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emjay24's review against another edition
2.0
I saw this book on the new shelf at the library and that it is edited by Michelle Tea. I've read some of her memoirs and enjoyed them, plus, she's local, so i picked it up. Normally, i don't really go for short stories. As i began this anthology, i saw these aren't even really short stories, many of them. they're just words, maybe like a poem in story formatting. they were super short, too. i didn't like them, there was no substance. eventually, some actual stories came and i liked those better. some stories i really liked, juan is one that comes to mind. a lot of others, i didn't like at all..but i guess that's an anthology for you. a good number of the pieces are about young people living very poorly in SF's mission district. Most of these stories seemed depressing. it was ok, but i feel like i would have liked this better if i was specifically looking for "new queer girl writing" which is, after all what it's advertised as, so it's more my fault than the book's. But from my perspective, i'll give it 2 stars aka "it was ok." If you see it at your library, pick it up and skim through for the couple good stories!
loridk's review against another edition
5.0
Was really, really good. I have a bad habit of reading multiple books at once and all others were put aside until this was through.
yourfriendtorie's review against another edition
4.0
The overwhelming majority of the pieces in this anthology are awesome. I read a criticism of this book that complained that there was not much substance to the stories, however artfully written, and I would say that I agree with that to the extent that I finished the book feeling really eager to read more of certain authors' work. I saw some of the pieces performed when Sister Spit came to UCSD and some of my favorite zine writers are up in there, like Nicole Georges and Cristy C. Road. New favorites: Robin Akimbo, Rhiannon Argo, and especially Jamilah Mecca Sullivan--her story narrated by a badass New York City high schooler blew me away.
silodear's review against another edition
4.0
Short fiction is not typically my favorite reading, but this book pleasantly surprised me repeatedly, with each new story. The authors featured in this Michelle Tea edited fiction extravaganza are creative and witty. The stories are heart-wrenching and vibrant, clever and erotic. I found myself lost in the writing on more than one occasion.
My favorites from the group:
"Coming-Out Versus Sex Versus Making Love" by Meliza Banales
"Part 1: Tumbleweed" by Shoshana von Blackensee
"Stay" by Beth Striedle
My favorites from the group:
"Coming-Out Versus Sex Versus Making Love" by Meliza Banales
"Part 1: Tumbleweed" by Shoshana von Blackensee
"Stay" by Beth Striedle
neurodivengeance's review against another edition
3.0
A few of these were really good, some of them I totally didn't get, and I remain annoyed that the first piece seemed to be from the perspective of a straight man (that is not revolutionary that is just heteroville mimicry). It was mostly nice to dip in and out of the stories, though. Contributors I especially liked were Jenna Henry, Meliza Bañales, Jess Arndt, Robin Akimbo, Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, Chelsea Starr, Shoshana von Blanckensee & Tina Butcher.
rosieleyva's review against another edition
1.0
I could only get through the first 35 pages... really disappointed.
woodlandbooklover's review against another edition
2.0
A collection of mostly fiction and nonfiction with a couple cartoons, some of the pieces focus on queerness and queer characters, but not all (which I think was good - showing we can celebrate queer writers without demanding all their writing be about queerness itself). The pieces all hit the same note, which for an anthology isn't the best. An anthology should demonstrate a range of topic/tone/plot and give the reader many different kind of experiences, that way it can show the breadth and depth of the collection's theme. Perhaps I am too old for the high angst characters and plot. It would be good for teens and YA.
tc_mill's review against another edition
3.0
Some excellent pieces in here (including trans-inclusive stories, which, w00t), but others felt same-y or were narratively dissatisfying.
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