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A review by ellianamaselli
Voices of the Future: Stories of Adventure & Imagination by Marielle Henning
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Ahhhh OK I'm so excited for this collection! I'll be reviewing each story individually as I read because it's important to give every one of these young authors the honor and attention they deserve.
The Teddy Handbook by Marielle Henning (01.11.2025)
Woah, OK, I see we're starting strong. This was so cute! What wonderful writing and SUCH a great concept! This story was emotional, sweet, nostalgic, and so much fun... kinda like the vibe of a *good* Pixar movie. I think my only complaint is how short it was, as the ending (which was adorable, don't get me wrong) felt a little sudden. But I suppose that's what you get when it comes to short stories. I will absolutely be looking into Marielle Henning's future works.
This story got me so excited for the rest of the collection. What a great introduction to this anthology!
The Sisters of Starford Point by Hannah Fouts (01.12.2025)
This was cute! Loved the setting—it was very immersive—and the writing was well-done. This was a sweet story with lots of detail, relatable/likable characters, and good plot!
The Hungry Woods by Victoria Shanks (01.13.2025)
Oh my goodness I cannot stop smiling!! This was just delightful. The entire time I read this story, I was just imagining reading it to my kids one day.
The Teddy Handbook by Marielle Henning (01.11.2025)
Woah, OK, I see we're starting strong. This was so cute! What wonderful writing and SUCH a great concept! This story was emotional, sweet, nostalgic, and so much fun... kinda like the vibe of a *good* Pixar movie. I think my only complaint is how short it was, as the ending (which was adorable, don't get me wrong) felt a little sudden. But I suppose that's what you get when it comes to short stories. I will absolutely be looking into Marielle Henning's future works.
This story got me so excited for the rest of the collection. What a great introduction to this anthology!
The Sisters of Starford Point by Hannah Fouts (01.12.2025)
This was cute! Loved the setting—it was very immersive—and the writing was well-done. This was a sweet story with lots of detail, relatable/likable characters, and good plot!
The Hungry Woods by Victoria Shanks (01.13.2025)
Oh my goodness I cannot stop smiling!! This was just delightful. The entire time I read this story, I was just imagining reading it to my kids one day.
"...Little miss Floraleen thought it all very funny and thought gangly Peter looked rather like a spider himself.
Peter, meanwhile, thought her blue eyes put the sky to shame...."
The writing was so incredibly enchanting, and the world was so immersive. I felt immediately transported into the Hollow and would have honestly been content to spend a whole novel there. I love nonsensical, humorous whimsy and this had exactly that—the style reminded me of Kelly Barnhill's The Ogress and the Orphans. I will 1000% be looking for Shanks' future works.
I'll say it one last time because it's true: This was delightful!
The First Adventure by Lexi Jo Heuser (01.13.2025)
This one was admittedly not my favorite. The writing was good and the story was well-executed, but this is just not a genre that I would read outside of an anthology like this. Still very well-done, just not my taste.
What Lives Beneath the Skin by Joseph Brink (01.14.2025)
This story had an impeccable atmosphere, great descriptions, and an appropriately creepy premise. However, something didn't click for me... perhaps the identity of the "monster," maybe it just wasn't my kind of <i>spooky</i>, or perhaps I, being a 20-year-old woman, am just not the target audience. Regardless, I loved the sibling bond and the sweetness of the ending. A very appropriate scary story for middle-grade readers.
Sapling of the Sea by A.A. Rollins (1.22.2025)
I have such mixed feelings about his one. While I loved the setting, concepts, and basic plot, the execution was, to me, missing something. I feel like some resolutions came out of the blue for conflicts I didn't know were... well, conflicts. Some of the descriptions and exposition were confusing, and I wasn't always able to picture what was going on. Overall, the story was good but I still felt like it needed another round of content edits.
The Sword Rose by Caleb E. King (1.27.2025)
Somehow, I forgot to write down a review for this one when I read it. However, I remember only positive things about it. The writing was wonderful. There were multiple times that I highlighted sentences or marked paragraphs solely because I found the writing style to be so satisfying. And I do remember loving this story too—a great message and something I myself am still learning. I always love stories about the importance of the present moment and prioritizing time with loved ones. This had exactly that. Wonderful.
Ghost in the Garden by Julia Naus (2.03.2025)
This was just wonderful. I have been thinking about this one since I read it. I am a HUGE fan of M Night Shyamalan's older movies. Unbreakable, Signs, The Village... I'm a sucker for them all. While this story was fairly predictable, its resemblance to the genre and writing I love so much made ME love this story so much. It was eerie, romantic, sand, and incredibly immersive. Will absolutely be reading more by Naus in the future!
The River's Lullaby by Marybeth Davis (3.02.2025)
This one was not my favorite. It was incredibly short and I just felt like I knew what was going to happen next at each and every point of the story. The message and writing itself were good, I just didn't love the plot.
Willow, Zillow, and Smith by Esther Pipkin (3.02.2025)
I really liked this one! I felt like the time just flew by reading it and I had fun with the wacky characters. While the ending did feel a little bit convenient, I enjoyed myself overall.
Lost in the Library by J.A. Rose (3.02.2025)
OK, I LOVED this one. The sheer magic (pun intended & totally pre-planned) of this story and the setting itself was immersive, enchanting, and even a little bit eerie at points—it even gave me chills. I want to know everything about the magic and the workings of this world, these characters, and that library.
"Is it not worth living just for this one moment of beauty? Is it not even more so to live for the next and the one after that? To push through my countless blunders and heedless mistakes for a moment's peace ... If a moment like this awaits beyond the great chasm of darkness that I face, may I suffer through a thousand such futile efforts."
This was one of the longest stories in this anthology, but I still wish it was longer. So, SO good!
The Journal in the Attic by Kira Rosengren (3.03.2025)
Well, I must say first that I am the very definition of a biased reader when it comes to this story. My sister wrote this, and knowing her so well means knowing all of the heart that went into this story, as well as the experiences, losses, and family dynamics that she drew from to write it.
Regardless, I can still say that I loved this story. It's a lot different than the other stories in this anthology since it's not fantasy or magical realism in any way, but it's absolutely lovely. I was immediately immersed into the story and setting. Everything was so vividly described, I felt like I was actually there.
The Journal in the Attic by Kira Rosengren (3.03.2025)
Well, I must say first that I am the very definition of a biased reader when it comes to this story. My sister wrote this, and knowing her so well means knowing all of the heart that went into this story, as well as the experiences, losses, and family dynamics that she drew from to write it.
Regardless, I can still say that I loved this story. It's a lot different than the other stories in this anthology since it's not fantasy or magical realism in any way, but it's absolutely lovely. I was immediately immersed into the story and setting. Everything was so vividly described, I felt like I was actually there.
"'I'm not—I'm not strong enough.'
'I'll come with you.' She takes my hand in hers. 'That way we can be stronger together.'"
[cue Miraculous Ladybug movie soundtrack]
I'm proud of you Kira!! Your love for stories and writing is evident in this piece. I can't wait to see all the amazing, magnificent stories you write in the future. I love you!
Every Second With You by Savannah Ammons (3.04.2025)
This was SO GOOD. I am a sucker for a good romance and this one was just utterly adorable. I loved the setting—it reminded me of a 90's Meg Ryan film 100%. It was just captivating—I didn't look up from the book once during this story, and I completely lost track of time. 10/10. Will be reading Ammons' publications in the future.
The Poet Who Lived on Pickpocket Lane by Sarina Louise (3.04.2025)
Well, if I were in a more emotional state right now (that is, shark week), this would have made me sob.
"You think with your head too much .... Your beautiful mind is so... loud."
This story was so beautiful. I loved the element of magical realism that we see later in the story, and the poem that Elias wrote actually did make me want to cry. The ending in particular had me captivated. This is one of my favorites for writing style, just behind The Hungry Woods. 12/10. I adored this.
FINAL THOUGHTS
All in all, this was a wonderful anthology. Every one of these young authors is so talented. You'll catch me recommending most of these stories in the future, and thinking about them often.
That being said, it's hard to rate an anthology like this because while some of the stories are five stars, they would not all be rated that way. For that reason, I'm going to give this anthology 4 stars, with the understanding that some of them would be getting more or less depending on the story.
I'm so proud of every one of these young authors and the hard work they put into this anthology!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief