Boundless: Twenty Voices Celebrating Multicultural and Multiracial Identities

by Ismée Amiel Williams (Editor, Contributor), Rebecca Balcárcel (Editor, Contributor), Adi Alsaid (Contributor)

With twenty stories that center and celebrate the multiracial and multicultural experience from your favorite award-winning and bestselling authors, this is a groundbreaking anthology perfect for fans of COME ON IN and BLACK ENOUGH.When identities cross boundaries, with love that knows no bounds. From platonic and romantic love to grief and heartbreak, these stories explore navigating life at the intersection of identities, and what it means to grow up surrounded by a multitude of traditions, languages, cultures, and interpersonal dynamics.Returning to a father’s homeland. Trying to fit in at chaotic weddings and lavish birthday parties where not all are welcome. Processing grief at family gatherings. Figuring out how to share the news of a new relationship with loved ones. This collection celebrates multicultural and multiracial characters at the helm of their own narratives, as they approach life with a renewed sense of hope and acceptance. Featuring original stories Adi Alsaid Rebecca Balcárcel Akemi Dawn Bowman Anika Fajardo Shannon Gibney I.W. Gregorio Veera Hiranandani Nasugraq Rainey Hopson Emiko Jean Erin Entrada Kelly Torrey Maldonado Mélina Mangal Goldy Moldavsky Randy Ribay Loriel Ryon Tara Sim Eric Smith Jasmine Warga Ismée Williams Karen Yin

Genres: Short Stories, Anthologies, Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, Social Justice, Cultural

304 pages, ebook

Published June 13, 2023

Reviews

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: An anthology themed around the troubles of coming from multi-racial/multi-cultural origins. Great in terms of authentic rep. In terms of writing, well… it’s YA as advertised. So it will work better with the YA crowd.


This collection of twenty stories comes with an amazing theme. What happens when your identity crosses boundaries of race, culture, religion, or nationality? You are ‘boundless’; your identity cannot be contained within a single checkbox. Do you lean more towards one side of your parental ancestry? Can you keep one foot on each side of your cultural origin and do justice to both? Do your peers accept your holistic persona or see you only as you are visible to them, in terms of your facial features (or perhaps, I should say – racial features)?

Sounds like a relevant theme, right? In today’s world, where boundaries keep getting diluted and a “country” is nothing but a geo-political unit and citizens are more global than local, the number of people who come from multiracial and multicultural origins is at its peak. However, this doesn’t mean that they fit into their dual identities with ease, and the problem is as much because of their own split-personality feelings as because of others’ judgemental comments.

Each of the twenty stories in this collection features such a protagonist, and this should have hence led to a satisfying anthology experience. However, the hurdle I couldn’t jump over is the writing, which is adamantly YA in style. I was hoping that the powerful theme would be enough to push aside the shortcomings of the YA approach, but unfortunately, that doesn’t happen. Most of the main adult characters in the stories are either idiots or ignoramuses. The emotional exploration of the protagonists is primarily at a surface level. The characters are typical young adults who feel that they know more than adults.

The biggest disappointment was that the theme is addressed with justice only in a few of the stories. In most of the stories, the protagonist deals with YA problems rather than cultural-identity issues, with the latter being the background than the prime focus. This makes the collection feel like a generic YA anthology, and also makes the stories feel repetitive after a while.

All in all, this might work better for YA readers and for readers who are fond of YA-style writing. If you are an adult reader who wants to try an anthology about a set of teenagers who go through life mortified at the ignorance of their peers and the adults in their lives, this will work for you. But if you are a reader who has a low threshold of tolerance of flat and/or opinionated young characters, avoid it regardless of the outstanding theme.

I rated the stories individually as I always do, but after a point, every story began to get the same rating – between 2 to 3 stars, with just a couple of exceptions. So I am just going to hit the halfway mark here, and round it up as I know a part of the displeasure is because of my inability to accept YA writing without rolling my eyes.

A shoutout to the cover designer - you did a wonderful job!

2.5 stars, rounding up.


My thanks to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “Boundless: Twenty Voices Celebrating Multicultural and Multiracial Identities”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.




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[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

20 authors from multicultural/multiracial backgrounds create 20 main characters who mirror their heritages. These young people are just moving through life trying to find meaning and to contribute in some way. But no matter their background, readers in junior high and high school will find a plethora of ways to connect to each character as they experience kids whose parents don’t understand, peers at school looking at them differently, losing a parent, not achieving a goal and so much more that is universal in the age group. However, there may be another connection for those who sometimes feel like they are split into two distinct parts because two cultures are represented around the kitchen table. And for those who do not have a kitchen table with widely varied skin tones, maybe these stories allow them to understand, just a bit, those who do and encourage them to think twice when potentially hurtful words are about to slip out. I found some of these stories to be uplifting and insightful while others made me uncomfortable and possibly a bit defensive. But no matter what, when I turned the last page, I found myself still thinking about some of those teens and I hope that all who come from diverse backgrounds will eventually come to the same conclusion as Lydia did in Tara Sim’s “Between Layers”: “I had to remember that I was formed from love, of maps being rewritten, of histories being merged. It’s all right to tell people what I am and remind them when I need to, because then it means I’m not passing—I’m embracing.” Maybe some will remember the closing of Rebecca Balcarecel’s short story: “Tell yourself you’re not a coconut-brown outside, white inside. You’re not a mash-up or a crash-up or a mix-up. You’re not parts. You’re a whole. Not a spark, but a fire. You’re not a piece of perfection, but the whole dang enchilada. You are one molten glow, light indivisible.”

Text is free of violence and sexual content is limited to only a few kisses, hand holding, etc. Profanity is present in several of the short stories with one having several f-bombs dropped and another using “effing” in place of the actual swear word. There are some milder words used periodically as well. In addition to diverse races and cultures, family groups range from traditional two parent/heterosexual to one parent homes and also include two parent/homosexual. Most of the main characters are cis but not all. Sexual orientation is varied among friend groups and family of main characters as well.

Likely audience: grade 8 and up

My favorites: Eric Smith’s “Irish Soda Bread” (adoptee), Rebecca Balcarcel’s “A Halfie’s Guide to Mexican Restaurants,” Aldi Alsaid’s “Between Visibilities.”

[Briana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s so important for people to be able to see themselves across different media, and Boundless does a great job pulling experiences from so many different people. The twenty stories in this book range from the silly to the somber, all striking your emotions in different ways.

I really admire the goals of this book and the different stories I got to read. However, I do think this book works best for teenagers and preteens. As an adult, reading some of these stories felt very much like I was being subjected to the complaints of whiny teenagers. I feel very old saying that as someone who is barely (she lies) out of her teenage years. The middle stories of this book had me leaning towards three stars, but a few of the stories near the end brought it back up to a four for me.

I’m excited that I got introduced to quite a few new to me authors, some I hope to read again in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a review copy of this book.

3.75 rounded to 4

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Finally finished!! Full review to come but mostly 3 star stories redeemed by the selections I loves at the end

[Slaa!!! · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I’m remembering correctly, I quite liked the first 2 stories, really liked the last 2, and the rest was a mixed bag. This always seems to be my experience with short story anthologies with many different authors and yet I keep coming back!! I think it’s especially tricky with a topic such as this - it narrows the scope of who they can get to write the stories and the authors just might not be my cup of tea. (I especially didn’t love that there were a few set in middle school, and 2 different stories involving people getting their periods?) The idea of this book really appealed to me, as someone who is mixed raced/multicultural, but even so, I felt like it got really repetitive - so many of the stories were basically “I am 2 things and don’t feel like I fit anywhere.” The stories that eased a bit outside of that were ones I liked best.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

•The Chair Far Away From the Table by Akemi Dawn Bowman- 4.5
•Hispanic Jewish Bingo by Goldy Moldavsky- 4
•The Perils of Beige by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson- 4
•Invisible by Emiko Jean- 4
•Mariachis vs. Bluegrass by Loriel Ryan- 3.5
•I Am Not a Papaya by Veera Hiranandani- 3.5
•Between Visibilities by Adi Alsaid- 3
•Enough to Be a Real Thing by I. W. Gregorio- 3
•Thicker Than Water by Ismee Williams- 3
•My Kinda Sorta Badass Move by Karen Yin- 4
•I Like to Be in America by Anika Fajardo- 3
•Michelle and Yvette in Kaiserslautern by Melina Mangal- 3
•Irish Soda Bread by Eric Smith- 4
•The Mortification by Shannon Gibney- 3.5
•Between Layers by Tara Sim- 4
•Different by Torrey Maldonado- 3
•Confessions by Erin Enthrada Kelly- 4
•A Halfie's Guide to Mexican Retaurants by Rebecca Balcarcel- 4
•Effing Nico by Randy Ribay- 4
•Searching by Jasmine Warga- 4

[Caylie Ratzlaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

I really enjoy anthologies, but I find it hard to write reviews for them. Some of the stories in here were meh and I was glad they were short, but some of them absolutely ripped at my heart. Some of the stories have absolutely beautiful quotes and stories and messages in them - all revolving about belonging when your identities do not match up. There is no right way to be who you are, but it also tells stories about making sure your voice is heard when others refuse to see who you are.

A lot of these stories will resonate with multicultual and multiethnic teenagers.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad I won a copy of this book from the First Reads program because otherwise I never would have picked it up. Each short story was the perfect size to get a sense of the character and their story. None of the stories felt rushed and I felt satisfied with each ending. I loved the diversity of the stories both in the background of the characters and also their journeys. This was a great book that introduced me to some new authors I can’t wait to read more of!

[Clara! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love short story collections they’re so fun

[Nicole Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A selection of short stories about being biracial and/or multicultural. This is best suited for a young audience, maybe middle- or high-schoolers.

Some notes on my favorites from this selection:

"Enough to Be a Real Thing" by I.W. Gregario is a beautiful illustration of what changing your mind gracefully can look like. This is especially tough in high school when everyone is socially pressured to appear as if they know it all already and wouldn't dream of admitting they were wrong.

"My Kinda Sorta Badass Move" by Karen Yin expressed stuff that adults take for granted. This is the sweetest part of young adult literature, because it gently guides young readers and humbles adult readers by reminding us what we, too, had to learn. When the main character stands up for herself, "even the Goths" respected her for it. Grownups don't usually feel clique divisions as sharply, but situations like the one in this story remind us what it was like.

"Michelle and Yvette in Kauserslautern" by Me'lina Mangal contained one of the best lines from the entire collection, one that I double-underlined: "If I speak for you, folks will think you can't speak for yourself." We should keep that in mind when advocating for and amplifying marginalized folks. It can be easy to condescend, but it's a trap. It's also a handy reminder for parenting!!

"Irish Soda Bread" by Eric Smith actually brought me to tears, showing how surly teens can turn around and be the sweetest people alive. Interracial adoption is a raw topic that I think gets ignored because it's tough to apply clean binary thinking to it. This story was so tenderly done.

"Between Layers" by Tara Sim contained my other favorite line from this collection, though it's one I don't identify with personally: "It's all right to tell people what I am and remind them when I need to, because then it means I'm not passing--I'm embracing." Reframing is such a powerful way to reclaim hope when we're feeling depressed.

"Effing Nico" by Randy Ribay captures the magic of the first snowfall, something I've always honored in my own life. It also captures how vulnerability can hide beneath a cool smile, and how then we can never assume how someone's feeling.

[Johanna ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Harper360YA for providing me with an ARC!

This book had been on my radar for awhile so I was thrilled to receive an arc! The topic is one I relate to a lot. Being a 1/4 Mexican and 3/4 Caucasian, I struggle with the idea that is pushed on mixed people that we need to fit into one box or another and also with the feeling of not being completely whole in my ethnic identity. These questions and challenges, among others, are explored with so much heart and empathy through the 20 shorts stories in this book which each offer a unique perspective on the mixed experience. Overall I rated this one five stars because it left such an impression on me but if you're interested in individual ratings for each story, I'll leave those down below :)

~ The Chair Far Away from the Table by Akemi Dawn Bowman 5/5
When I read this story I had just finished another book by the author and I just love her writing so much!
~ Hispanic Jewish Bingo by Goldy Moldavsky 5/5
~ The Perils of Beige by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson 4/5
~ Invisible by Emiko Jean 3/5
Probably my least favorite story from the collection but it did contain my favorite quote, "You want to talk about race. But you are not ready to talk about race" -pg. 79
~ Mariachis vs. Bluegrass by Loriel Ryon 5/5
One of my favorites!!
~ I Am Not a Papaya by Veera Hiranandani 4/5
~ Between Visibilities by Adi Alsaid 4/5
~ Enough to Be a Real Thing by I. W. Gregorio 4/5
~ Thicker Than Water by Ismee Williams 3/5
~ My Kinda Sorta Badass Move by Karen Yin 5/5
Another favorite!
~ I Like to Be in America by Anika Fajardo 3.5/5
~ Michelle and Yvette in Kaiserslautern by Melina Mangal 5/5
~ Irish Soda Bread by Eric Smith 5/5
Another great quote from this one about why the main character loves his history class, " she makes history feel so personal, like it belongs to me in a way that my own history, as an adopted kid, really doesn't." -pg. 236
~ The Mortification by Shannon Gibney 4/ 5
~ Between Layers by Tara Sim 5/5
Loved how the author summed up the end of her story, "It's all right to tell people what I am and remind them when I need to, because then it means I'm not passing - I'm embracing." -pg. 285
~ Different by Torrey Maldonado 3/5
~ Confession by Erin Entrada Kelly 3.5/5
~ A Halfie's Guide to Mexican Restaurants 5/5
This one had me laughing out loud! What a fun short story idea that was executed so well!
~ Effing Nico by Randy Ribay 4/5
~ Searching by Jasmine Warga 4/5

Happy Reading!

[Paige Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.8/5 An anthology of mixed MCs, the first being about a Polynesian girl whose mom abandons the fam. Dialogue is a little too sentimental/psychologically self-aware to be realistic, espec with the young ages. It’s interesting how the MC is rocky w/ the dad when he’s not the one who left. All the food references are cute like the dad referring to their diverse fam as chop suey or the story of the MC as a toddler confusing desserts and crying about the bad taste later. The next story is called Hispanic Jewish Bingo about a Peruvian girl the biddies at her synagogue want to hook up w/ a sporty guy of vaguely similar background. It’s ironic how they speak in Spanish in front of the ignorant old ladies, saying random silly phrases they assume are romantic. This story is full of unique bits like her setting up a gambling charity for the temple—and it losing them money—and Javier making her drink soda-juice concoctions. Her introducing herself as wanting to be perfect is a bit off (he rightly checks her like, huh? But the next scene his dialogue is just as unnatural) and so is her jealousy of him being too comfortable in his skin (though the cheating outrage makes sense).

Third story is about an Alaskan native and has the cool imagery of wondering if her DNA is two-toned to show her heritage more starkly. The MC is a bigger girl on a debate team field trip, her speech about her Eskimo-inspired background though we don’t see much of it. Feels like assigned reading in middle school. The last paragraphs were okay w/ the braided natural hair metaphor, though the story was beyond predictable. Invisible by Emiko Jean is in 2nd person addressing their dentist asking about their Japanese heritage. It’s rather dramatic how she takes the questions when there must be more turmoil about why her mom ran out on her adorkable white Jewish dad. Expected the pain of braces comparisons to be more fleshed out. 20% in and this collection is quite redundant w/ the basic girl protagonists. Everything is so surface level with only a couple sentences about each culture versus the dreaded but light “Where are you from?” question. The next piece has more sound about a couple fighting over having a bluegrass or mariachi band play at their wedding (would’ve been better in the bride’s POV). Pretty names Vero and Paola. The dad running off w/ another man is a unique factor, the many characters and setting should just be unraveled faster. The second part seems so random that the mom is a TV star, honestly should’ve been the more exiting focus. Though it’s a little slow, the message is nicest and most original about how divorce divided up her cultures too.

I Am Not A Papaya is about a Jewish Mumbian girl crushing on a stereotypical jock but the tone is the right amount of sweetly analytical, the characters quirky in their cooking skills, clothing preferences, and jokes. It was going to be my favorite story but the end is weak/melodramatic and the stuff with her jealous gay friend is not rounded out well before or after their abrupt falling out. The papaya thing was likewise shoehorned in and just added to her date’s case that she’s “exotic/different” by her retort being “I’m not a a papaya” like anyone would know what that means. A third into the book and these are mostly just vague repetitive stories about teenage Jewish girls without any action. A book of nanoaggressions for a sixth grade audience does not make for interesting content.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of us have felt, from time to time, that we don’t fit in—with our peers, our communities, our families, even our own skins—for a variety of reasons. These are twenty stories of adolescents who don’t feel they fit in or they are not “whole” because they are multiracial or multicultural. Boundless presents twenty stories that share the multiracial and multicultural experience of contemporary adolescents.

Nina feels that she is not Asian enough to be a part of her extended family. “Sometimes I wonder of karaoke nights [with the family] would’ve felt different if I’d grown up where Dad did, around more people who looked like me. So many people in Hawaii are multiracial. It isn’t weird or different or ‘exotic’, like I’ve been called all my life.” (24)

Amalia Lipski is Hispanic-Jewish. “By trying to hold on to those two identities, I feel like I’m doing a disservice to both. Like, I’m trying to find the right balance, but I want to be more than fifty percent Judia and fifty percent Latina. I want to be two hundred percent everything. I want to be more than what everybody expects me to be. I want to be…perfect.” (42)

Tami is Japanese-Jewish. “I swore I wouldn’t…divide myself up. Not after I teacher called me half-and-half in elementary school…. Am I too much of something? Not enough of another? I know what I am not—whole.” (75)

Irene is Mexican-Irish, “EE-reh-neh to my mom’s side of the family (the Mexican side); Eye-reen to my dad’s side of the family (the Irish side)…. My goal in life is to keep my head down.” (85) “There is no way to divide myself and put the pieces into nice little boxes.” (96)

Eitan is Israeli-Mexican and feels invisible. “Was a person more defined by where they were born or where their parents were born? If some government or the other decided to take away either one of his nationalities, he would still be Eitan.” (124)

Madison Rabottini is Italian-Chinese. “There is nothing quite like doing a Zoom party with the Italian side of the family to realize how out of place my brother and I look in box after box of curly hair and hazel eyes. Then we flip to a Skype of my mom’s side, and suddenly Dad is the outsider.” (140)

Lydia is biracial, Indian-White. “There have been opposing forces within me for as long as I can remember. I am twins inhabiting the same body, two chemicals combined to form a unique reaction.” (277) “I am not Indian enough. Sometimes I don’t even feel American enough. I am not enough.” (280)

Simone is biracial; Sean is of Honduran decent, adopted by an Irish couple; Trevor is Black-Puerto Rican; Jerry is Filipino White; and, after his death, Hiba Ahmed visits her father’s homeland, Jordan. “I just want to know more about where he was from. About where I’m from.” “349

Here are stories for those who have not felt “enough” for any reason. As I wrote in my review for Black Enough, this is a book that invites some adolescents to see their lives and experiences reflected and invites others to experience the lives of their contemporaries.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't always love short stories, mostly because I kept wanting more, and they kept ending. But I always want to spend more time with characters I love, and that knows no form. Novel, novella, or short story, great characters always make me want to spend more time in their world.

My love for short stories has really grown in the last few years, and it's in part due to anthologies like this. Anthologies connected by theme, or interconnected by setting with character crossovers like Ancestor Approved.

Boundless, a new anthology with twenty incredible contributing authors, is edited by Ismée Williams and Rebecca Balcárcel. This young adult anthology highlights multicultural life and tackles themes of identity and belonging.

Each story is incredible, with thorough character development. Each story is engrossing, so much so that I couldn't just continue straight through but I had to take a moment between stories to just appreciate how beautiful each one was. This is the kind of anthology you can really savor, enjoying it story by story, without feeling rushed.

Themes of identity and belonging are explored at a micro and macro level, allowing for diversity and individual experiences to flourish. These stories are so relatable. There is something universal about searching for where you belong, yet that same something is multiplied by multi-cultural and multi-racial experiences. As a bicultural person myself, I found something in each and every story to relate to, and felt seen in ways I didn't expect. But even without being bicultural, I think I would have found just as many relatable moments.

This anthology includes stories from:
* Adi Alsaid
* Rebecca Balcárcel
* Akemi Dawn Bowman
* Anika Fajardo
* Shannon Gibney
* I.W. Gregorio
* Veera Hiranandani
* Nasugraq Rainey Hopson
* Emiko Jean
* Erin Entrada Kelly
* Torrey Maldonado
* Mélina Mangal
* Goldy Moldavsky
* Randy Ribay
* Loriel Ryon
* Tara Sim
* Eric Smith
* Jasmine Warga
* Ismée Williams
* Karen Yin

These stories are just wonderful. Individually, each story is engrossing, well written, and thought provoking. Together, they create a beautiful tapestry of connection, acceptance, and love.

Boundless will be available June 13, 2023.
Thank you to Inkyard Press, NetGalley, the contributors, and editors for an advanced e-copy such that I could share my honest opinions.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boundless is a richly diverse collection of YA short stories centered around the multiracial and mixed race characters. Their voices, interactions and relationships with others depict some big questions surrounding identity, race, and societal expectations. I've read previous work by some of the authors in this collection, but most are new to me and I'll eagerly look for their other books.

Some stories in Boundless seem a bit simplistic in the first reading, but I can imagine these can serve as a starting point for productive conversations about how people of different background might navigate different situations and how racial/ethnic identities might play a role. I also like that so many different backgrounds and identities are represented so, as a reader, I was introduced to a new perspective every few pages. Finally, I appreciate short story collections that center on a theme, where you can get a sense of the many different layers that might be part of the experience of a multiracial character, but where the author-contributors each have their own distinct styles.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the e-arc!

[Brittany]

Featured authors include: Akemi Dawn Bowman, Goldy Moldavsky, Nasugraq Rainey Hobson, Emiko Jean, Loriel Ryon, Veera Hiranandani, Adi Alsaid, I.W. Gregorio, Ismée Williams, Karen Yin, Anika Fajardo, Mélina Manual, Eric Smith, Shannon Gibney, Tara Sim, Torrey Maldonado, Erin Entrada Kelly, Rebecca Balcárcel, Randy Ribay, and Jasmine Warga.

The standouts for me were Irish Soda Bread by Eric Smith: “Our search began when we started looking for you, and you filled a broken place in our hearts here. But that search only really ends for me, and for your father, when you feel as whole as we do.” (251) and Hispanic Jewish Bingo by Goldy Moldavsky: “Amalia loves these sayings because she’s pretty sure a version of the former exists in every culture and language in the world, and the latter casually confirms the existence of Satan when people who didn’t know better tried to eradicate him from Jewish lore.” (33)

The range of stories in this anthology shows just how vast the intersections of our identities can impact us and how we move through this world.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boundless: three stars for this YA short-story anthology. Many of the stories have similar themes/settings/plots, which is interesting--we see how characters from a variety of backgrounds deal with similar questions of identity/belonging--though it makes the collection as a whole feel at times like it's repeating itself. The quality of the writing varies; there were a few stories I ended up skimming, but also some quite-strong ones.

--List of stories included, for reference:
The Chair Far Away From the Table
Hispanic Jewish Bingo
The Perils of Beige
Invisible
Mariachis vs. Bluegrass
I Am Not a Papaya
Between Visibilities
Enough to Be a Real Thing
Thicker Than Water
My Kinda Sorta Badass Move
I Like to Be in America
Michelle and Yvette in Kaiserslautern
Irish Soda Bread
The Mortification
Between Layers
Different
Confession
A Halfie's Guide to Mexican Restaurants
Effing Nico
Searching

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this anthology of 20 short stories the experiences of multiracial and/or multicultural characters are amplified and celebrated. In the foreword from the editors, Williams and Balcarcel write that they hope to recognize the many ways living in two or more cultures helps us to develop empathy and a broader world view and that is exactly what this collection does- it builds a bridge that connects all to multicultural experiences while humanizing the experience of those who have struggled to feel completely at home within their own communities. I am so grateful that this collection exists. Though these stories are fictional they are representative of the racial identity development and coming of age experiences many young people encounter when figuring out who they are in the world.

Thank you to the editors and the publisher for the e-arc copy!

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty voices celebrating multicultural and multiracial identities edited by @rebeccabalcarcel @ismeewilliams
🫶🏼
This is a MG & YA anthology with twenty stories from popular authors that cover a wide range of topics from a wedding to a birthday party to grief to returning to one’s homeland, from romantic love to friendship love to familial love. Each story deals with love that knows no bounds and revels in multicultural traditions and relationships.
🫶🏾
What a beautiful creation of short stories by biracial and/or multicultural authors such as @torreymaldonado @emikojeanbooks @veerawrites @jasminewargabooks @erinentrada @goldywrites @randyribay Each one was special and unique—something for every reader to connect with. This story collection releases June 13!

CW: depression, microaggressions, adoption, bullying

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was kindly sent a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/sunstormsan...

my reading slump this year has been astronomical, meaning im only getting to this anthology now :: a collection of 20 stories from 20 authors of multicultural and multiracial backgrounds, sharing an experience of being “boundless” ✨

I really enjoyed these stories, with each one having its own style and length. Each story tackles a different issue, from not fitting in with family or social groups to facing prejudice or misunderstanding in day to day life or work. This style of book is so perfect for people in a reading slump like myself as I was able to pick it up and set it down as needed!

I think this is an anthology that could help a lot of people feel seen within YA literature 🫶

[Terri Downer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of 20 short stories, all written by previously published authors with varying racial and cultural backgrounds. As with any collection, I liked some stories more than others, but I enjoyed all of the glimpses into the wide variety of racially and culturally mixed family dynamics. The dominant theme across the stories seemed to be the sense of not quite belonging fully in either culture/race, and striving to find their own place in their family and society. I can see this as a great book for a late middle school or early high school English class...there could be some great discussion about different cultures and family dynamics.

[Book Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic collection! I thoroughly enjoyed all but 1, maybe 2 of the stories, and that’s definitely an accomplishment with an anthology. The writing was all fantastic, and the various representations of multi-cultural coming-of-age made this such a dynamic collection.

I do feel like this was a YA collection that is specifically meant to speak to adults? I could see some teens appreciating this and learning something from it / getting something out of it. But it almost feels like content that adults will truly understand. Hindsight is always 20/20.

Of all the collections I’ve read recently, this has definitely been my favorite.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Boundless: Twenty Voices Celebrating Multicultural and Multiracial Identities. Each story provides invaluable insights into the lives of multicultural youth, offering a diverse array of perspectives that are both relatable and eye-opening. The anthology is beautifully curated, with every voice adding depth and authenticity. It’s a powerful read that celebrates identity, belonging, and resilience.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories that are heartfelt and thought-provoking, regardless of their background. A huge thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthologies are great because there are so many new voices and stories in one place, but they can also be tricky since some stories can shine so much better than others. As a whole, this is a good collection, but some stories will likely bore you a little while others will captivate you. The voices here are unique, strong, resilient, and compelling. These are voices you need to hear… or, read. These are voices that I look forward to bringing into my classroom in future years.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Janessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My teenage self needed this book, as a biracial, brown, curvy girl living in the deep South. It can feel perilous to be caught between two races, heritages, identities, or worlds especially when society often wants you to choose sides. These short stories capture the teen/young adult multicultural experience across America. Thought-provoking, emotive, and relevant.

I think I only skipped past 5 out of 20 stories. Some a bit too teen angsty. But most well-written in a multitude of writing styles.

[Lauren Yero · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful anthology! These twenty stories recount with grace, humor, and insight the experience of searching for home in more than one culture. The mix of middle grade and YA voices and the diversity of styles and cultures made each story feel fresh. Many readers are sure to see themselves in these pages. I've never read anything quite like it!

Thanks to the editors and publisher for this advance reader copy.

[Deborah Zeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty MG/YA stories ranging from birthdays to love to grief to hope to confusion to searching for something you are not sure you can really find to just trying to fit in. These stories celebrate multicultural and multiracial backgrounds, leaving the reader wanting more. Thank you @rebeccabalcarcel & @ismeewilliams for these incredible stories and showcasing voices that will resonate with readers young and old.

[Kelly Pramberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this collection of stories. Five stars! The writers did a beautiful job with telling their stories of race and culture and identity. I thought there was a good flow from one to the next. Some I found to have a hint of humor while others are quite serious. I’m hoping my teenage son will also read this.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Tamika Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for anyone trying to understand the complexities of multicultural and multiracial existence. Each author paints a vivid picture of their experiences, many of which were relatable, while others were eye-opening. Editors Ismee Williams and Rebecca Balcarcel did a great job curating this book.

[Alexandra Alessandri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful anthology. Twenty authors share stories about the multicultural or multiracial identity, and it provides a beautiful mirror and window for readers. I particularly enjoyed the diverse perspectives as well as the diversity in the mode of storytelling and points of view. This anthology has something for everyone, and it's a great addition to home, school, and public libraries!

[lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with many YA anthologies, this one ran a little long, and a little dull, but it was fine, and there were plenty of authors that I hadn't heard of that I was intrigued enough by that I will probably check out their novels at some point. If you are interested in discovering new YA authors, this is a great source. Otherwise, I'm not sure where it will find a market.