smushed back into my chest with this story (not to sound weird or anything...) XD Seriously though, Jungsoon and Minji's relationship just about made this ole gal cry. I've always, always, always wanted an older brother and what Jungsoon did for his lil' sis made me want one even MORE. (I mean, I get that not every older bro would be like Jungsoon but still. It doesn't hurt to dream, amiright?) ;) The fact that he sacrificed his after school plans to hang out with Minji and then risked getting beat up by bullies to protect her pulled on my heartstrings...especially when Minji called him her "angel" even though he saw himself as a loser. This story was so sweet and full of such heartwarming sibling interaction!!
"To Risk the Truth" by Victoria Crooks
OH LOOK. ThAt NaMe SeEmS FaMiLiAr. (I wonder why...)
For real though: I honestly have no idea what to say about this one. I mean, I wRoTe iT and reviewing my own work is kinda weird soooo... *slowly shrugs* I guess I'll say that I do like it (even though I'll forever be finding things to make it better) and, to be honest, of all the short stories I've ever written "To Risk the Truth" is actually probably my favorite. (Especially with the behind-the-scenes of how it came to be. *wiggles eyebrows mysteriously* Don't worry, I will eventually share what happened concerning that on my blog someday...) ;) But to be frank, this wasn't really my story. It's God's 'cause it was by Him alone that I got the inspiration for it (and I know a lot of people say that but in this case, it's SO true. Like, I could almost hear God telling what He wanted me to write). So, this of course, is a very special story to me (despite the self-criticism I give myself) XD and, even though I can't say it's my favorite story in this anthology, I will always see it as my first real publication and one of my own favorite works!
"Memories Returned" by Selah Sigmon
This story was very short but I liked how the main character had amnesia (don't get me started on the amnesia trope, y'all...it's one of my FAVES) XD and I thought the ending was really cool! It didn't outright shock me like some of the other stories, but it makes me very curious of what happened to the MC, Simon, and even inspired me to wanna write fanfiction for it. ;) I think the plot could have had a few more embellishments to make it more full and a bit longer (not sure the story was even 2,000-3,000 words) but the simplicity made it an easy read and one that someone could enjoy without trying to follow complex plot threads and such! ;)
"Though He Brings Grief" by Faith Elizabeth
Y'all, what is UP with all of these emotional stories!?!?! XD This one...*shakes head* I really really hate picking favorites but I gotta admit this story was definitely in the top three...or two *coughs* (but that's all I'm gonna narrow it down to). XD I actually did cry with this one and I think EVERYONE needs to read it. It was just...*SOBS* IT WAS SO GOOD AND HEART WRENCHING AND ASLKJFSJHFLGJS. I have NEVER EVER felt so much more longing for death to see Jesus and live in Heaven with Him after reading this story. Mandy's faith throughout her trials was SO inspiring and her love for God was even MORE inspiring and watching how her hardship effected so many people in an eventual positive way has made my trust in God's plans for me even greater. I NEEDED this story y'all, and I know it will also affect others the same way as well. And who knows...that may end up being YOU. So go read it!!! I 100% can't recommend it enough and THANK YOU, Faith, for sharing such an impactful story with us. I hope you know how much it has strengthened my walk with God!
"Gift of Hope" by Lorelei Angelino
Aaaaand last but not least, we have another WONDERFUL poem that is a great finale for this anthology! This poem is another one to remind us of God's love and I love how Lorelei uses such beautiful words and similes to describe what He feels for us! This poem is so comforting and heartwarming and, like Lorelei's other poem "Beloved", I will definitely read this one whenever I need the reminder of how much God loves me.
Content Cautions
Language: Clean (maybe a couple uses of dang or crap or something but not in anger).
Violence: Some of the stories talk about death and/or there are some death scenes, but nothing is graphic. Some of the characters from different stories get beat up (but there's nothing graphic either).
Spirituality: Most spiritual references are towards God and, I believe, are theologically correct. I think there are a couple references towards "spirits" or "ghosts" (?) but there's not much description about them.
Romance: Just a few (not described) kisses and hugs, but nothing more than that.
Other Comments: There's some magic in many of the stories and some of it gets a little dark, but not so much that it bothered me. People who don't like to read magic, however, might want to steer away from them.
So there we have it folks! Another monster (and late) review by yours truly, but I absolutely couldn't pass up the chance for explaining WHY this anthology gets the good ole five star rating! ;) CONGRATULATIONS to all the amazing authors featured in this anthology and I want all of y'all to know how much I enjoyed reading your stories and poems!!
November 17, 2021
INCREDIBLE anthology!!!! I loved it so much!!!!!!!!!! The stories each gripped me in different ways and had unique themes - many profound and very thought-provoking. I loved that poems were included too. *chef's kiss* Just so good!!!!
At least for me, short stories can be hard to pull off but these were all so good. One was a letter too, and that was just incredible. Some ended in a tragedy of sorts (such as Grace A. Johnson's beautifully written "Cursed" and Linyang Zhang's profound "Visionaries"), while others ended on heartwarming, happy notes (like Chloe B. Christenson's "A Dragon's Choice" and Grey S. Park's realistic, sobering "Angel"). Some had parts full of hilarious humor, like Penelope Rugan's "Hidden Magic." But all made me really think twice about what I just read, and that is something I LOVE in stories.
Imagine really was perfectly named. The wealth of creativity in here both stretched my own imagination AND was a testament to the scope of imagination the writers have.
All I can say is I will most certainly be rereading Imagine in the future just for the pleasure of enjoying these well-told stories and poems. It was incredible and awesome!!! :))
At least for me, short stories can be hard to pull off but these were all so good. One was a letter too, and that was just incredible. Some ended in a tragedy of sorts (such as Grace A. Johnson's beautifully written "Cursed" and Linyang Zhang's profound "Visionaries"), while others ended on heartwarming, happy notes (like Chloe B. Christenson's "A Dragon's Choice" and Grey S. Park's realistic, sobering "Angel"). Some had parts full of hilarious humor, like Penelope Rugan's "Hidden Magic." But all made me really think twice about what I just read, and that is something I LOVE in stories.
Imagine really was perfectly named. The wealth of creativity in here both stretched my own imagination AND was a testament to the scope of imagination the writers have.
All I can say is I will most certainly be rereading Imagine in the future just for the pleasure of enjoying these well-told stories and poems. It was incredible and awesome!!! :))
April 6, 2022
This is so cool!!!!
I actually follow the blog that published this book, and I know some of the other bloggers who wrote short stories or poems for it, and that is just so inspiring!!!
I'm a tween writer, and I hope I get an opportunity like this, to put a bit of my writing in the world, even if it's just a short story. This is amazing, and inspiring.
And honestly, even if I didn't know anything about this anthology, if I didn't even know it was written by teen writers, I would still love the stories! These are amazingly well written creative stories that could be turned into entire series (That I would definitely be reading).
Also, this was my first anthology that I've ever read, and I will definitely be reading more! It's really cool to get little snippets of stories from different people, and it definitely helps those people get noticed. I looked up a couple of the people who wrote stories for this anthology, and I now follow their blogs!
Overall this is the coolest thing that I have ever read. The plots are good, the writing is amazing, and it's just so inspiring!
I actually follow the blog that published this book, and I know some of the other bloggers who wrote short stories or poems for it, and that is just so inspiring!!!
I'm a tween writer, and I hope I get an opportunity like this, to put a bit of my writing in the world, even if it's just a short story. This is amazing, and inspiring.
And honestly, even if I didn't know anything about this anthology, if I didn't even know it was written by teen writers, I would still love the stories! These are amazingly well written creative stories that could be turned into entire series (That I would definitely be reading).
Also, this was my first anthology that I've ever read, and I will definitely be reading more! It's really cool to get little snippets of stories from different people, and it definitely helps those people get noticed. I looked up a couple of the people who wrote stories for this anthology, and I now follow their blogs!
Overall this is the coolest thing that I have ever read. The plots are good, the writing is amazing, and it's just so inspiring!
December 5, 2021
Wonderful job, everyone! I enjoyed reading every story and poem, and appreciated the unique voices each author brought to this anthology!
December 22, 2021
Imagine a collection of short stories and poetry written by teen writers. Man, if I had still been a teen when this book was in the works, I totally would have submitted a piece to this project. I can’t imagine (no pun intended) all the effort that went into writing, editing, formatting, and self-publishing this work. What an accomplishment!
The stories themselves were interesting and came from an assortment of different genres, which made the collection fun to read. There were a few stories that I’m still processing after finishing the collection, but most I enjoyed. I also loved the poetry interspersed between the short stories.
I need to mention the editing, as well. Wow. I read a lot of books, and there are some self-published works that definitely need a bit more editing attention than they've been given. I was so pleased to see this book, with all its short stories and poetry, so finely edited. There were a few slip-ups here and there, but all in all, this book is highly polished and reflects wonderfully on the skill of its authors and editors alike.
Anyway. Go check out this anthology for yourself. The stories are bite-sized, just enough to read at a lunch break or in between other activities, and together with the poetry serve as a great collection to remind teen writers—and all writers—what can be accomplished with our words.
The stories themselves were interesting and came from an assortment of different genres, which made the collection fun to read. There were a few stories that I’m still processing after finishing the collection, but most I enjoyed. I also loved the poetry interspersed between the short stories.
I need to mention the editing, as well. Wow. I read a lot of books, and there are some self-published works that definitely need a bit more editing attention than they've been given. I was so pleased to see this book, with all its short stories and poetry, so finely edited. There were a few slip-ups here and there, but all in all, this book is highly polished and reflects wonderfully on the skill of its authors and editors alike.
Anyway. Go check out this anthology for yourself. The stories are bite-sized, just enough to read at a lunch break or in between other activities, and together with the poetry serve as a great collection to remind teen writers—and all writers—what can be accomplished with our words.
June 8, 2025
4.5* A cute collection! I loved all of the stories especially the faith based ones. The authors love for God was evident through their characters ❤️ I hope to read other things like this, it reminds me why Christian Fiction is my favorite ☺️ Love my Savior! ❤️❤️
February 14, 2022
This anthology is a beautiful collection of spellbinding, fantastical stories and inspiring, empathetic poetry. It was an adventure to read (and write, if I do say so myself 😛) and had me hooked the whole way through; literally making me put a pause to all other books I was currently reading so I could finish reading this AMAZING collection!
All of the authors have their own stories to tell, and that's what makes this truly unique—the reader is not restrained to just one author's creativity and ideas, but fourteen!
Overall, Imagine is an incredible book that I would recommend to anyone, and I love how the authors incorporate God into their stories and poems. ❤
All of the authors have their own stories to tell, and that's what makes this truly unique—the reader is not restrained to just one author's creativity and ideas, but fourteen!
Overall, Imagine is an incredible book that I would recommend to anyone, and I love how the authors incorporate God into their stories and poems. ❤
July 29, 2023
This is an amazing anthology! I loved almost every story and so many of them were amazing with awesome Christian themes! I love TWN, and this is a great anthology! I will definitely reread it so many times in the future!
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