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rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
This is a refreshing collection of stories. It not only covers various ethnicities, but a variety of genres as well. My only complaint is that it was too brief and I devoured it in one sitting.
barnesbookshelf's review
5.0
I loved this!! This short story collection should be on every reader's bookshelf! I loved the inclusion of different types of story medium, like the comic and the short play. Each author brings such a unique voice to their stories. I highly recommend this book to any reader!
roseleaf24's review against another edition
4.0
A collection of short stories from #weneeddiversebooks. This was a great collection, diverse not just in representation, but also in genre and style.
ayankello's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
celjla212's review against another edition
4.0
Featuring a collection of short stories written by diverse authors and about characters that seem to be rarely featured in the majority of YA books, Fresh Ink offers something for everyone.
A couple of standout stories were: "Don't Pass Me By" by Eric Gainsworth. In this tale, a Native American boy celebrates his background in a time where most like him seemed to be trying to hide it. It was beautiful to see him claim himself and stand up for those who couldn't or wouldn't say anything. "Meet Cute" by Malinda Lo--a love story, or a beginning of one. This was exactly as its' title suggests. Two girls meet at a convention and get to know each other through unconventional means. The dialogue felt real and appropriate for the age of the characters. "Catch, Pull, Drive" is about a transgender swimmer, and how just one person standing up for what's right can really make a difference in a life.
This anthology is perfect for this point in time, where more and more teens are feeling free to be who they really are and express it to the world. Inclusion is important, and no matter your race, gender, sexuality, or ethnicity, you will find a story you like in Fresh Ink.
A couple of standout stories were: "Don't Pass Me By" by Eric Gainsworth. In this tale, a Native American boy celebrates his background in a time where most like him seemed to be trying to hide it. It was beautiful to see him claim himself and stand up for those who couldn't or wouldn't say anything. "Meet Cute" by Malinda Lo--a love story, or a beginning of one. This was exactly as its' title suggests. Two girls meet at a convention and get to know each other through unconventional means. The dialogue felt real and appropriate for the age of the characters. "Catch, Pull, Drive" is about a transgender swimmer, and how just one person standing up for what's right can really make a difference in a life.
This anthology is perfect for this point in time, where more and more teens are feeling free to be who they really are and express it to the world. Inclusion is important, and no matter your race, gender, sexuality, or ethnicity, you will find a story you like in Fresh Ink.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
4.0
Read for Book Roast's Magical Readathon: NEWTs Exams. Subject: Transfiguration, E Level. (New-to-You Author)
(I should get extra points for reading 11 new-to-me authors in one. )
"When I first cooked for your grandfather, I wasn't a very good chef," Grandma explained to me in Farsi. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Hannah tense up. "But he always lied and said everything I made was delicious when we both knew it wasn't. He said it was delicious because I put so much love into it. Your dinner is good because it was made from love, but you don't need to lie. and neither does she."
Pardon me, I'll be sobbing in the corner over the last story in this anthology for the rest of my freaking life.
I am a huge proponent of reading diversity. Not just because DUH, but we read to know things. We read for escape, sure, but the more we read, the more we learn. Even when reading fantasy and sci-fi, our brains are cataloging little bits and pieces we pick up from every author. Why would you not want to read a book about a world and a culture that you would never experience otherwise?
I've never eaten Persian food, and now I know they have a really gross carbonated mint yogurt drink that I hope no one ever makes me drink. I've never lived on a reservation, or had to go to school with a group of friends who are one thing at home, and an entirely different thing at school surrounded by....people who look like I do right now, writing this review. I don't know what it is to pray to the Twelve Imams, or have hateful graffiti scrawled on buildings or cars about me.
These are 12 very short stories, with very real people. Well, okay, these are 10 very short stories with very real people. The other two are fantasy, though one of them is entirely too close to home for my heart. There is so. much. diversity. Races, religions, cultures, backgrounds, eras. I could've read 100 more, and I need to look up each of these authors and read so much more by them.
Erm, except that there's one author who I have read previously and whose book I didn't care for. But one bad book doesn't spoil the library, after all.
Out of all of these, only one or two weren't solid for me, which is so awesome, considering that anthologies have never really been my friend. And not all of these deal with Big Major Life Issues. I mean, for crying out loud, Scully and a gender bent Sulu meet up at a Comic Con when the power goes out and, like the title says, a Meet Cute occurs, and it's AWESOME.
These are such great stories. If you're looking to add more diversity to your reading (as well you should), definitely pick up this collection. And if some of the stories are less loved, less enjoyed, stick around for the last one. It's a major heart punch.
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
(I should get extra points for reading 11 new-to-me authors in one. )
"When I first cooked for your grandfather, I wasn't a very good chef," Grandma explained to me in Farsi. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Hannah tense up. "But he always lied and said everything I made was delicious when we both knew it wasn't. He said it was delicious because I put so much love into it. Your dinner is good because it was made from love, but you don't need to lie. and neither does she."
Pardon me, I'll be sobbing in the corner over the last story in this anthology for the rest of my freaking life.
I am a huge proponent of reading diversity. Not just because DUH, but we read to know things. We read for escape, sure, but the more we read, the more we learn. Even when reading fantasy and sci-fi, our brains are cataloging little bits and pieces we pick up from every author. Why would you not want to read a book about a world and a culture that you would never experience otherwise?
I've never eaten Persian food, and now I know they have a really gross carbonated mint yogurt drink that I hope no one ever makes me drink. I've never lived on a reservation, or had to go to school with a group of friends who are one thing at home, and an entirely different thing at school surrounded by....people who look like I do right now, writing this review. I don't know what it is to pray to the Twelve Imams, or have hateful graffiti scrawled on buildings or cars about me.
These are 12 very short stories, with very real people. Well, okay, these are 10 very short stories with very real people. The other two are fantasy, though one of them is entirely too close to home for my heart. There is so. much. diversity. Races, religions, cultures, backgrounds, eras. I could've read 100 more, and I need to look up each of these authors and read so much more by them.
Erm, except that there's one author who I have read previously and whose book I didn't care for. But one bad book doesn't spoil the library, after all.
Out of all of these, only one or two weren't solid for me, which is so awesome, considering that anthologies have never really been my friend. And not all of these deal with Big Major Life Issues. I mean, for crying out loud, Scully and a gender bent Sulu meet up at a Comic Con when the power goes out and, like the title says, a Meet Cute occurs, and it's AWESOME.
These are such great stories. If you're looking to add more diversity to your reading (as well you should), definitely pick up this collection. And if some of the stories are less loved, less enjoyed, stick around for the last one. It's a major heart punch.
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
juels's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
bickie's review against another edition
4.0
Mostly realistic fiction; a couple of fantasy (Myers, Older, Yoon). Flake's story takes place during WW2. Wide variety of voices typically underrepresented in published fiction.
Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds is about a young couple (could be 7th through 12th grade) saying goodbye when one moves from Brooklyn to Wilmington, NC.
Meet Cute by Malinda Lo is about two girls (also about 7th-12th grade) who meet and hit it off at the Denver Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention dressed as Scully and a "gender-flipped Sulu."
Don't Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth is about a 7th grader from The Rez and the different ways that he and other Rez kids handle being in school with a predominantly white population.
Be Cool for Once by Aminah Mae Safi is about a high school girl and her friend who run into the girl's major crush at a small indie concert.
Tags by Walter Dean Myers is written in play form and features four teens, aged 16 and 17, who are victims of senseless violence [includes a few lines of cursing].
Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan is about a high school girl who is out to her parents as bisexual but is unsure about how her Persian grandmother, with whom she has dinner every Friday night, will react to her girlfriend.
A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older is a fantasy about a white stranger who steals stories and inventions from a non-white group and the 17-year-old who tries to thwart him.
A Boy's Duty by Sharon G. Flake is about a Black boy who runs away from his father's farm at 12 and makes his way on the streets, balancing his dreams of being an astronomer and navigator in the military with his ideas about duty and how he is pulled in different directions including by a charismatic street gang leader.
One Voice by Melissa de la Cruz is about an undocumented student at Stanford from the Philippines whose shaky sense of belonging is challenged by hateful graffiti, creating a rift in her relationship with a privileged white-looking half-Mexican politician's son.
Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang is told in graphic novel format and features 4 friends playing Swords and Spells, a game created by Wujae; after a disagreement about whether a character is a paladin or a samurai (the boy playing the character is half Japanese and prefers to be a samurai), they have a bonding experience at a neighbor's party and find strength as a team.
Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar is about a trans male's experience on his first day at swim team practice as a male, which includes a bully, a non-committal coach, and an ally.
Super Human by Nicola Yoon is about a girl who is sent to stop the super hero X from destroying humanity.
Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds is about a young couple (could be 7th through 12th grade) saying goodbye when one moves from Brooklyn to Wilmington, NC.
Meet Cute by Malinda Lo is about two girls (also about 7th-12th grade) who meet and hit it off at the Denver Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention dressed as Scully and a "gender-flipped Sulu."
Don't Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth is about a 7th grader from The Rez and the different ways that he and other Rez kids handle being in school with a predominantly white population.
Be Cool for Once by Aminah Mae Safi is about a high school girl and her friend who run into the girl's major crush at a small indie concert.
Tags by Walter Dean Myers is written in play form and features four teens, aged 16 and 17, who are victims of senseless violence [includes a few lines of cursing].
Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan is about a high school girl who is out to her parents as bisexual but is unsure about how her Persian grandmother, with whom she has dinner every Friday night, will react to her girlfriend.
A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older is a fantasy about a white stranger who steals stories and inventions from a non-white group and the 17-year-old who tries to thwart him.
A Boy's Duty by Sharon G. Flake is about a Black boy who runs away from his father's farm at 12 and makes his way on the streets, balancing his dreams of being an astronomer and navigator in the military with his ideas about duty and how he is pulled in different directions including by a charismatic street gang leader.
One Voice by Melissa de la Cruz is about an undocumented student at Stanford from the Philippines whose shaky sense of belonging is challenged by hateful graffiti, creating a rift in her relationship with a privileged white-looking half-Mexican politician's son.
Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang is told in graphic novel format and features 4 friends playing Swords and Spells, a game created by Wujae; after a disagreement about whether a character is a paladin or a samurai (the boy playing the character is half Japanese and prefers to be a samurai), they have a bonding experience at a neighbor's party and find strength as a team.
Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar is about a trans male's experience on his first day at swim team practice as a male, which includes a bully, a non-committal coach, and an ally.
Super Human by Nicola Yoon is about a girl who is sent to stop the super hero X from destroying humanity.
spellboundliz's review against another edition
4.0
This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Update: 7/5/2020
When I first received this book in 2018, I was unable to complete my full review. I have now compiled my status updates from then into a full review of each story in this anthology. (The updates have been edited for grammar, accuracy, and content warnings.)
I was very excited to review this book because I have been a huge supporter of We Need Diverse Books and their effort to promote diversity in YA and other children's lit. As one might expect, there is a lot of diversity in this anthology, and as a white LGBT reviewer, I am only able to speak on some of the representation in the book as an OwnVoices reviewer. If you are reading this, I encourage you to explore other reviews by OwnVoices reviewers on the stories that I myself cannot speak on regarding their specific representation.
7/30/18-8/2/18
Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds: 3/5
This was a cute little story about a teenage couple in Brooklyn saying goodbye as one of them moves away. Over, the story was nice, and I thought it was cool that the character was moving to a place that’s an hour or so from where I live, but at times I felt like there was a lot of telling instead of showing in the writing. Also, the ‘eraser tattoo’ - just, ouch!
Meet Cute by Malinda Lo: 4/5
THIS WAS PRECIOUS. I love The X Files and Star Trek so I feel like this was personally made for me. I thought the meet-cute was lovely and I didn’t want to stop reading. However, I wonder how entertaining this story would be for people who aren’t the fans of the things it references quite heavily.
Don’t Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth: 4/5
This was a really powerful story that points out the failings of teachers towards students of color and exposes the microaggressions and racism that Native Americans face in the education system. I really enjoyed this short story and the end felt like a triumph when the main character stood up to his teacher for his casual racism. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Be Cool For Once by Aminah Mae Safi: 3/5
This is a really hard story to review because I felt like it was cute, but it didn’t work for me personally. I like elements of the story, like the setting and the band, as well as the backgrounds of the characters and how that interacted with their daily life, but other things just didn’t work for me. Someone else might really connect with it, though, so I give it kudos for that.
Tags by Walter Dean Myers: 5/5
(7/5/2020: I did not initially give this story a review because I wanted to write out a more thoughtful one, but now, as it is two years later, I am unable to give a full review of this story because of how much time has passed. However, I did give it 5 stars, so I was clearly impressed.)
Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan: 5/5
This story really hit home for me. My grandma wasn’t an immigrant, and both she and I were/are white, but I felt very connected to this story because my grandma and I had a relationship that revolved around food. Like the main character, I’m also bi and I wish that I could have shared that part of my life with my grandma before she passed the way that Yasi did in this story.
A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older: 3/5
This was very interesting but hard to grasp at times, I think because of the world-building and the fact that very little was explained - you just kind of had to go along with it. I think I would have caught on a little better had there been more story, but it was cool for what it was.
A Boy’s Duty by Sharon G Flake: 3.5/5
This was a historical fiction story about a boy struggling with homelessness and poverty trying to chase his dreams, while also dealing with the racism he faces for being Black. This was an eye-opening story but some of the dialogue felt stilted and the story felt rushed from time-to-time. I liked the conclusion though.
One Voice by Melissa de la Cruz: 4/5
I enjoyed this story! It discusses a string of hate crimes targeting people of color at Stanford and how it affects the community of the university. I felt like this was a very necessary story, especially for young readers. The ending, however, did feel rushed.
Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang, Illustrations by Thien Pham: 3.5/5
This was a short comic about a microaggression that a Japanese boy faces from the GM during a D&D-like game with his friends. I enjoyed it even though I’ve never played D&D (I do listen to actual-play podcasts though!) and it was a nice break from the heavier prose that makes up most of this anthology.
Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar: 5/5
This was a powerful story about a trans boy who has to face his first day back on the swim team after coming out as transgender. The author is a trans man himself and the first openly trans NCAA Division I swimmer. The story was well written; I loved how it was told partially through flashbacks during a swim race. I feel like everyone should read it. Content warnings for bullying, transphobia, hate speech, transphobic slurs, and the use of the trans character's dead name (these are challenged in the story and not condoned).
Super Human by Nicola Yoon: 5/5
This story is about a superhero and discusses police brutality towards Black people in America. I felt like this was a necessary topic that I was hoping would be addressed in this anthology and the story was a poignant and unique approach to the subject. This is exactly what I wanted from this anthology.
Overall, I gave this anthology a 4/5 because many of the stories hit home or made an emotional impact on me. Regardless of this, I feel that everyone should read this anthology because it has something for everyone, whether it could help them feel represented or seen, or if it could teach them about a culture/identity they didn't already know about.
This is by no means an exhaustive review, but I thought I would compile what thoughts I had while reading these stories so that others might be able to know if this anthology is for them (although I feel it's really for anyone who reads YA). If you would like to check out some more thorough (and probably better written) reviews, feel free to check out Melanie's review here or Destiny's review here.
Update: 7/5/2020
When I first received this book in 2018, I was unable to complete my full review. I have now compiled my status updates from then into a full review of each story in this anthology. (The updates have been edited for grammar, accuracy, and content warnings.)
I was very excited to review this book because I have been a huge supporter of We Need Diverse Books and their effort to promote diversity in YA and other children's lit. As one might expect, there is a lot of diversity in this anthology, and as a white LGBT reviewer, I am only able to speak on some of the representation in the book as an OwnVoices reviewer. If you are reading this, I encourage you to explore other reviews by OwnVoices reviewers on the stories that I myself cannot speak on regarding their specific representation.
7/30/18-8/2/18
Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds: 3/5
This was a cute little story about a teenage couple in Brooklyn saying goodbye as one of them moves away. Over, the story was nice, and I thought it was cool that the character was moving to a place that’s an hour or so from where I live, but at times I felt like there was a lot of telling instead of showing in the writing. Also, the ‘eraser tattoo’ - just, ouch!
Meet Cute by Malinda Lo: 4/5
THIS WAS PRECIOUS. I love The X Files and Star Trek so I feel like this was personally made for me. I thought the meet-cute was lovely and I didn’t want to stop reading. However, I wonder how entertaining this story would be for people who aren’t the fans of the things it references quite heavily.
Don’t Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth: 4/5
This was a really powerful story that points out the failings of teachers towards students of color and exposes the microaggressions and racism that Native Americans face in the education system. I really enjoyed this short story and the end felt like a triumph when the main character stood up to his teacher for his casual racism. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Be Cool For Once by Aminah Mae Safi: 3/5
This is a really hard story to review because I felt like it was cute, but it didn’t work for me personally. I like elements of the story, like the setting and the band, as well as the backgrounds of the characters and how that interacted with their daily life, but other things just didn’t work for me. Someone else might really connect with it, though, so I give it kudos for that.
Tags by Walter Dean Myers: 5/5
(7/5/2020: I did not initially give this story a review because I wanted to write out a more thoughtful one, but now, as it is two years later, I am unable to give a full review of this story because of how much time has passed. However, I did give it 5 stars, so I was clearly impressed.)
Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan: 5/5
This story really hit home for me. My grandma wasn’t an immigrant, and both she and I were/are white, but I felt very connected to this story because my grandma and I had a relationship that revolved around food. Like the main character, I’m also bi and I wish that I could have shared that part of my life with my grandma before she passed the way that Yasi did in this story.
A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older: 3/5
This was very interesting but hard to grasp at times, I think because of the world-building and the fact that very little was explained - you just kind of had to go along with it. I think I would have caught on a little better had there been more story, but it was cool for what it was.
A Boy’s Duty by Sharon G Flake: 3.5/5
This was a historical fiction story about a boy struggling with homelessness and poverty trying to chase his dreams, while also dealing with the racism he faces for being Black. This was an eye-opening story but some of the dialogue felt stilted and the story felt rushed from time-to-time. I liked the conclusion though.
One Voice by Melissa de la Cruz: 4/5
I enjoyed this story! It discusses a string of hate crimes targeting people of color at Stanford and how it affects the community of the university. I felt like this was a very necessary story, especially for young readers. The ending, however, did feel rushed.
Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang, Illustrations by Thien Pham: 3.5/5
This was a short comic about a microaggression that a Japanese boy faces from the GM during a D&D-like game with his friends. I enjoyed it even though I’ve never played D&D (I do listen to actual-play podcasts though!) and it was a nice break from the heavier prose that makes up most of this anthology.
Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar: 5/5
This was a powerful story about a trans boy who has to face his first day back on the swim team after coming out as transgender. The author is a trans man himself and the first openly trans NCAA Division I swimmer. The story was well written; I loved how it was told partially through flashbacks during a swim race. I feel like everyone should read it. Content warnings for bullying, transphobia, hate speech, transphobic slurs, and the use of the trans character's dead name (these are challenged in the story and not condoned).
Super Human by Nicola Yoon: 5/5
This story is about a superhero and discusses police brutality towards Black people in America. I felt like this was a necessary topic that I was hoping would be addressed in this anthology and the story was a poignant and unique approach to the subject. This is exactly what I wanted from this anthology.
Overall, I gave this anthology a 4/5 because many of the stories hit home or made an emotional impact on me. Regardless of this, I feel that everyone should read this anthology because it has something for everyone, whether it could help them feel represented or seen, or if it could teach them about a culture/identity they didn't already know about.
This is by no means an exhaustive review, but I thought I would compile what thoughts I had while reading these stories so that others might be able to know if this anthology is for them (although I feel it's really for anyone who reads YA). If you would like to check out some more thorough (and probably better written) reviews, feel free to check out Melanie's review here or Destiny's review here.