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1.04k reviews for:
All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages
Saundra Mitchell
3.92 AVERAGE
1.04k reviews for:
All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages
Saundra Mitchell
3.92 AVERAGE
My super-scientific average of all the ratings I gave individual short stories in this anthology: 3.91.
Favourites (in order of appearance):
- Burnt Umber
- New Year
- Molly's Lips
- Every Shade of Red
- The End of the World as We Know It
I do have to say, I might have preferred had these stories come to me in two separate anthologies: one for historical fiction and and one for historical fantasy, because I think I would have enjoyed the ones with more fantastical elements more had that been the case.
Favourites (in order of appearance):
- Burnt Umber
- New Year
- Molly's Lips
- Every Shade of Red
- The End of the World as We Know It
I do have to say, I might have preferred had these stories come to me in two separate anthologies: one for historical fiction and and one for historical fantasy, because I think I would have enjoyed the ones with more fantastical elements more had that been the case.
Every story in this anthology warmed my heart ❤️ I highly recommend it if you want to read some wholesome, queer love stories
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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:
Complicated
This volume of short stories is well-curated, and makes for a great read. Some of the stories didn't hit the mark for me, but in most cases the stories of queer love in all its forms thriving against all odds were hopeful and poignant. I also enjoyed the varied historical settings, which mostly felt well-realised, and the way those worlds were built, and the characters within them, felt authentic. This is YA, but definitely, from my point of view, is also well suited to an adult audience. Apart from the couple of stories which didn't work for me, I found this hard to put down, and would definitely recommend it, particularly for people wanting hopeful LGBTQIA+ stories.
Content Warnings
Minor: Deadnaming, Death, Homophobia, Transphobia, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Lesbophobia
Actual rating: 3.03 stars
I have been reading a LOT of anthologies lately, and not having a great time with them. And I started out thinking that this was the anthology that was going to turn it around! It started very well, but then I started hitting road bumps. A couple 1-star stories, and some more mediocre fair, and the rating for this quickly faltered. But I still think I enjoyed it more than the previous anthologies I've read recently! Full review for each story to come!
I have been reading a LOT of anthologies lately, and not having a great time with them. And I started out thinking that this was the anthology that was going to turn it around! It started very well, but then I started hitting road bumps. A couple 1-star stories, and some more mediocre fair, and the rating for this quickly faltered. But I still think I enjoyed it more than the previous anthologies I've read recently! Full review for each story to come!
Great read! I enjoyed all the short stories and loved how they were all so different.
Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
Mexico 1870
LGBT+ Rep: Transman
Huh…That was…peculiar. Very peculiar. I love that we get an Author Note for this one, because it is inspired by a real person - which I thought was really cool. It's a Mexican adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood, with a trans soldier. There are some very strange hints of magic, that I still don't totally understand, but…I liked it. Didn't love it, but I liked it. (Also, there's a bit of a learning curve for me, because I can muddle through French and know next to no Spanish. And both pepper the story.)
****
The Sweet Trade by Natalie C. Parker
Virginia Colony 1717
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
I want this to be a full length novel. That would be awesome: two girls run away on their wedding day, meet each other and...well, two more things happen, but I don't want to give out spoilers. Suffice to say, it's awesome.
*****
And They Don't Kiss At The End by Nilah Magruder
Maryland 1976
LGBT+ Rep: Asexual
...I had my doubts before starting this, because I don't usually like 'historicals' that take place in the last hundred years or so. But this one...I actually like. I don't know if it was because the 70's roller scene was just a backdrop, or what. Though, it was partially because I like the main character and the ace rep was nice. (Spoiler: They totally don't kiss at the end and I was totally left with warm fuzzies.)
****
Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee
Amsterdam 1638
LGBT+ Rep: M/M
Ah, yes, teenaged boys drawing naked women. For art. And then, unfortunately for our main character, drawing naked men. Anyway, the story was pretty darn cute, but I wish less time had been spent with the romantic red herring because I couldn't stand him. I did like the art aspect and would like to see more of that in a historical context.
****
The Dresser & the Chambermaid by Robin Talley
England 1726
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
Not that this story was bad, I just don't find reading about a blooming romance between a pair of servants to royalty particularly interesting. Especially when they're both lacking in personality and add in a misunderstanding...*shrugs* Just meh.
**
New Year by Malinda Lo
San Francisco 1955
LGBT+ Rep: Uh… A girl that might be gay? Or bi.
While I did enjoy this story, I also can't help but wonder what the point of it was. Lily is a second generation Chinese American. I loved reading about her Aunt Judy (who was inspired by a 'Rocket' Girl.' But…this could have easily been a part of a longer story - and would have probably made more sense that way. (Also, the LGBT+ representation is so minute I'm not really sure this story fit here.)
***
Molly's Lips by Dahlia Adler
Seattle 1994
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
So…I'm supposed to take this seriously? I mean, this very short, short story is like a love letter to Kurt Cobain. It probably says something about me that I've never loved a celebrity so much that I mourn their death. (Of course, I'm not sure if it's a good something or a bad something.) So, reading a story revolving around Cobain's death, Courtney Love reading his suicide note at a vigil for him… Not for me. I mean, even if I'd been a fan of Nirvana - which, I very briefly liked a couple of their songs - I still don't get the obsession. Maybe I'm too old, but I just don't get it and I never did, even when I was a teen - and considering that Cobain killed himself before the people this book is directed towards were even born… One, very baffled, star.
*
The Coven by Kate Scelsa
Paris 1924
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
Is it weird that I have absolutely no feelings for this story. I mean, witches (and I thought this was supposed to be a HISTORICAL collection, not fantasy) and Paris - but the witches were out of place and Paris was…well, this story could have been set in any city in the world and nothing would have changed. And what was with the 'foggy' mind? If that was supposed to be some neurodivergent rep, it wasn't explained very well.
**
Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake
England late 1300s
LGBT+ Rep: M/M and transman - with minor asexual and F/F
I always knew Robin Hood and Will Scarlet were gay. Lol But, seriously, this is an inclusive, nonracist, no homophobic, nonsexist retelling of Robin Hood. (Well, these things still exist in the world, but our core group is delightfully diverse.) This story has it all - including a pervading sense of dread and an unhappy ending. If it would get a novel continuation, though, I'd read it. (Three very mixed feels stars.)
***
Willows by Scott Tracey
Massachusetts 1732
LGBT+ Rep: M/M
So…people are ritually sacrificed because they are cursed and they then become Returns because the curse doesn't die with them and the main character remembers past lives? Honestly, this story makes no sense, both in the actual story aspect and, especially, the world building. Because worlds just don't work like that. (Also another story with magic and a depressing ending.)
**
The Girl With the Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe
California 1849
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
More magic. *sigh* This isn't what I signed up for with this anthology and…I'm fed up with it. This story is…shallow and not bad, but absolutely nothing memorable.
**
The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez
Virginia 1969
LGBT+ Rep: M/M
I did kind of like the story, but my overwhelming feeling was awkwardness - and I hate secondhand embarrassment/awkwardness. Though, the awkwardness probably fits teenaged romance very well. So there is that. And I'm just not sure how I feel about that ending.
**
Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger
New York 1952
LGBT+ Rep: F/F and asexual
And we were doing so well avoiding any sexist crap. Too many things I didn't care for in this story, weird structure and…well, the sexism.
*
The End of the World as We Know it by Sara Farizan
Massachusetts 1999
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
'Being a girl is stupid. People only want to know who you want to kiss and nothing else.' So…is this internalized misogyny? It sure sounds it to me. But, really, this story has plenty of other problems. It takes the Y2K crash scare and tries to do something with that - even if nothing actually happened. Plus this quote seems in very ill-taste.
'"I think everything's already messed up after Columbine. Like, what kind of world do we live in if you can get shot up in your high school?"
"That was horrible. But I think it's a one-time thing. People won't stand for that kind of tragedy to keep happening."'
*
Three Witches by Tessa Grafton
Spain 1519
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
Well, this was suitably unpleasant. Basically, one of those you love your own gender so you must be in need of religion so you don't sin again. A 16th century pray the gay away camp, really, that one of the main characters was sent to by her brother. Pretty sure, too, that we're being told that these girls are under the influence of a demon and that's why they like their own gender.
*
The Inferno & the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson
England 1839
LGBT+ Rep: M/M
Magic. Again. Beyond that, I liked the story because we dealt with stage magicians and they are all kinds of awesome. But we also had real magic and I am so sick of that in this anthology.
***
Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Majia
New Mexico 1933
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
Supremely meh. Oh. We did get magic. Again. Yay.[/sarcasm] And some kind of demon-y thing. So…All about a bruja healing woman. Sort of. Sure, there was a plot - I just didn't think much of it.
*
So, I think, between this and Kaleidoscope, I'm done with anthologies for a good long time. Before I go, though, I want to impart some interesting stats about this story whose partial subtitle is 'throughout the ages'.
Number of stories: 17
Number of stories from the last 100 years: 8
Number of stories dealing with the supernatural: 7
Number of stories set in the US: 10
Number of stories where the sole LGBT+ rep was either M/M or F/F: 13
Actual Averaged Rating: 2.41
Mexico 1870
LGBT+ Rep: Transman
Huh…That was…peculiar. Very peculiar. I love that we get an Author Note for this one, because it is inspired by a real person - which I thought was really cool. It's a Mexican adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood, with a trans soldier. There are some very strange hints of magic, that I still don't totally understand, but…I liked it. Didn't love it, but I liked it. (Also, there's a bit of a learning curve for me, because I can muddle through French and know next to no Spanish. And both pepper the story.)
****
The Sweet Trade by Natalie C. Parker
Virginia Colony 1717
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
I want this to be a full length novel. That would be awesome: two girls run away on their wedding day, meet each other and...well, two more things happen, but I don't want to give out spoilers. Suffice to say, it's awesome.
*****
And They Don't Kiss At The End by Nilah Magruder
Maryland 1976
LGBT+ Rep: Asexual
...I had my doubts before starting this, because I don't usually like 'historicals' that take place in the last hundred years or so. But this one...I actually like. I don't know if it was because the 70's roller scene was just a backdrop, or what. Though, it was partially because I like the main character and the ace rep was nice. (Spoiler: They totally don't kiss at the end and I was totally left with warm fuzzies.)
****
Burnt Umber by Mackenzi Lee
Amsterdam 1638
LGBT+ Rep: M/M
Ah, yes, teenaged boys drawing naked women. For art. And then, unfortunately for our main character, drawing naked men. Anyway, the story was pretty darn cute, but I wish less time had been spent with the romantic red herring because I couldn't stand him. I did like the art aspect and would like to see more of that in a historical context.
****
The Dresser & the Chambermaid by Robin Talley
England 1726
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
Not that this story was bad, I just don't find reading about a blooming romance between a pair of servants to royalty particularly interesting. Especially when they're both lacking in personality and add in a misunderstanding...*shrugs* Just meh.
**
New Year by Malinda Lo
San Francisco 1955
LGBT+ Rep: Uh… A girl that might be gay? Or bi.
While I did enjoy this story, I also can't help but wonder what the point of it was. Lily is a second generation Chinese American. I loved reading about her Aunt Judy (who was inspired by a 'Rocket' Girl.' But…this could have easily been a part of a longer story - and would have probably made more sense that way. (Also, the LGBT+ representation is so minute I'm not really sure this story fit here.)
***
Molly's Lips by Dahlia Adler
Seattle 1994
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
So…I'm supposed to take this seriously? I mean, this very short, short story is like a love letter to Kurt Cobain. It probably says something about me that I've never loved a celebrity so much that I mourn their death. (Of course, I'm not sure if it's a good something or a bad something.) So, reading a story revolving around Cobain's death, Courtney Love reading his suicide note at a vigil for him… Not for me. I mean, even if I'd been a fan of Nirvana - which, I very briefly liked a couple of their songs - I still don't get the obsession. Maybe I'm too old, but I just don't get it and I never did, even when I was a teen - and considering that Cobain killed himself before the people this book is directed towards were even born… One, very baffled, star.
*
The Coven by Kate Scelsa
Paris 1924
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
Is it weird that I have absolutely no feelings for this story. I mean, witches (and I thought this was supposed to be a HISTORICAL collection, not fantasy) and Paris - but the witches were out of place and Paris was…well, this story could have been set in any city in the world and nothing would have changed. And what was with the 'foggy' mind? If that was supposed to be some neurodivergent rep, it wasn't explained very well.
**
Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake
England late 1300s
LGBT+ Rep: M/M and transman - with minor asexual and F/F
I always knew Robin Hood and Will Scarlet were gay. Lol But, seriously, this is an inclusive, nonracist, no homophobic, nonsexist retelling of Robin Hood. (Well, these things still exist in the world, but our core group is delightfully diverse.) This story has it all - including a pervading sense of dread and an unhappy ending. If it would get a novel continuation, though, I'd read it. (Three very mixed feels stars.)
***
Willows by Scott Tracey
Massachusetts 1732
LGBT+ Rep: M/M
So…people are ritually sacrificed because they are cursed and they then become Returns because the curse doesn't die with them and the main character remembers past lives? Honestly, this story makes no sense, both in the actual story aspect and, especially, the world building. Because worlds just don't work like that. (Also another story with magic and a depressing ending.)
**
The Girl With the Blue Lantern by Tess Sharpe
California 1849
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
More magic. *sigh* This isn't what I signed up for with this anthology and…I'm fed up with it. This story is…shallow and not bad, but absolutely nothing memorable.
**
The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy by Alex Sanchez
Virginia 1969
LGBT+ Rep: M/M
I did kind of like the story, but my overwhelming feeling was awkwardness - and I hate secondhand embarrassment/awkwardness. Though, the awkwardness probably fits teenaged romance very well. So there is that. And I'm just not sure how I feel about that ending.
**
Walking After Midnight by Kody Keplinger
New York 1952
LGBT+ Rep: F/F and asexual
And we were doing so well avoiding any sexist crap. Too many things I didn't care for in this story, weird structure and…well, the sexism.
*
The End of the World as We Know it by Sara Farizan
Massachusetts 1999
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
'Being a girl is stupid. People only want to know who you want to kiss and nothing else.' So…is this internalized misogyny? It sure sounds it to me. But, really, this story has plenty of other problems. It takes the Y2K crash scare and tries to do something with that - even if nothing actually happened. Plus this quote seems in very ill-taste.
'"I think everything's already messed up after Columbine. Like, what kind of world do we live in if you can get shot up in your high school?"
"That was horrible. But I think it's a one-time thing. People won't stand for that kind of tragedy to keep happening."'
*
Three Witches by Tessa Grafton
Spain 1519
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
Well, this was suitably unpleasant. Basically, one of those you love your own gender so you must be in need of religion so you don't sin again. A 16th century pray the gay away camp, really, that one of the main characters was sent to by her brother. Pretty sure, too, that we're being told that these girls are under the influence of a demon and that's why they like their own gender.
*
The Inferno & the Butterfly by Shaun David Hutchinson
England 1839
LGBT+ Rep: M/M
Magic. Again. Beyond that, I liked the story because we dealt with stage magicians and they are all kinds of awesome. But we also had real magic and I am so sick of that in this anthology.
***
Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Majia
New Mexico 1933
LGBT+ Rep: F/F
Supremely meh. Oh. We did get magic. Again. Yay.[/sarcasm] And some kind of demon-y thing. So…All about a bruja healing woman. Sort of. Sure, there was a plot - I just didn't think much of it.
*
So, I think, between this and Kaleidoscope, I'm done with anthologies for a good long time. Before I go, though, I want to impart some interesting stats about this story whose partial subtitle is 'throughout the ages'.
Number of stories: 17
Number of stories from the last 100 years: 8
Number of stories dealing with the supernatural: 7
Number of stories set in the US: 10
Number of stories where the sole LGBT+ rep was either M/M or F/F: 13
Actual Averaged Rating: 2.41
Highlights:
Anna-Marie McLemore
Elliot Wake
Tehlor Kay Meija
Anna-Marie McLemore
Elliot Wake
Tehlor Kay Meija
A fantastic grouping of historical short stories featuring queer teens.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
This was cute! I really liked the premise of these stories, it was cool going from reading about a teenager in 19th century Mexico to a medieval English Robin Hood retelling.
My main complaint was that it was that because of the stories' length we didn't get as much character growth as I would have liked. Also, maybe this was because it was published in 2018 but it would have been cool to see some more diverse characters. There was 1 trans character we saw the POV of (and 2 love interests) and 1 ace character. Lots of cis lesbians and cis gay boys, but no bi, pan, aromantic or non-binary characters.
I also didn't love some of the fantasy/magical realism stories. Historical fiction fantasy can be great, but for this collection in particular I felt that it was generally more impactful to have characters in realistic setting for the time period.
My favourite stories were the ones were the protagonist subtly started accepting themselves as queer. They see a drag king, meet another person like them, tell their crush they want to be with them romantically, but not have sex.
✨️ Favourites:
Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
And They Don't Kiss At the End by Natalie C. Porter
The Dressmaker and the Chambermaid by Robin Talley
Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake
My main complaint was that it was that because of the stories' length we didn't get as much character growth as I would have liked. Also, maybe this was because it was published in 2018 but it would have been cool to see some more diverse characters. There was 1 trans character we saw the POV of (and 2 love interests) and 1 ace character. Lots of cis lesbians and cis gay boys, but no bi, pan, aromantic or non-binary characters.
I also didn't love some of the fantasy/magical realism stories. Historical fiction fantasy can be great, but for this collection in particular I felt that it was generally more impactful to have characters in realistic setting for the time period.
My favourite stories were the ones were the protagonist subtly started accepting themselves as queer. They see a drag king, meet another person like them, tell their crush they want to be with them romantically, but not have sex.
✨️ Favourites:
Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
And They Don't Kiss At the End by Natalie C. Porter
The Dressmaker and the Chambermaid by Robin Talley
Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia
Minor: Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, War, Classism
This is one of the best anthologies I'be ever read! I'm going to write a longer review later, when I have mire time, but I lived nearly every story in there, and the others I still enjoyed greatly. It's nearly perfect!