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dontstopreadin's review against another edition
4.0
It’s late, so I’ll need to check my math later, but I think my average rating per story is 3.8. Let’s round up for fun.
Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds
Made me cringe, self harm trigger, anti-climactic but cute rom 3 stars
Meet Cute by Melinda Lo
5 stars diverse and cleaver and adorable and dripping in fan culture cuteness
Don’t Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth
Nice rep, I think? kinda boring, meandering, slow moving plot. Good message about race, but not sure the point of anything else happening here. 3 stars
Be Cool for Once by Aminah Mae Safi
3.5 stars suspend disbelief but liked the ending made me lol & enjoyed the convo w/ love interests. Mention of f/f romance.
Tags by Walter Dean Myers
5 stars play script nice format, interesting revealing pace, touching/twisty ending.
Why I Learned to Cook By Sara Farizan
F/f romance, middle eastern heritage (Iran American protog)Persian. Good old people. Acceptance. Made me swell with joy. 5 stars.
A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older
Wtf 1 Star confused 🤷🏽♀️
A Boy’s Duty by Sharon G. Flake
Was really into but I don’t get the motivation or ending? 2.5 stars
One Voice A Something in Between Story by Melissa de la Cruz
Immigration. College. Racism. Explaining POC POV to someone who doesn’t get it 5 Stars
Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang, Illustrations by Thien Pham
3.5 stars
Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar
Trans. Feel for character. Tw for dead name. Athlete. Empowering. Moving. 5 stars
Super Human by Nicola Yoon
Shook. 5 stars
Eraser Tattoo by Jason Reynolds
Made me cringe, self harm trigger, anti-climactic but cute rom 3 stars
Meet Cute by Melinda Lo
5 stars diverse and cleaver and adorable and dripping in fan culture cuteness
Don’t Pass Me By by Eric Gansworth
Nice rep, I think? kinda boring, meandering, slow moving plot. Good message about race, but not sure the point of anything else happening here. 3 stars
Be Cool for Once by Aminah Mae Safi
3.5 stars suspend disbelief but liked the ending made me lol & enjoyed the convo w/ love interests. Mention of f/f romance.
Tags by Walter Dean Myers
5 stars play script nice format, interesting revealing pace, touching/twisty ending.
Why I Learned to Cook By Sara Farizan
F/f romance, middle eastern heritage (Iran American protog)Persian. Good old people. Acceptance. Made me swell with joy. 5 stars.
A Stranger at the Bochinche by Daniel José Older
Wtf 1 Star confused 🤷🏽♀️
A Boy’s Duty by Sharon G. Flake
Was really into but I don’t get the motivation or ending? 2.5 stars
One Voice A Something in Between Story by Melissa de la Cruz
Immigration. College. Racism. Explaining POC POV to someone who doesn’t get it 5 Stars
Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang, Illustrations by Thien Pham
3.5 stars
Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar
Trans. Feel for character. Tw for dead name. Athlete. Empowering. Moving. 5 stars
Super Human by Nicola Yoon
Shook. 5 stars
wynnieflorence's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
cute stories but definitely felt like they were spoon feeding you the message at points. maybe I’m just older than the target audience—might be good for middle grade/early high school. nicola yoon delivered as always tho
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Overall a very stunning anthology, with a wide range of diverse voices telling personal tales that ranged from contemporary (most of them) to sci-fi and fantasy. This broadened my horizons and let me explore new voices and diverse identities. While some stories were better than others, I enjoyed most of them, with a few stand-outs that I absolutely loved. I recommend for those looking for a short story collection full of beautiful representation.
nickscoby's review against another edition
3.0
These stories stood out to me: Eraser Tattoo; Meet Cute; Why I Learned To Cook; Catch, Pull, Drive; and Super Human--which is probably my favorite
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 against another edition
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.