Published by Farrar on January 26th 2016
Pages: 304
Format:ARC
Twelve original stories by top MCPG authors explore real issues for real teens.
Through prose and comics alike, these heart-pounding short stories ask hard questions about a range of topics from sexuality and addiction to violence and immigration.
Here is the perfect tool for starting tough discussions or simply as an introduction to realistic literary fiction. In turns funny, thought-provoking, and heartbreaking, I See Reality will resonate with today's teens long after the last page has been turned.
Contributing authors include Jay Clark, Kristin Clark, Heather Demetrios, Stephen Emond, Patrick Flores-Scott, Faith Hicks, Trisha Leaver, Kekla Magoon, Marcella Pixley, James Preller, Jason Schmidt, and Jordan Sonnenblick.
Anthologies are both very hard to review and very easy. Hard because you almost can’t review it as one entity- or at least, you can only review it for a sentence or two as one entity. And easy because you have a very set outline to work with, and it’s pretty easy to keep track of your thoughts while reading, which I did. (I won’t lie, it made me feel like a super organized blogger, which we all know to be false, but it was fun for a few days.)
I figure first I will go through the stories individually, then I will sum it all up. Good? Good. Oh, and these are also going to be weird because I don’t want to give much away about any of the stories, since they are short. Expect vagueness.
Story #1: Three Imaginary Conversations with You by Heather Demetrios
This is a fabulous way to start things off. It also sets a very high standard. First, Heather Demetrios has such a gorgeous writing style, it would be hard not to fall in love. I was blown away by how connected I was to the narrator in less than thirty pages. I felt her struggle because the story was so, so plausible, and I know that many women of all ages have gone through the same thing- many women that I know personally even. Heather’s story sets the book off on a hugely relatable and moving note, and I just flew through her story.
Story #2: The Downside of Fabulous by Kristin Elizabeth Clark
The message in this one was very sweet and very appropriate, especially in today’s culture of wanting to make everyone fit into a stereotype. It was a tad unrealistic, but definitely sweet and worthwhile, especially for anyone who has ever tried to fit themselves into a box of “rules” for being who they are.
Story #3: The Night of the Living Creeper by Stephen Emond
So this is a hard one for me, because on one hand, I loved it. It is narrated by a cat. Yes, a cat. And it is brilliant! Very witty and clever, and the discussions that the cat hears its “humans” having are also very relevant- all kinds of things, but the conversation gets intense about guys taking advantage of girls, and the titular “creeper” situation. Oh, and there are super fun illustrations. This would have been a home run for me, but then the end got a little weird and I didn’t know what to make of it, so there’s that.
Story #4: Makeshift by Kekla Magoon
This was incredibly short, almost too short to make an impact. There were also a lot of different topics being broached, so I wasn’t sure exactly where the story was trying to go. Clearly, the main character was going through a rough time, but with so many different issues in a very limited number of pages, I just couldn’t connect.
Story #5: Things You Get Over, Things You Don’t by Jason Schmidt
This was so, so sad, but also quite touching. Again, I am not going into detail because of potential spoilers, but I was impressed by the emotional connection in such a short story!
Story #6: Coffee Chameleon by Jay Clark
So, the addiction piece was very good, I think that it’s something that we should be talking about more, but don’t. And the parents being concerned and involved was also a huge plus. But then the romance stuff just really confused me, and I still don’t get it. At all.
Story #7: Hush by Marcella Pixley
This was messed up. But it was also incredibly captivating and well done. I dare say I would read an entire book devoted to this story. You kind of need to read it for yourself to understand, so do it.
Story #8: Blackbird by Trisha Leaver
First, the use of the song was perfection. Second, I loved the perspective that this story was told from, because sadly, I think it’s all too realistic (sorry, vagueness, I know). Third, I will always read anything that Trisha Leaver writes, because she writes it beautifully, and this is definitely no exception. There were feels.
Story #9: Untitled by Faith Erin Hicks
This is a graphic short story, so that was cool. Otherwise um, didn’t love it. There were some decent things, like not wanting to be defined by one’s sexuality. But then some random stuff starts going down that makes little to no sense, and I was just thinking that it was too absurd to be real.
Story #10: The Sweeter the Sin by Jordan Sonnenblick
This one had a lot of emotions wrapped up in it: It was sweet, sad, and ultimately so frustratingly true. I loved that it was a story about our choices and our mistakes, and how they can change things. And the narrator made me chuckle a lot, with random things like this:
“There’s just something so… erotic… about an angry girl with surgical tools who’s just mistakenly dismembered a gestational hog.”
Bittersweet, but a win.
Story #11: The Mistake by James Preller
This was so incredibly hard to read on a personal level. I’ll be damned if it wasn’t one of the most honest stories in the book, but it ripped my heart to shreds. I wanted answers too. I wanted to know why the characters made the choices they did, but I suppose in a short story there isn’t a ton of room for that sort of thing. Haunting, no question.
Story #12: The Good Brother by Patrick Flores-Scott
I think it’s a great commentary on some of the issues in our country, specifically the way we treat people who are just looking to come here for a better life. I would have liked to know more of what happened after, but I think that is probably just a problem with me and short stories in general- I want to know all the things. Some of it seemed farfetched, but never being in a situation like that, who knows?
Bottom Line
This was a really good group of stories that were definitely true to the book’s title and promise of stories about real life. I think there is absolutely something for everyone in this book, as it is absolutely full of diversity and tough topics, but also about some of the universal life struggles that we all share.
I don’t think I really have read an anthology – or at least not in a long time. This sounds really interesting though – I like the premise. Also looks like most are pretty good and overall worth picking up. Great review!
Thanks! I definitely enjoyed more of them than not, so I hope if you read it you will too!
I don’t really like reading anthologies to be honest because they always leave me wanting unsatisfied and wanting more. But this one has a Heather Demetrios book that I definitely want to try. I love her writing so much and it seems like it’s a winner yet again here.
The Trisha Leaver one also sounds fantastic.
Great review, Shannon!
Those were both fabulous! And I agree with you, that’s such a great point, because sometimes I get bummed that I don’t get more of the story! Although sometimes, it can be a good thing too ?
I love anthologies and collections. I’ve never heard of this one before, but I will definitely look in to getting it. It sounds like the kind of thing I’d enjoy. Great review.
Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy it if you read it!
CONFESSION: I’ve never really liked anthologies. And, okay, so I haven’t read many of them but the ones I have read have been very hit-and-miss. I like some stories — and don’t like others. For me with short stories, there isn’t any consistency, and honestly, that bothers me a little, you know? Lovely review/s, Shannon–I *might* end up picking this one up.
I know what you mean -in both anthologies I read there have been stories I absolutely loved, followed by ones I really, really didn’t. But I figure that they’re all so quick, so I can handle one that is not working for me ?
I don’t tend to read a lot of anthologies…I don’t know why, but I rarely can get into them. I absolutely loved My True Love Gave to Me, though. This one does sound tempting so I’m willing to give it a go. By the way, I absolutely loved how you set up your review for this one. It was nice to read your thoughts on each individual story in the collection.
Aw thank you! I really enjoyed My True Love Gave to Me too! This one has tougher topics, of course, but it was definitely interesting!
I understand what you mean about anthologies being both hard and easy to review. I do like my anthologies. I didn’t before but last year I have gotten more into them, especially as I realised if you don’t like one of the short stories you can just skip over it, and BAM there is another short story waiting for you. I probably would’ve considered this a sin before, but now I actually like that fact about them 😀
My recent book haul post: http://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2016/01/my-hoarding-catastrophe-it-wasnt-me.html
Haha exactly! That’s definitely the best part. I usually don’t even realize that I don’t like them until they’re mostly done anyway ?
I’m intrigued. But also worried about FEELs and hard to read stories. I’m firmly grounded in fluffy fun books at the moment, I’m not really feeling the emotional ones and I don’t know why. But seriously, anthologies are so hard to review! Okay so I’ve only read and reviewed like one, but it was enough to know it’s true! Hmm…thoughts on anthologies, I like them (the one (two?) I’ve read) but I don’t read them often. I DON”T KNOW WHY. I’ve boughten quite a few but…I don’t know. I guess I find it hard to get into short stories? That’s weird right?
Anyway, fabulous review as always, Shannon! =)
Aw thanks love! I don’t read them often either, though I have enjoyed the two I have read. I think I think I’ll have a hard time with them but then it’s usually fine!
I’m not the biggest fan of anthologies because I struggled to connect with so many stories in just the one book, but this one sounds really diverse and unique! For example, love the sound of the one with the cat and the use of song! Lots of these ones sound pretty interesting actually. Love the review Shannon!
Thanks! I couldn’t read anthologies regularly, because of exactly what you said, but every so often, it’s fun ?
I have this one coming up for review. Anthologies are always a mixed bag but at least each story is usually a quick read. If it’s not good – on to the next one!
Karen @For What It’s Worth
Totally agree! I like that every story is like a new opportunity! I’ll be looking forward to your review!
This sounds good but it sounds quite emotional and gritty and I’m not always a fan of those haha! ;D I don’t read much anthologies as I prefer full length novels! Great review! 🙂
Thanks so much! Definitely emotional and gritty ? I generally prefer full novels too- series are even better- but anthologies are a nice change of pace for me sometimes!
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