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FORESHADOW: Stories to Celebrate The Magic of Reading & Writing YA by Nova Ren Suma, Emily X.R. Pan
livvalentine's review against another edition
4.0
'Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA' (2020) is an anthology that contains several names with whom you are likely familiar: Laurie Halse Anderson, Adam Silvera, Sabaa Tahir, Jason Reynolds, Nicola Yoon, Becky Albertalli, and more. However, their role in this anthology is not as contributors—instead, each established YA author introduces the work of an up-and-comer. Reading this anthology reminded me of being at YALLFest; this community of writers is one that supports each other and realizes that more voices, more viewpoints, more lived experiences, and more imaginations make everyone’s experience as readers and writers better. 'Foreshadow' is, simply put, a very good sign of things to come.
The stories in Foreshadow come from the digital, serial YA anthology of the same name. In addition to the introductory words written by each story’s sponsor as well as author’s notes that follow each story, editors Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma provide even more discussion, linking each story to a big idea or literary element. Voice, emotional resonance, motif, and worldbuilding are some of the topics discussed. And if that’s not enough for you, they also offer story prompts! Remember what I said earlier about the inclusiveness of the YA world? Taken together, this anthology is a writing workshop, carefully assembled by established authors who are dedicated to lifting up the voices of others.
But hold on—before you get too excited about picking up this one-stop writing workshop, I haven’t even told you about the stories themselves! There are thirteen stories, and in those stories you’ll find romance, magical realism, folk tales, fairy tales, fantasy, science fiction, culture clashes, humor, and drama. You’ll find stories that resonate with parts of your life, and you’ll find stories that are nothing like your lived experience. Maybe you’ve never wondered what it’s like to turn into a lobster, which is what Rachel Hylton explores in “Risk,” but the awkwardness of adolescent metamorphosis we know all too well. Another one of my favorites is “Glow” by Joanna Truman, a story about a girl who falls in love with a girl who is convinced that she can unmake the world. There’s also the twisted fairy tale, “Sweetmeats” by Linda Cheng—twisted only because Cheng manages to seamlessly blend those classic fairy tale elements into a world that we recognize. The final story that I keep coming back to is “Pan Dulce” by Flor Salcedo. “Pan Dulce” is a border story that is fraught with potential peril. As Rosa crosses from El Paso to Juárez, she and the reader become aware of how the danger that you face changes as you move from one space to another.
The thread that these stories all share is, of course, adolescence. All of these stories focus on that liminal space between childhood and adulthood. For me, YA is at its best when adolescence isn’t treated as a way station. Adolescence has value, and these authors understand that value, which is why their stories feel so genuine and compelling. Many of the authors in this anthology have succeeded in finding more opportunities to tell their stories, and I look forward to reading more of them in the future.
In the meantime, 'Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA' is an easy book to recommend. The uniqueness of the experience that it offers is not to be missed.
The stories in Foreshadow come from the digital, serial YA anthology of the same name. In addition to the introductory words written by each story’s sponsor as well as author’s notes that follow each story, editors Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma provide even more discussion, linking each story to a big idea or literary element. Voice, emotional resonance, motif, and worldbuilding are some of the topics discussed. And if that’s not enough for you, they also offer story prompts! Remember what I said earlier about the inclusiveness of the YA world? Taken together, this anthology is a writing workshop, carefully assembled by established authors who are dedicated to lifting up the voices of others.
But hold on—before you get too excited about picking up this one-stop writing workshop, I haven’t even told you about the stories themselves! There are thirteen stories, and in those stories you’ll find romance, magical realism, folk tales, fairy tales, fantasy, science fiction, culture clashes, humor, and drama. You’ll find stories that resonate with parts of your life, and you’ll find stories that are nothing like your lived experience. Maybe you’ve never wondered what it’s like to turn into a lobster, which is what Rachel Hylton explores in “Risk,” but the awkwardness of adolescent metamorphosis we know all too well. Another one of my favorites is “Glow” by Joanna Truman, a story about a girl who falls in love with a girl who is convinced that she can unmake the world. There’s also the twisted fairy tale, “Sweetmeats” by Linda Cheng—twisted only because Cheng manages to seamlessly blend those classic fairy tale elements into a world that we recognize. The final story that I keep coming back to is “Pan Dulce” by Flor Salcedo. “Pan Dulce” is a border story that is fraught with potential peril. As Rosa crosses from El Paso to Juárez, she and the reader become aware of how the danger that you face changes as you move from one space to another.
The thread that these stories all share is, of course, adolescence. All of these stories focus on that liminal space between childhood and adulthood. For me, YA is at its best when adolescence isn’t treated as a way station. Adolescence has value, and these authors understand that value, which is why their stories feel so genuine and compelling. Many of the authors in this anthology have succeeded in finding more opportunities to tell their stories, and I look forward to reading more of them in the future.
In the meantime, 'Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA' is an easy book to recommend. The uniqueness of the experience that it offers is not to be missed.
emordnilap's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
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? Yes
5.0
i loved the short stories and all the things it gives you to think about in your own writing!! i’m definitely feeling inspired to start a short story, but the second draft of nano novel is calling to me louder:)
gondorgirl's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
thebeesknees79's review against another edition
5.0
This anthology/creative writing help book is phenomenal! The stories are unique, enthralling, and each one a page turner in its own respect. I think my favorite was Fools by Gina Chen. There are so many aspects I love. The intro quotes by well known authors, the breakdown by an editor after the stories, the author’s notes, and even the prompts! I will for sure be using these stories in my classroom, as well as the analysis portions during revising/editing sessions!
dee_dee_reads's review against another edition
4.0
This is the type of collection that sneaks up on you and makes you love it, without any warning or apology. Some of these authors definitely deserve a space on your 'Authors to watch' list, because the things they did with such a short amount of words...magical!
I will be raving about Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng, Fools by Gina Chen and Break by Sophie Meridien for a long time to come.
There was heartbreak, intrigue, spookiness and overall confusion. Everything I like in my favourite books. But there was also so much cheek and fluff that my secret softie heart could also be satisfied. There's something for everyone here.
Full review on my blog (deereadsforfood.wordpress.com)
I will be raving about Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng, Fools by Gina Chen and Break by Sophie Meridien for a long time to come.
There was heartbreak, intrigue, spookiness and overall confusion. Everything I like in my favourite books. But there was also so much cheek and fluff that my secret softie heart could also be satisfied. There's something for everyone here.
Full review on my blog (deereadsforfood.wordpress.com)
mendezconzeta's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked most of these stories, and even those which I didn't like are powerful and would be great in another reader's hands. This book is amazing and YA star writers introducing all these amazing new YA writers is a hopeful, powerful thing. LOVED the book and its purpose!
Flight: 2/5. I liked its final thoughts on the whole thing, but the story didn't convince nor was my cup of tea. I understand not understanding since we start with the same amount of information the main character has, but I didn't enjoy it because it was mysterious in a confusing way. I didn't know what I was reading.
Risk: 5/5. Disgusting as The Metamorphosis (or at least what I remember about it). It lets you read it in a million different ways and every single one of them is better than the last one. A really good example on how to keep the reader reading regarding a short story.
Sweetmeats: 5/5. I would 100% read a whole book inspired in this short story. For real. I'm still amazed at how the author manages the rhythm, the characters and their interactions. One of my favorites.
Glow: 2.5/5. Uhhhh I love sapphic stories but this one was kind of bland for me. I didn't like Naia at all and it all felt kind of rushed? It's about the power all girls have in themselves and the message is really empowering, but I didn't feel it in the story.
Escape: 2/5. I didn't like the rythm of the narration nor the character's voices, and it read as a really long story for me for being a short story. I liked how the main character solves the main problem, but not the ending.
Pan dulce: 1/5. I didn't like how it was written nor the characters (I found the main character's voice horrible) nor the topics. I don't wanna be rude because this story reads as a really personal one for the author, but... if almost nothing is gonna happen in your story then you have to get the reader to stay focused in other ways. Before the thing happened I was bored as hell, and after the thing happened everything went back to being boring. The thing didn't save the rest of the story. I get that it's a story that takes place in the 90s, but it's 2020: the narration is on the very verge of being sexist and slutshaming. We don't let the false dichotomy of pretty =/= intelligent pass anymore.
Solace: 4/5. Beautiful. Beautiful narration and beautiful characters. The ending was kind of a Hallmark film but even then I loved it. I would totally read a book about this, because if so much grief, sadness and hope is present in a short story, IMAGINE a book about it!
Princess: 4/5. The story wasn't that interesting for me, but I loved the world building and how in a few pages the author gave us a clear view of the world with rules that are, let's say, consistent for what we've read.
Fools: 5/5. I would TOTALLY read a book about this. I loved the characters, the world and the come and go between Fan and Dimen. For being a short story, it was well developed and written. One of my favorites.
Monsters: 5/5. Lovely. Beautiful story, development and writing. It's incredible how in not many pages you can say so much, from Milagros' past in Venezuela to two years later, when she encounters the monster a second time. I would read a book about this, a miggle grade series that ends up being YA.
Break: 5/5. A cute, lovely story that you can revisit to end up with a smile on your face. Fresh rom-com air in the middle of an anthology. Loved the characters!
Resilient: 4/5. I really liked the hopeful tone between the grief. It's not a 5/5 because I feel there was something missing that I would probably be able to find in the same story but in a longer format. Really liked the charaters.
Belly: 3.5/5. I liked it. It's a story with so much spirit... but something was missing. That something is something that I think could be developed in a book, but that falls short in a short story. It possesses too much power to be in an anthology (this one or any one!)
FRTC on my blog for Foreshadow's blog tour on October 19th!
Thanks to Algonquin Books for Young Readers both for choosing me once again for one of their blog tours and for giving me this eARC!
Flight: 2/5. I liked its final thoughts on the whole thing, but the story didn't convince nor was my cup of tea. I understand not understanding since we start with the same amount of information the main character has, but I didn't enjoy it because it was mysterious in a confusing way. I didn't know what I was reading.
Risk: 5/5. Disgusting as The Metamorphosis (or at least what I remember about it). It lets you read it in a million different ways and every single one of them is better than the last one. A really good example on how to keep the reader reading regarding a short story.
Sweetmeats: 5/5. I would 100% read a whole book inspired in this short story. For real. I'm still amazed at how the author manages the rhythm, the characters and their interactions. One of my favorites.
Glow: 2.5/5. Uhhhh I love sapphic stories but this one was kind of bland for me. I didn't like Naia at all and it all felt kind of rushed? It's about the power all girls have in themselves and the message is really empowering, but I didn't feel it in the story.
Escape: 2/5. I didn't like the rythm of the narration nor the character's voices, and it read as a really long story for me for being a short story. I liked how the main character solves the main problem, but not the ending.
Pan dulce: 1/5. I didn't like how it was written nor the characters (I found the main character's voice horrible) nor the topics. I don't wanna be rude because this story reads as a really personal one for the author, but... if almost nothing is gonna happen in your story then you have to get the reader to stay focused in other ways. Before the thing happened I was bored as hell, and after the thing happened everything went back to being boring. The thing didn't save the rest of the story. I get that it's a story that takes place in the 90s, but it's 2020: the narration is on the very verge of being sexist and slutshaming. We don't let the false dichotomy of pretty =/= intelligent pass anymore.
Solace: 4/5. Beautiful. Beautiful narration and beautiful characters. The ending was kind of a Hallmark film but even then I loved it. I would totally read a book about this, because if so much grief, sadness and hope is present in a short story, IMAGINE a book about it!
Princess: 4/5. The story wasn't that interesting for me, but I loved the world building and how in a few pages the author gave us a clear view of the world with rules that are, let's say, consistent for what we've read.
Fools: 5/5. I would TOTALLY read a book about this. I loved the characters, the world and the come and go between Fan and Dimen. For being a short story, it was well developed and written. One of my favorites.
Monsters: 5/5. Lovely. Beautiful story, development and writing. It's incredible how in not many pages you can say so much, from Milagros' past in Venezuela to two years later, when she encounters the monster a second time. I would read a book about this, a miggle grade series that ends up being YA.
Break: 5/5. A cute, lovely story that you can revisit to end up with a smile on your face. Fresh rom-com air in the middle of an anthology. Loved the characters!
Resilient: 4/5. I really liked the hopeful tone between the grief. It's not a 5/5 because I feel there was something missing that I would probably be able to find in the same story but in a longer format. Really liked the charaters.
Belly: 3.5/5. I liked it. It's a story with so much spirit... but something was missing. That something is something that I think could be developed in a book, but that falls short in a short story. It possesses too much power to be in an anthology (this one or any one!)
FRTC on my blog for Foreshadow's blog tour on October 19th!
Thanks to Algonquin Books for Young Readers both for choosing me once again for one of their blog tours and for giving me this eARC!
mreadsbooksnfics's review against another edition
4.0
I found this to be a great read for October. All the stories have an element of magic or the like in them, which was a lot of fun. You definitely have to suspend your disbelief when it comes to the stories, but they are all great. I liked how each how elements of the story explained, and it gave me a deeper appreciation for the book overall.
I liked how more well known authors would introduce the stories, it was great to see authors supporting each other. Also since I knew the authors and had read their work, it made me more keen to want to read the stories because I trust those authors because of prior experience. I liked some stories more than others, and I did find rating them hard. I went with 4 stars because I enjoyed almost all of the stories, and it was a fun read.
I recommend for those looking for diverse stories in one collection. It is perfect for this time of year.
I liked how more well known authors would introduce the stories, it was great to see authors supporting each other. Also since I knew the authors and had read their work, it made me more keen to want to read the stories because I trust those authors because of prior experience. I liked some stories more than others, and I did find rating them hard. I went with 4 stars because I enjoyed almost all of the stories, and it was a fun read.
I recommend for those looking for diverse stories in one collection. It is perfect for this time of year.
maviii's review against another edition
3.0
Such an amazing collection of short stories! Although not all of them were my cup of tea, this book really showcased the amazing talent these thirteen writers have. The stories were short and sweet, each just long enough to connect to the character. I would recommend this to anyone and the ages of 17 +. My only wish is that all the stories were catered to me(but that's just a litttleeee selfish..)
readliterally's review against another edition
5.0
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley and Edelweiss
Full review on my blog
The blurb says it all – Foreshadow is an anthology of young adult short stories written by new and up-and-coming writers of the genre. I think one of my favourite parts of it is that all of the featured stories were written by women, all of whom are of extremely diverese backgrounds, which highlights that YA is not and should not be dominated by white authors. Each story is briefly introduced by a well-known writer and ends with an author’s note, which gives insight into the process of developing the work.
The compliation is divided into several parts – prompts for the short stories, which were to be interpreted by the writers however they wished, and it was really interesting to see the imaginative ways in which these ideas were conveyed. Each story also comes with an analysis by either Emily X.R. Pan or Nova Ren Suma, who point to the details that make the work strong, focusing on one particular aspect, such as character relationships, mood or imagery. By doing this, they highlight what makes these YA stories truly exceptional.
On sale: October 20, 2020
Full review on my blog
The blurb says it all – Foreshadow is an anthology of young adult short stories written by new and up-and-coming writers of the genre. I think one of my favourite parts of it is that all of the featured stories were written by women, all of whom are of extremely diverese backgrounds, which highlights that YA is not and should not be dominated by white authors. Each story is briefly introduced by a well-known writer and ends with an author’s note, which gives insight into the process of developing the work.
The compliation is divided into several parts – prompts for the short stories, which were to be interpreted by the writers however they wished, and it was really interesting to see the imaginative ways in which these ideas were conveyed. Each story also comes with an analysis by either Emily X.R. Pan or Nova Ren Suma, who point to the details that make the work strong, focusing on one particular aspect, such as character relationships, mood or imagery. By doing this, they highlight what makes these YA stories truly exceptional.
On sale: October 20, 2020