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Reviews
Rural Voices: 15 Authors Challenge Assumptions about Small-Town America by Nora Shalaway Carpenter
eggrolyn's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
djlanatron's review
5.0
It is so rare to find a short story collection where you basically like all of the stories a lot ... this was one for me!
rose_peterson's review
3.0
This collection raised a lot of questions for me: about Midwesternness, about representation in literature, about what constitutes "young adult literature."
I find that in a quest for more accurate representation, we often allow the old stereotypes to flourish while superimposing stories about completely different experiences of rurality. Those experiences are totally valid (like kids commuting an hour to go to an elite private high school on scholarships) but I'm craving books that are rooted in the typical rural high school experience in all of its truth, reclaiming rural narratives from rednecks and tractors and meth to include a more nuanced view. This book didn't accomplish that, and maybe that's not what it set out to do. I found the type of representation I seek in books like Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres and Ted Kooser's Delights and Shadows, but I would love to see that same nuance of rural living brought to young adult literature as well.
Far and away, the best story in this collection is "Praise the Lord and Pass the Little Debbies" by David Maginnis Gill. It's rich with characterization and detail and complexity. It's appropriate for young people without being moralizing. Honorable mentions include "The Hole of Dark Kill Hollow" by Rob Costello and "Best in Show" by Tirzah Price.
Most of the others are underdeveloped, predictable, or didactic. I don't think they honor the intellectual capacity or lived experience of young people.
I find that in a quest for more accurate representation, we often allow the old stereotypes to flourish while superimposing stories about completely different experiences of rurality. Those experiences are totally valid (like kids commuting an hour to go to an elite private high school on scholarships) but I'm craving books that are rooted in the typical rural high school experience in all of its truth, reclaiming rural narratives from rednecks and tractors and meth to include a more nuanced view. This book didn't accomplish that, and maybe that's not what it set out to do. I found the type of representation I seek in books like Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres and Ted Kooser's Delights and Shadows, but I would love to see that same nuance of rural living brought to young adult literature as well.
Far and away, the best story in this collection is "Praise the Lord and Pass the Little Debbies" by David Maginnis Gill. It's rich with characterization and detail and complexity. It's appropriate for young people without being moralizing. Honorable mentions include "The Hole of Dark Kill Hollow" by Rob Costello and "Best in Show" by Tirzah Price.
Most of the others are underdeveloped, predictable, or didactic. I don't think they honor the intellectual capacity or lived experience of young people.
librarianelizabeth's review
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
zalbion's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
atippmann's review
4.0
Ok so not all the stories were winners, but I was really intrigued by the concept of the collection: not all rural people fit the rural person stereotype. I’m especially interested because I’ve spent nearly all my life in suburbs and cities but I feel drawn to the countryside and nature but have serious misgivings about the rural mindset that I’ve encountered (not my favorite) Would I dare live outside a city and try to thrive?
snchard's review
4.0
An excellent collection of diverse short stories! Definitely does what it says on the tin-- challenging assumptions about small-town America. There was representation for several different races, ethnicities, religions, sexualities, disabilities, etc. I would read more from any of these authors, most of whom I was unfamiliar with before reading this collection.
meredithmc's review
3.0
Anthologies are often mixed bags for me so it's not surprising I felt the same way about this one. I liked the differences in storytelling mediums; it really gave the book a comfortable flow. "The (Unhealthy) Breakfast Club", "Island Rodeo Queen", and "Best in Show" were the anthology standouts and ones I'd love to see as full length YA novels. I'd recommend Rural Voices to anyone looking to read stories from a variety of voices living in an often misrepresented world, especially those with a very particular idea of what folks in rural areas are like.
bethreadsandnaps's review
3.0
3.5 stars
A short story collection, especially one written with many authors and about many different subjects even when loosely connected by a theme, is tough. Some of these are excellent, some of these are huh?, some are interesting, and a couple are disappointing. It’s hard to rate overall.
My favorites are Best in Show (featuring pig Herbert) and the S.A. Cosby story featuring Juke.
A short story collection, especially one written with many authors and about many different subjects even when loosely connected by a theme, is tough. Some of these are excellent, some of these are huh?, some are interesting, and a couple are disappointing. It’s hard to rate overall.
My favorites are Best in Show (featuring pig Herbert) and the S.A. Cosby story featuring Juke.