Love and Sex: Ten Stories of Truth

by Michael Cart (Editor), Laurie Halse Anderson (Contributor), Emma Donoghue (Contributor)

For use in schools and libraries only. Contributors include: Chris Lynch, Laurie Halse Anderson, Garth Nix, Joan Bauer, Michael Lowenthal, Sonya Sones, Emma Donoghue, Louise Hawes, Shelley Stoehr, and Angela Johnson.

Genres: Young Adult, Short Stories, Anthologies, Fiction, Romance, Teen, LGBT

Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

About the author

Former Director of the Beverly Hills (CA) Public Library and a Past President of the Young Adult Library Services Association, Michael Cart is a nationally recognized expert in children's and young adult literature. Now a columnist and reviewer for ALA's Booklist magazine, he is the author or editor of eight books, including From Romance to Realism, a critical history of YA literature; MY FATHER'S SCAR, a young adult novel that was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and the anthology LOVE AND SEX: Ten Stories of Truth, also a Best Book for Young Adults and a Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

Michael teaches young adult literature at UCLA and is the recipient of the 2000 Grolier Foundation Award. He lives in northern California.

Reviews

[Tatiana]

Although I am usually disappointed in anthologies, I was looking forward to reading this one. Love & Sex: Ten Stories of Truth - this title is irresistible and reeks of parental disapproval, does it not?

But as soon as I read first two stories, I was about to return it right back to the library. If you can think of the most cliche subjects for teen stories about love and sex, what comes first to your mind? I bet it's something about virginity and saving yourself until marriage ("Extra Virgin" by Joan Bauer) and something cautionary about sex/pregnancy/abortion ("Fine and Dandy" by Louise Hawes.

Swallowing my disappointment, I decided to give one more story a try - it turned out to be Garth Nix's "Lightning Bringer." Although it was obvious the man wanted to write a story about lightning and not love and sex, he blended the two very well creating a nice fantasy tale about sexual power.

So, thanks to Garth Nix, I stuck with the anthology after all. As always, the collection was a mixed bag of good, mediocre, and bad. It is always evident when a writer has very little experience with writing short stories. Such writers do not understand that a short story requires just as much back story, world-building and plot as a novel and instead produce underdeveloped short outlines.

Some, however, stood out. Along with Garth Nix's short story, I enjoyed Sonya Sones's collection of poems of love and lust titled "Secret Shelf" and Emma Donoghue's "The Welcome" - a tale about sexual identity. Michael Lowenthal's "The Acuteness of Desire" stood out for a different reason - a rather explicit account of the first homosexual encounter.

As a whole, I found this collection more satisfying than many other multi-author anthologies I've read in the past. I expect some adults will be turned off by the explicit nature of several stories.

[Myrah]

these stories went down like lost Degrassi episodes and not in the good way either

[Alicia]

Ten short stories ranging from homosexual love to virginity. Very explicit and sometimes over the top, but written by authors like Laurie Halse Anderson and Chris Lynch.

[kyliemm]

I picked up this book because I was interested in the authors, including Laurie Halse Anderson, Garth Nix, and Joan Bauer. Overall, I wasn't hugely impressed, especially by Anderson, whose story was clever but completely lacking in character (meaning her characters sucked and I hated them, kind of like the entire book Twisted, which sucked and I hated it). My favorite story by far was Nix's Lightning Bringer, which I first read in his anthology Across the Wall; I think the story was still problematic in some ways, but overall I think it worked. Some of these stories were cliche and lame (especially Bauer's), but a lot of them were really lovely and interesting. My biggest problem was that the authors took a lot of behaviors for granted, even when they were obviously problematic, even within the context of the story--but the ways the characters exploited themselves and others often went uncriticized, which annoyed me. Also, if you're a prude like me, you will probably be scandalized, so there's that. Overall, though, this book represents a really cool idea--namely that teenagers should be able to talk about sex in a non-exploitative way without getting slammed by adults--and I liked a lot of things about it.

[Stacia]

I understand that this is a compilation of stories from different authors but, still, these stories don't add up for me -- at least not to fit the title and what the Foreword says the purpose of the book is. I thoroughly enjoyed one story. Out of ten. The title of this book caught my eye on the school library shelf (it is a middle/high school section combined) and I figured I should read it to see how appropriate it might be if a middle school student picks it up. Overall - 'eh' is the feeling I'm left with.

[Cassandra]

what a waste. the title pulls you in. But it was highly lacking

[Maryjane Coons]

I wish a couple of the stories were a little longer.

[Zev]

This short story anthology had a profound impact on me when I first read it as a young teenager. This book let me know there were so many ways to...be, and it was so important. Decades later, I wanted to read it again to see if it held up or stirred any emotion.
I am not a teenager anymore, is the thought that kept screaming in my head. I'm so glad for that. I couldn't relate to these kids at all. The writing styles were diverse and played upon different skills of each author. I remembered reading different works as a result of these books, and I was glad of the nostalgia in that regard. The ideas and perceptions that these kids in this anthology have now are...just so outdated. And that's a really good thing. Shows how far society has progressed and will hopefully continue to do so.
I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone. I'm glad I read it as an adult so I know what I think of it now.

[Kim]

Michael Cart's collection of short stories about love and sexuality is an excellent example of the modern refusal to keep the subject of sex hidden within the shadows and away from the curious eyes of teens. That in itself is the main reason why it would appeal to young adults, it allows them to see fictional characters exploring their sexuality in a manner that nearly all teens do. The readers are given varying examples of sexuality, as well as some of the consequences that go with it.

The characters of the various stories are believable because of their all-too-human responses to certain situations. Homophobia, for example, is still rampant in modern culture, despite the steps taken by many people and organizations to promote open-mindedness, and the reactions so often seen are portrayed in the book. What adds to the book is that the same characters still have to examine their preconceptions and question those same reactions.

I'd promote this book to older teens as part of a sexual awareness theme. Sex is something teens are curious about, and that is not going to go away. Reading books like this will help them explore the subject in a manner safer than most.

VOYA codes: 5Q, 4P, S.

[Patty]

I have to admit that I picked this book up because a high school was threatening to ban it from the library. I wanted to see what the fuss was about. As I suspected, the reason must have been fear because there is nothing wrong (in my opinion) with this book.

There are ten short stories in this book, all good. I especially liked Sones' poems in "Shelf life" and the characters in "Snake". I would recommend this book to any high school student who likes good writing. The fact that the stories are about sex and love is a bonus.

So far, the high school in questions has not banned this book.

[Kricket]

like most short story collections, this was a mixed bag. and these are truly short- it seemed like every time i really got invested in a character, the story was over. but for the most part i enjoyed it.

my favorite was "the welcome" by emma donoghue (author of 'room') about a young lesbian living in a woman's co-op. i also really liked "the acuteness of desire" by michael lowenthal because it did such a good job describing the heartbreak that so often accompanies relationships in high school.

i didn't really like "lightning bringer" by nix (SEX = DANGER!!) or "extra virgin" by joan bauer (bauer just doesn't really do it for me.)

[Ally]

Before you think anything wrong about me =), I honestly picked this book up (out of the YA section!) out of curiosity. And when this book first came out in 2001 I was in the 5th grade and my very private parents weren't telling me anything so I wanted to read this book because in order to find out anything I had to read it in a book. I've read it now and it was alright. Some of the stories were about sexuality (saving yourself or having an abortion, etc.) and some didn't really seem to fit the motif.

[Kendrickpozo]

i read the story "extra virgin" i liked it alot because it kept me interested in the read. unlike other stories that by the 3rd page im already bored. this story had a very unique style to it. it was a story that kept you at the edge of your seat. its a girl discribing her experince about her first time, she talks about how guys talked to her and what guys tried doing but never did. in order to find out what happens you will have to read and found out what exactlly happens

[Kathy]

Michael Cart brings together an excellent collection of short stories for young adults about love and sexuality. Stories of young men and women, gay and straight, are told by noted YA authors such as Garth Nix, Sonya Jones, and Laurie Halse Anderson. Three of the stories are told from the perspective of a gay teen, but the themes and experiences in all of them are universal.

[Linsay]

This was a great collection of short stories that ran the spectrum. I appreciated the wide variety of experiences and writing styles in the collection, and suspect that many teens would find something of interest that would make them realize that they are not alone in their feelings and emotions surrounding their sexuality.

[Kelsey]

Age: 7th-9th grade

Several famous authors provide a conglomeration of varying sexual encounters including pregnancy, abortion, abstinence, homosexuality, and machoism. Although written in 2001, it is somewhat dated with a few old cultural references. However, this collection of short stories is still prevalent in our society today with poignant truths captured in each brief story.

[Diana]

I like this book. If you want to know about feelings, diferent points of views about love and sex; I can highly recomend this book. Also it has fantasy, poetry, happy endings, bittersweet endings and sad endigs.

I ejoyed to read also the author coments about each story, sometimes I agree and sometimes I could not acept those toughts, even if I have seen similar situations with my eyes.

[Tamara the Librarian]

High school level appropriateness. Stories would be really interesting to a diverse group of students. At least two of the stories deal with homosexual/transgender issues. All the stories are well written and engaging. For older readers they sure bring back lots of memories-- both good and bad (in an awkward when we were young kind of way.

[Dorcas]

This compilation explores the broad spectrum of intimate teen relationships. The subject matter is interesting and this book may also be a good introduction to the writing of many well-known authors.

[Debrarian]

Best stories: “Fine and Dandy” by Louise Hawes; “Secret Shelf” in verse by Sonya Sones; “The Cure for Curtis” by Chris Lynch; “The Acuteness of Desire” by Michael Lowenthal; “The Welcome” by Emma Donoghue

[Cat.]

These stories run that gamut, from abstinence to pregnancy to heartbreak to pornography to homosexuality. In the YA section. This could be a touchy book, but the stories are pretty realistic and honest, if a bit "out there."

[Salsabrarian]

An anthology of short stories about young people, sex, love, sexuality, consquences, and emotional issues. Story about the gay boy and his friend is very graphic. Another story about a girl who undergoes an abortion.This book screams controversy!

[elissa]

Many of these short stories are excellent. It's a well-done collection, and most of them are by well-known YA writers.

[Ashley]

Diverse stories about teen love with protagonists of all sexual persuasions. Useful to me to see how many accomplished YA authors handle sex scenes.

[Rene]

Different stories about learning what love is to learning what love is to different types of people. Some stories are good and some are downright strange!

[Sarah]

I read this in high school so I don't really remember it in any detail, but I remember it was great and very inclusive and, at the time, very risque. Lots of great authors too, as I remember.

[Bridgett]

Some of these stories I liked okay, but a few were rather silly seeming to me, at least in how they were written. I don't think I have a favorite. Apparently the stories are aimed at teenagers.

[A'ledyn]

I always enjoy a good book full of short stories such as this. I disliked the lightning story and the story about gay guys because I feel anger at the prejudice and homophobia in the story.

[Izlinda]

Some stories I liked better than others. Some of them were a bit more realistic to me than others. I have to say a few made me uncomfortable.

[Darnell Williams]

I learned some reasons why teenager have sex. How they are easily pressured