Foreshadow

August 31, 2020
Part showcase of culturally diverse new voices from online magazine Foreshadow, part beginners’ writing textbook, this best-of YA anthology’s purposes muddy each other’s effectiveness despite featuring touching and topical reads. Standout stories are rich with fresh perspective and nuance: Tanya Aydelott’s thoughtful “Flight” welds fine art, bodies’ limits, and an uprooted girl’s chance to choose differently than her changeable mother into a surprising jewel. Gina Chen’s charming, clear-eyed “Fools” introduces an unconventional demon to an island full of fairy tales’ leftover girls. Satirical “Risk” by Rachel Hylton transforms a high school sophomore into a lobster—and body image insecurities into joyous solidarity. And told in six games of Seven Minutes in Heaven, a Florida teen kindles romance alongside baking in Sophie Meridien’s playful, ebullient “Break.” Coeditor Pan offers prompts and accessible story assessments that highlight elements of craft, and author and editor q&as usefully illuminate publishing processes, but persistent mythologies on the “magic” of publication undermine a
professional approach. This potentially valuable starting point for aspiring writers will frustrate pleasure readers and craft-oriented writing students with its split—and sometimes self-contradictory—purpose. Ages 14–up.

September 1, 2020
An ingenious collection of 13 short stories that will especially be enjoyed by aspiring writers. Stemming from the digitally published serial anthology of the same name founded by YA authors Pan and Suma, this print collection features contributions by some of the new voices who were featured in the monthly online issues. Each entry is prefaced with an explanation from the well-known author for teens, including writers such as Laurie Halse Anderson and Sabaa Tahir, who selected that short story for publication. Commentary by Suma or Pan follows each one, highlighting a particular writing element on display. Topics such as imagery, voice, and emotional resonance are discussed in these accompanying essays on craft. These passages are a real treat, as readers and aspiring writers are given an opportunity to learn from established authors and editors. There are a variety of genres featured in the collection, although most lean toward the speculative. The crop of writers and their protagonists are diverse--Adriana Marachlian's "Monsters" centers around recent Venezuelan immigrant Milagros, who sees monsters in the New York City subway, and Nora Elghazzawi's "Solace" follows Laila, a Midwestern Muslim girl still grieving her younger brother's death. Each of these selections displays great talent, and readers will hope to see future works by these up-and-coming creators. Extensive aftermatter provides enriching background information. Ranging from deliciously creepy to glowingly hopeful, this collection offers a master class in short stories. (Anthology. 12-18)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from October 1, 2020

Gr 8 Up-An anthology designed to showcase underrepresented voices in short stories. The formula is simple: A story, followed by a multi-paragraph explanation by the author, and last, Pan or Suma dissect the strategies the author used. Thus, readers are simultaneously entertained and educated. The 13 engaging and original stories in a variety of genres range from a strained relationship between mother and daughter in Tanya Aydelott's "Flight" to the end of the world in Joanna Truman's "Glow." The ingenuity in the writing is reinforced by Pan and Suma's accompanying essays. These stellar contributions from new writers are selected by a team of veteran authors, who lend a quote to introduce each story. This publication adds visibility to the Foreshadow website, which releases YA short stories monthly. VERDICT Each story shines. An enduring anthology, appropriate for classroom use and recommended for all teen readers.-Alicia Abdul, Albany H.S., NY

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2020
Grades 8-12 This gorgeous short-story collection, which showcases the work of new, underrepresented voices in young adult fiction, was originally published online in FORESHADOW: A Serial YA Anthology. The book was created to bring these authors to a wider audience while illuminating the writing and editing process for aspiring teen writers. The 13 stories are all introduced by a different YA celebrity (think Nicola Yoon or Adam Silvera) and are followed by an author's note. Each story exemplifies one element of writing (mood, world building, character development, the use of motif, etc.), which is elucidated by either Pan or Suma in several paragraphs. These sections, along with a final, extended Q&A with the anthology's fiction editors, focus on the craft of writing and the process of working with an editor. Almost every story is speculative in some way (although the one purely realistic contemporary is a knockout!), and every single story is written by a female author featuring a female protagonist. Readers will be enraptured by these vibrant, unique, passionate new voices.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)