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pauladamswrites's review against another edition
This review was originally posted on www.pluckyreader.com
Several months ago, I received an ARC for this anthology, Fresh Ink. It's been sitting in my Kindle for far longer than I'd care to admit. I remember reading the description and thinking it sounded so interesting and, well, fresh. And then, I guess I just forgot about it.
Recently I was roaming the shelves of Barnes & Noble (because, you know, I don't have enough books to read at my house, sitting on a shelf, unread and gleaming for my attention), when I saw Fresh Ink sitting on the shelves.
I always feel so happy when I see the ARCs I've receive come to fruition as books on the shelf. It's not a pride--it's not like I discovered them or anything. But it's so nice to seem them out and published and able to be in people's hands. Usually, though, I also finish the ARC before it's on the shelves. So, to make sure my joy was appropriately placed, I dusted off my Kindle and read my way through this anthology of short stories.
I was pleasantly surprised when I started this collection. I expected a typical collection of short stories. This was no typical collection of short stories. As the information clearly states (I'm just not a very thorough reader sometimes) this collection is told in nontraditional ways. There are short stories by new, diverse authors. But there's also a one-act play. And a graphic story.
I, personally, love graphic novels. I've added a ton of them to my classroom collection lately, and I totally support my students reading them. It was a nice change of pace when this one appeared.
From the first story, the tone of this collection is set. Fresh Ink opens with "Eraser Tattoo," the story of first love and lost love. Two teenagers must say goodbye to their first loves. The story takes the reader through a series of flashbacks, as well as the present, to tell the story of unequal love. Something in the way Jason Reynolds tells this story is so real about the way teenagers love.
Other authors include Melissa de la Cruz (of Descendants and Witches of East End fame) and Nicola Yoon (author of The Sun is Also a Star and Everything, Everything). Sadly, I am not familiar with the writing of most of these authors. Which is exactly the purpose of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement co-founded by the editor of this collection, Lamar Giles.
All in all, I enjoyed my time with Fresh Ink. I wish, much as I said about I'd Rather Be Reading that I'd savored this book a little more. It's a wonderful book rife with unique voices and diverse points of view. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Fresh Ink. My only disappointment was that it ended too quickly and had far too few stories.
Plucky's rating? 4 stars.
It is definitely worth the read.
Yours,
The Plucky Reader
Several months ago, I received an ARC for this anthology, Fresh Ink. It's been sitting in my Kindle for far longer than I'd care to admit. I remember reading the description and thinking it sounded so interesting and, well, fresh. And then, I guess I just forgot about it.
Recently I was roaming the shelves of Barnes & Noble (because, you know, I don't have enough books to read at my house, sitting on a shelf, unread and gleaming for my attention), when I saw Fresh Ink sitting on the shelves.
I always feel so happy when I see the ARCs I've receive come to fruition as books on the shelf. It's not a pride--it's not like I discovered them or anything. But it's so nice to seem them out and published and able to be in people's hands. Usually, though, I also finish the ARC before it's on the shelves. So, to make sure my joy was appropriately placed, I dusted off my Kindle and read my way through this anthology of short stories.
I was pleasantly surprised when I started this collection. I expected a typical collection of short stories. This was no typical collection of short stories. As the information clearly states (I'm just not a very thorough reader sometimes) this collection is told in nontraditional ways. There are short stories by new, diverse authors. But there's also a one-act play. And a graphic story.
I, personally, love graphic novels. I've added a ton of them to my classroom collection lately, and I totally support my students reading them. It was a nice change of pace when this one appeared.
From the first story, the tone of this collection is set. Fresh Ink opens with "Eraser Tattoo," the story of first love and lost love. Two teenagers must say goodbye to their first loves. The story takes the reader through a series of flashbacks, as well as the present, to tell the story of unequal love. Something in the way Jason Reynolds tells this story is so real about the way teenagers love.
Other authors include Melissa de la Cruz (of Descendants and Witches of East End fame) and Nicola Yoon (author of The Sun is Also a Star and Everything, Everything). Sadly, I am not familiar with the writing of most of these authors. Which is exactly the purpose of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks movement co-founded by the editor of this collection, Lamar Giles.
All in all, I enjoyed my time with Fresh Ink. I wish, much as I said about I'd Rather Be Reading that I'd savored this book a little more. It's a wonderful book rife with unique voices and diverse points of view. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Fresh Ink. My only disappointment was that it ended too quickly and had far too few stories.
Plucky's rating? 4 stars.
It is definitely worth the read.
Yours,
The Plucky Reader
mxpk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Cursing
avidbooknerd2028's review against another edition
4.0
I love anthologies!
This one was full of diverse and interesting stories. I was surprised to find that none of them seemed to short.
This is definitely one of my favorites!
This one was full of diverse and interesting stories. I was surprised to find that none of them seemed to short.
This is definitely one of my favorites!
estanceveyrac's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the Nicola Yoon story, as well as most of all the other stories.
revveryerin's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sweetbabyray1's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
emldavis001's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. I was actually really hoping to love it, but that is not the case. Overall, I only really liked about 3 of the stories, the play, and the graphic novel. The others just didn't spark my interest. Even though this book isn't a favorite of mine I'm still going to keep it around so I can reread it in the future and hopefully like it more then than I do right now.
dontstopreadin's review against another edition
4.0
It’s late, so I’ll need to check my math later, but I think my average rating per story is 3.8. Let’s round up for fun.
Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds
Made me cringe, self harm trigger, anti-climactic but cute rom 3 stars
Meet Cute by Melinda Lo
5 stars diverse and cleaver and adorable and dripping in fan culture cuteness
Don’t Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth
Nice rep, I think? kinda boring, meandering, slow moving plot. Good message about race, but not sure the point of anything else happening here. 3 stars
Be Cool for Once by Aminah Mae Safi
3.5 stars suspend disbelief but liked the ending made me lol & enjoyed the convo w/ love interests. Mention of f/f romance.
Tags by Walter Dean Myers
5 stars play script nice format, interesting revealing pace, touching/twisty ending.
Why I Learned to Cook By Sara Farizan
F/f romance, middle eastern heritage (Iran American protog)Persian. Good old people. Acceptance. Made me swell with joy. 5 stars.
A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older
Wtf 1 Star confused 🤷🏽♀️
A Boy’s Duty by Sharon G. Flake
Was really into but I don’t get the motivation or ending? 2.5 stars
One Voice A Something in Between Story by Melissa de la Cruz
Immigration. College. Racism. Explaining POC POV to someone who doesn’t get it 5 Stars
Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang, Illustrations by Thien Pham
3.5 stars
Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar
Trans. Feel for character. Tw for dead name. Athlete. Empowering. Moving. 5 stars
Super Human by Nicola Yoon
Shook. 5 stars
Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds
Made me cringe, self harm trigger, anti-climactic but cute rom 3 stars
Meet Cute by Melinda Lo
5 stars diverse and cleaver and adorable and dripping in fan culture cuteness
Don’t Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth
Nice rep, I think? kinda boring, meandering, slow moving plot. Good message about race, but not sure the point of anything else happening here. 3 stars
Be Cool for Once by Aminah Mae Safi
3.5 stars suspend disbelief but liked the ending made me lol & enjoyed the convo w/ love interests. Mention of f/f romance.
Tags by Walter Dean Myers
5 stars play script nice format, interesting revealing pace, touching/twisty ending.
Why I Learned to Cook By Sara Farizan
F/f romance, middle eastern heritage (Iran American protog)Persian. Good old people. Acceptance. Made me swell with joy. 5 stars.
A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older
Wtf 1 Star confused 🤷🏽♀️
A Boy’s Duty by Sharon G. Flake
Was really into but I don’t get the motivation or ending? 2.5 stars
One Voice A Something in Between Story by Melissa de la Cruz
Immigration. College. Racism. Explaining POC POV to someone who doesn’t get it 5 Stars
Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang, Illustrations by Thien Pham
3.5 stars
Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar
Trans. Feel for character. Tw for dead name. Athlete. Empowering. Moving. 5 stars
Super Human by Nicola Yoon
Shook. 5 stars