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23 reviews for:
Up All Night
David Levithan, Patricia McCormick, Sarah Weeks, Libba Bray, Gene Luen Yang, Ariel Pollak, Peter Abrahams, Laura Geringer Bass
3.21 AVERAGE
23 reviews for:
Up All Night
David Levithan, Patricia McCormick, Sarah Weeks, Libba Bray, Gene Luen Yang, Ariel Pollak, Peter Abrahams, Laura Geringer Bass
3.21 AVERAGE
Every story in here is compelling, although a couple annoyed me with their stereotypically simplistic characters. Still, the majority are interesting, about a variety of topics, and characters. Some are only reflections on life, others are funny and others sad and spooky. It's a good read.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
While the concept of one night’s events transforming a character’s life was intriguing, I went into it with hesitation. Should we be encouraging the “one magical night will change everything” concept? But, it is fiction, so I read on.
I really enjoyed Peter Abrahams’s “Phase 2” and Patricia McCormick’s “Orange Alert” as their MCs had ingenuity and spark, with those characteristics leading the MCs to a very-satisfying-for-the-reader conclusion. The other stories felt too out-there, and, I thought, would be hard for a teen to connect with. But I’ve learned not to underestimate teens—so maybe those stories “out-there-edness” would be just the thing to make this a five-star-read for them.
TW: death of parent, death of pet, sexual harassment
I really enjoyed Peter Abrahams’s “Phase 2” and Patricia McCormick’s “Orange Alert” as their MCs had ingenuity and spark, with those characteristics leading the MCs to a very-satisfying-for-the-reader conclusion. The other stories felt too out-there, and, I thought, would be hard for a teen to connect with. But I’ve learned not to underestimate teens—so maybe those stories “out-there-edness” would be just the thing to make this a five-star-read for them.
TW: death of parent, death of pet, sexual harassment
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Phase 2 by Peter Abrahams 4 Stars
This was such a sad and sweet tale of a father lost in combat.
Not Just for Breakfast Anymore by Libba Bray 2.5 stars
I’m usually a fan of Libba Bray, but there were some problematic racist jokes and while the story was enjoyable, there were lots of references I doubt the target audience (teens) would get. The story is set during the 80s and even I couldn’t pick up on all the references.
The Vulnerable Hours by David Levithan 5 Stars
Magical story of opening up and speaking your truth from Levithan.
Orange Alert by Patricia McCormick 5 Stars
Gotta love a strong female protagonist that sticks it to a misogynistic pedophile.
Superman is Dead by Sarah Weeks 4 Stars
Excellent story within a story, but why did poor Superman have to die? Trigger Warning - dead pets
The Motherless One by Gene Luen Yang 3 stars
I’m sure there was supposed to be some deeper meaning but it didn’t really resonate with me.
This was such a sad and sweet tale of a father lost in combat.
Not Just for Breakfast Anymore by Libba Bray 2.5 stars
I’m usually a fan of Libba Bray, but there were some problematic racist jokes and while the story was enjoyable, there were lots of references I doubt the target audience (teens) would get. The story is set during the 80s and even I couldn’t pick up on all the references.
The Vulnerable Hours by David Levithan 5 Stars
Magical story of opening up and speaking your truth from Levithan.
Orange Alert by Patricia McCormick 5 Stars
Gotta love a strong female protagonist that sticks it to a misogynistic pedophile.
Superman is Dead by Sarah Weeks 4 Stars
Excellent story within a story, but why did poor Superman have to die? Trigger Warning - dead pets
The Motherless One by Gene Luen Yang 3 stars
I’m sure there was supposed to be some deeper meaning but it didn’t really resonate with me.
Meh. Libba Bray's was awesome; the rest were pretty forgettable, except Levithan's, which was flat-out painful.
I loved all the short stories in this book!! Very well put together and beautiful writing!!
This collection of stories was a bit different from the other collections I've read recently. The stories seemed longer, and there were only six of them, including one in graphic novel format. The theme was different too, "up all night", which seemed like a tenuous story theme. I can't say I loved most of the stories. They were generally sad stories involving family dysfunction, especially paternal issues.
Peter Abraham's story was sad and strange. the ending was sort of sweet, and sort of weird, as there wasn't necessarily a supernatural theme to the stories. I didn't really care too much about the story, though.
Libba Bray's story was strange and sad too. It had an almost autobiographical feel, given the area and era it was set in. I guess there was catharsis at the end of this one, but I didn't care too much.
David Levithan's story was the best I've read of his so far, and one of my favorite of the book. Despite the fact that it's a sort of slow story with not a lot of action (and that there was a slightly supernatural element to the story that felt jarringly out of place), I could feel the characters changing and growing as the story progressed, watch them learn to embrace their own nature (introvert, duh!) and accept their longing for a more real and intimate connection with others. it was beautiful in its own way.
Patricia McCormick's story was the one I connected with the most. She drew the few characters so well in such a short space, from the desperate-to-please mother to the creepy jerk of a stepfather to the main character, growing and learning to advocate for/ defend herself. Orange Alert, indeed!
Sarah Week's story was harder to connect with. I felt really bad for Superman, and understood that frustrating grief over the suffering of a pet. The boys themselves weren't terribly easy to connect with, though, and the story-within-a-story element was a bit creepy.
Gene Luang Yang's graphic short story was interesting, although I didn't love it. It had the feel of a folk tale, but I wasn't really sure of its point.
Overall it ended up being a quick read once I forced myself past Peter Abraham's story, and I'm left wanting to read more by Patricia McCormick, so it wasn't a total waste.
Peter Abraham's story was sad and strange. the ending was sort of sweet, and sort of weird, as there wasn't necessarily a supernatural theme to the stories. I didn't really care too much about the story, though.
Libba Bray's story was strange and sad too. It had an almost autobiographical feel, given the area and era it was set in. I guess there was catharsis at the end of this one, but I didn't care too much.
David Levithan's story was the best I've read of his so far, and one of my favorite of the book. Despite the fact that it's a sort of slow story with not a lot of action (and that there was a slightly supernatural element to the story that felt jarringly out of place), I could feel the characters changing and growing as the story progressed, watch them learn to embrace their own nature (introvert, duh!) and accept their longing for a more real and intimate connection with others. it was beautiful in its own way.
Patricia McCormick's story was the one I connected with the most. She drew the few characters so well in such a short space, from the desperate-to-please mother to the creepy jerk of a stepfather to the main character, growing and learning to advocate for/ defend herself. Orange Alert, indeed!
Sarah Week's story was harder to connect with. I felt really bad for Superman, and understood that frustrating grief over the suffering of a pet. The boys themselves weren't terribly easy to connect with, though, and the story-within-a-story element was a bit creepy.
Gene Luang Yang's graphic short story was interesting, although I didn't love it. It had the feel of a folk tale, but I wasn't really sure of its point.
Overall it ended up being a quick read once I forced myself past Peter Abraham's story, and I'm left wanting to read more by Patricia McCormick, so it wasn't a total waste.
The only stories from here that I really, really liked were "Phase 2" and "The Vulnerable Hours." Everything else was pretty "meh." Which is a shame, because I love the idea and premise behind this collection.