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Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate The Magic of Reading & Writing YA
Thirteen Short Stories from Bold New YA Voices & Writing Advice from YA Icons
Created by New York Times bestselling authors Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma, Foreshadow is so much more than a short story collection. A trove of unforgettable fiction makes up the beating heart of this book, and the accompanying essays offer an ode to young adult literature, as well as practical advice to writers.
Featured in print for the first time, the thirteen stories anthologized here were originally released via the buzzed-about online platform Foreshadow. Ranging from contemporary romance to mind-bending fantasy, the Foreshadow stories showcase underrepresented voices and highlight the beauty and power of YA fiction. Each piece is selected and introduced by a YA luminary, among them Gayle Forman, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jason Reynolds, and Sabaa Tahir.
What makes these memorable stories tick? What sparked them? How do authors build a world or refine a voice or weave in that deliciously creepy atmosphere to bring their writing to the next level? Addressing these questions and many more are essays and discussions on craft and process by Nova Ren Suma and Emily X. R. Pan.
This unique compilation reveals and celebrates the magic of reading and writing for young adults.
Created by New York Times bestselling authors Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma, Foreshadow is so much more than a short story collection. A trove of unforgettable fiction makes up the beating heart of this book, and the accompanying essays offer an ode to young adult literature, as well as practical advice to writers.
Featured in print for the first time, the thirteen stories anthologized here were originally released via the buzzed-about online platform Foreshadow. Ranging from contemporary romance to mind-bending fantasy, the Foreshadow stories showcase underrepresented voices and highlight the beauty and power of YA fiction. Each piece is selected and introduced by a YA luminary, among them Gayle Forman, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jason Reynolds, and Sabaa Tahir.
What makes these memorable stories tick? What sparked them? How do authors build a world or refine a voice or weave in that deliciously creepy atmosphere to bring their writing to the next level? Addressing these questions and many more are essays and discussions on craft and process by Nova Ren Suma and Emily X. R. Pan.
This unique compilation reveals and celebrates the magic of reading and writing for young adults.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2020
About the author
Emily X.R. Pan
4 books1,480 followersEmily X.R. Pan is the New York Times bestselling author of THE ASTONISHING COLOR OF AFTER, which won the APALA Honor Award and the Walter Honor Award. It was also a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize, longlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and featured on over a dozen best-of-the-year lists, among other accolades. Emily co-created the FORESHADOW anthology, teaches creative writing, and lives on Lenape land (in the New York City area). Her next novel, AN ARROW TO THE MOON, will be published by Little, Brown in April 2022. Find her on Twitter and Instagram: @exrpan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
November 5, 2020
Anyone who follows me on here knows that I struggle a lot with YA. I pretty much avoid the genre entirely with a few exceptions here and there. Ultimately, the unique nature of this book is what told me to throw my concerns aside and dive in. I am so glad that I ignored my YA issues and gave this a chance.
Here are the reasons why this might interest you:
1) It's a short story collection
2) Ownvoices!!
3) Editors break down the prompt of the story and techniques used (so you get an intro and summary after each story that helps tie everything together)
4) Did I mention ownvoices?
5) Different genres - fantasty, romance, straight fiction - love that too
I loved everything about this book. I thought it was also really neat to get an inside look at some writing techniques used. I never really thought about it before, but this really made me think about how hard it is to write a short story. You have to grab the reader and keep them interested, all the while making it very clear the time period and place the story it set in. If its a fantasy short story, you have a lot of world building to do in a short period of time. The other great thing about this book was how it promoted new, ownvoices authors, whose stories were introduced by well known YA authors.
A fantastic read that I highly recommend! Thank you so much to Algonquin YA for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review Date: 11/5/2020
Publication Date: 10/20/2020
Here are the reasons why this might interest you:
1) It's a short story collection
2) Ownvoices!!
3) Editors break down the prompt of the story and techniques used (so you get an intro and summary after each story that helps tie everything together)
4) Did I mention ownvoices?
5) Different genres - fantasty, romance, straight fiction - love that too
I loved everything about this book. I thought it was also really neat to get an inside look at some writing techniques used. I never really thought about it before, but this really made me think about how hard it is to write a short story. You have to grab the reader and keep them interested, all the while making it very clear the time period and place the story it set in. If its a fantasy short story, you have a lot of world building to do in a short period of time. The other great thing about this book was how it promoted new, ownvoices authors, whose stories were introduced by well known YA authors.
A fantastic read that I highly recommend! Thank you so much to Algonquin YA for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Review Date: 11/5/2020
Publication Date: 10/20/2020
October 26, 2020
Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA
is a fascinating book.
At first, it appears to be only a collection of 13 YA stories by authors you may not be familiar with. (I wasn’t.) Many of these have supernatural or fantastical elements, and are introduced by some well-known YA authors who explain why they love these stories.
But what enhances the stories is that after each one, either Pan or Suma highlights a literary concept—such as emotional resonance, suspension of disbelief, building the romance—and discusses how that particular story incorporated that element. If you’re a writer or have simply been fascinated by the craft of writing, these nuggets are fascinating. They really made me think about concepts within the stories I hadn't considered before.
Additionally, throughout the book, story prompts are included, which might help serve as an inspiration for you if you'd like to try your hand at, or sharpen, your own writing.
I thought this was a really unique book, because it’s a mashup of story collection, analysis, and writing advice. While not all of the stories worked for me (I tend to hew more toward traditional stories than fantastical ones), I really enjoyed Suma and Pan’s take on what stood out for them. (I have loved both of their books, so their words resonated for me.)
Writers and readers alike out there may find this fascinating!! I did.
I was grateful to be part of the blog tour for this book. Algonquin Books provided a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The book publishes 10/20.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
At first, it appears to be only a collection of 13 YA stories by authors you may not be familiar with. (I wasn’t.) Many of these have supernatural or fantastical elements, and are introduced by some well-known YA authors who explain why they love these stories.
But what enhances the stories is that after each one, either Pan or Suma highlights a literary concept—such as emotional resonance, suspension of disbelief, building the romance—and discusses how that particular story incorporated that element. If you’re a writer or have simply been fascinated by the craft of writing, these nuggets are fascinating. They really made me think about concepts within the stories I hadn't considered before.
Additionally, throughout the book, story prompts are included, which might help serve as an inspiration for you if you'd like to try your hand at, or sharpen, your own writing.
I thought this was a really unique book, because it’s a mashup of story collection, analysis, and writing advice. While not all of the stories worked for me (I tend to hew more toward traditional stories than fantastical ones), I really enjoyed Suma and Pan’s take on what stood out for them. (I have loved both of their books, so their words resonated for me.)
Writers and readers alike out there may find this fascinating!! I did.
I was grateful to be part of the blog tour for this book. Algonquin Books provided a complimentary advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The book publishes 10/20.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
October 14, 2020
Foreshadow is so much more than just a collection of short stories. It's a deep dive into the art of storytelling and the magic behind the craft. We get to read 13 unique short stories written by new, underrepresented voices in YA fiction. Stories that range from science fiction, fantasy and gothic fairytales to contemporary, dystopian and magical realism. There's a story for every type of reader, and I fell a little bit in love with the magic hidden in between these pages.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, we also get an in-depth analysis written by the editors of this anthology that explore the different themes, symbolisms, motifs, and other elements of the story.
As someone who loves to read beyond the pages and learn all there is to know about a story, these short but relevant discussions were invaluable to me, as I'm sure they'll be to future readers alike! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves discovering new, diverse voices and also enjoy wildly unique stories.
A big thank you to Algonquin Books for providing me with an ARC!
Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, we also get an in-depth analysis written by the editors of this anthology that explore the different themes, symbolisms, motifs, and other elements of the story.
As someone who loves to read beyond the pages and learn all there is to know about a story, these short but relevant discussions were invaluable to me, as I'm sure they'll be to future readers alike! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves discovering new, diverse voices and also enjoy wildly unique stories.
A big thank you to Algonquin Books for providing me with an ARC!
March 6, 2022
I read this book a while ago and have been meaning to post a review, so... here goes. There are some mind-blowing good stories in here. I pretty much loved all of them, but some of them really stood out. Like I keep thinking about "Resilient" by Mayra Cuevas, the story of a girl in Puerto Rico who has huge plans for her future—until Hurricane Maria ruins everything, and she has to go work at a poultry processing plant in North Dakota. Just brutal and harrowing. And "Fools" by Gina Chen is a wonderful fairy tale about an island for girls who are "remnants of someone else's story," until a stranger shows up looking for a bride. I loved this story so much and I already pre-ordered Chen's debut Violet Made of Thorns. But really, all of the stories in here are triumphs. I love the way many of these stories play with genre, using monsters and magical inheritances—or the game of "Seven Minutes in Heaven"—to illuminate the experience of growing up, especially for marginalized people. This book reminded me a bit of Walking the Clouds: An Anthology of Indigenous Science Fiction, another anthology I loved recently, because it's doing a few things at once. It's a collection of YA short fiction that shows how powerful short stories can be, but it's also full of writing advice and inspiration from the editors, and each story has a short essay by the author that talks bout their process. I hope this book leads lots of young people to want to become writers. I have always felt like it's sad that there's not more young-adult short fiction, and this book felt utterly welcome for so many reasons.
October 19, 2020
FORESHADOW is an amazing collection of well curated short stories by talents writing YA short stories today.
Each story is introduced by celebrated YA authors, many of whom are my favorites such as Adam Silvera, Melissa Albert, Jason Reynolds, Roshani Chokshi, Sabaa Tahir, and Nicola Yoon to name a few.
This book is so beautifully presented for those who read and write YA. The expert advise with the author notes following each story is some of the most valuable to me as a reader, and a reviewer.
Each of the stories also highlight underrepresented voices and written by #ownvoice authors as well. Editors Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma further digs deep into the story line and provide expert advise. An example is the discussion on characterization and how to connect readers to the story and characters especially in short stories. Some other topics covered are the characters' voice, suspension of disbelief, emotional resonance and more.
I find that this book is amazing for our young readers to inspire them to create and write their stories from their own experiences and perspectives. I find that the expert advise is invaluable for writers and readers, as well as, a great resource for literary reviewers. Foreshadow was everything I expected and I highly recommend this amazing book.
Each story is introduced by celebrated YA authors, many of whom are my favorites such as Adam Silvera, Melissa Albert, Jason Reynolds, Roshani Chokshi, Sabaa Tahir, and Nicola Yoon to name a few.
This book is so beautifully presented for those who read and write YA. The expert advise with the author notes following each story is some of the most valuable to me as a reader, and a reviewer.
Each of the stories also highlight underrepresented voices and written by #ownvoice authors as well. Editors Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma further digs deep into the story line and provide expert advise. An example is the discussion on characterization and how to connect readers to the story and characters especially in short stories. Some other topics covered are the characters' voice, suspension of disbelief, emotional resonance and more.
I find that this book is amazing for our young readers to inspire them to create and write their stories from their own experiences and perspectives. I find that the expert advise is invaluable for writers and readers, as well as, a great resource for literary reviewers. Foreshadow was everything I expected and I highly recommend this amazing book.
October 23, 2020
Original post-book thoughts:
A pleasant surprise, this book—each story in this anthology is a freshly-unearthed gem, bright and beautiful and waiting fervently to be beheld. It was a true honor to have been invited on the journey of all of these vibrant stories.
Final review:
There is so, so much to love in this anthology. Whether you’re here for the cute, contemporary romance, or if you’re here for the witchy horror and girls turning into lobsters, there is space here for everyone at Foreshadow‘s table. No matter what kind of reader you are, I’m nearly certain that you’ll find something to love and take home with you from this book.
It’s very evident to me that each short story was crafted with much, much love from the authors’ own lives, as was the book as a whole—the little follow-up essays from the editors are insightful and contain meaningful advice for the aspiring writer in all of us. Its most ardent wish is probably firstly, that you get lost exploring all these vastly different narratives, and secondly, that you pick up a pen and start telling your own inspired stories too.
Read my full review here: https://thequietpond.com/2020/10/24/b...
A pleasant surprise, this book—each story in this anthology is a freshly-unearthed gem, bright and beautiful and waiting fervently to be beheld. It was a true honor to have been invited on the journey of all of these vibrant stories.
Final review:
There is so, so much to love in this anthology. Whether you’re here for the cute, contemporary romance, or if you’re here for the witchy horror and girls turning into lobsters, there is space here for everyone at Foreshadow‘s table. No matter what kind of reader you are, I’m nearly certain that you’ll find something to love and take home with you from this book.
It’s very evident to me that each short story was crafted with much, much love from the authors’ own lives, as was the book as a whole—the little follow-up essays from the editors are insightful and contain meaningful advice for the aspiring writer in all of us. Its most ardent wish is probably firstly, that you get lost exploring all these vastly different narratives, and secondly, that you pick up a pen and start telling your own inspired stories too.
Read my full review here: https://thequietpond.com/2020/10/24/b...
Read
November 10, 2020reviews of each short story to come! some of my favorites were BREAK, FOOLS, RISK, and PAN DULCE!
July 29, 2020
What a fantastic way to showcase YA talent! Includes 13 fab short stories by new writers, each introduced by a YA star. Plus essays and conversations about the craft by NYT bestselling authors Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma. Essential for all who love this genre!
5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 20 Oct 2020
Thanks to the authors, Algonquin Young Readers, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#Foreshadow #NetGalley
5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 20 Oct 2020
Thanks to the authors, Algonquin Young Readers, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#Foreshadow #NetGalley
October 21, 2020
Read this review on my blog!
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Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own
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FLIGHT, Tanya Aydelott
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
The story that opens this anthology is a bit of a strange one – and it’ll set the tone very well for the following stories (opening with the creepy might not have been the best choice for me personally, because creepy really isn’t my thing. anyway).
This was a selkie story, and I don’t think you realize that right away (which was something I really liked). All in all, it was a good story with good writing, and I liked it fine, but like I said, not my thing!
Things that are unexplainable – these are things that people feel they must control. Magic. Beauty. Art.
“Being trapped inside the wrong skin can feel like a curse. The Moment you find the right one, you can’t wait to live in it.”
-------
RISK, Rachel Hylton
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Rep: Latinx
Ok. So the thing about this story is that is is most definitely the weirdest thing I have ever and will probably ever read in my life. It is also incredibly imaginative – I mean, how do you get an idea like that? – and the writing is very well executed. Written in the first person plural “we” (an interesting choice, and a very good one), this story will keep you hooked the entire time mostly because you’re just floored by everything going on. I cannot stress how weird it is enough. It was great.
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SWEETMEATS, Linda Cheng
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Rep: Chinese
cw: animal death, cannibalism
So this story was deeply unsettling. Sweet – somehow?? – thanks to the two main characters’ relationship and yet just very creepy and morbid. The parent-daughter relationship were also very interesting and something I loved in the story. After last story though, nothing was surprising anymore lol
-------
GLOW, Joanna Truman
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Rep: sapphic relationship between the two main characters
See, as soon as I understood this was not only a gay story but a SAPPHIC story, I got really excited. Unfortunately, this one was a bit of a letdown for me – underwhelming. It felt a little too short (even for a short story); I didn’t have the time to either get to know the characters, get attached to them or even understand them at all. The romance didn’t really hook me, and I feel playing the pining card in a short story might not have been the best idea (is it really pining if it’s only for a page and a half? maybe ao3 ruined this for me… oops. give me a SLOW BURN, though. Otherwise is pining really worth it?)
That said, there were sides to the story I really liked. This quotes is one:
“Of course we can. Girls are magic.” Naia emphasizes the last word, murmurs it like a spell she’s written into the air. “We’re magic.”
The whole concept of this story is brilliant. I tried to explain it just now but I can’t because I really don’t want to give away any spoilers. Guess you’ll have to read to find out!
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ESCAPE, Tanvi Berwah
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
tw: underage sex
This story just didn’t to it for me. I enjoyed the end – men and consequences, ah, beautiful – but besides that, nothing much. Not saying this was bad – I was just not a big fan. The underage thing going on just distracted me too much from enjoying the story (although the author in no way shape or form shows this is as a good thing ! ! quite the opposite)
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PAN DULCE, Flor Salcedo
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Rep: latinx (Mexican, Mexican-American)
I think I just completely missed the point of this story. I wrote this long rant in my notes but I really don’t think anyone wants to read it. I’ll just leave you with – I didn’t understand the point of this, what it was trying to show, and all it did was leaving me hungry for pan dulce. I will say though, the name of the story is perfect; it tricks you.
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SOLACE, Nora Elghazzawi
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Arab
tw: anorexia
SOLACE is the first story I gave 5 stars to, and the first story of a streak of a few stories I gave 5 stars to.
The characters were real and raw; this was a story about finding yourself, about healing (the beginning of it, anyway) and about hope. It hooked me from the beginning with the beautiful writing and voice and the vivid imagery. The way this is written is just brilliant – I can’t explain it but boy you have to read this. The atmosphere was very interesting: calming, in a way, although the story in itself isn’t calming at all.
The romance (because we do have to talk about it) was lovely. Gabe was a character I liked right away.
“I like you. But I don’t control you. I want you to choose whatever makes you happy. So please, do the same for me.”
"But I am no moon. I am a girl. Not a satellite, but a soul. I am of this world."
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PRINCESS, Maya Prasad
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Indian
This. This is the world building you wish you had in your book. The world building was absolutely mind blowing – how Maya Prasad did an amazing job at giving us so much information in so little time. This will definitely I will go back to and study how it was all done. Mind blown.
Besides that, the characters were loveable and witty. The little plot twist was awesome and the side romance soooo cute!
-------
FOOLS, Gina Chen
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Chinese-American writer – fantasy that “mixe[s] the different lores and aesthetics living in [her] imagination”
THIS STORY LITERALLY CAME AT ME WITH:
a badass protagonist with no heart but who is still nice and wants love and isn’t completely heartless to the point of it being her only personality trait
a half demon hot guy love interest with wings AND DIMPLES. OMG THE DIMPLES.
ENEMIES TO LOVERS. OR AT LEAST BANTER TO LOVERS. OR BANTER TO LOVERS-IN-THE-NEAR-FUTURE. anyway you get my point
a god lady who is actually nice and doesn’t take the girls as prisoners and forces them to stay with her forever or whatever. I didn’t know I needed this – I didn’t know how refreshing it would be – until I read it
everything. I’m so happy I read this. It was great amazing mind blowing awesome just– yeah.
“Well, I don’t have any blood. I don’t even have a heart. What does that make me, Potato?”
“Rude, apparently.”
-------
MONSTERS, Adriana Marachlian
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Venezuelan
First of all – DRAGONS. Second of all – MONSTERS (cute ones). Third of all – LATINX REP.
Y’all have no idea what hearing characters speak in Spanish in stories does to me. Not only that, but one of the characters (the guy, the hot one) speaks French. Way to come for my heart!!!
It gets kinda creepy at some point but (and coming from someone who usually does not do creepy) in such a good way? Anyway I’m doing a horrible job at hyping this up but it was just so good.
"Back in Venezuela, the waves had moods."
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BREAK, Sohie Meridien
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Black, Korean
cw: microagression (mentioned)
The thing is. My notes for the past three stories go like “OMG THIS IS MY FAVOURITE.” “NO I TAKE IT BACK THIS ONE IS MY FAVOURITE.” “NO THIS ONE.”
I will have to say though; this story is my favourite. I have come to the hard conclusion. It was the best thing I’ve read in a while.
This one is a romance. An absolutely phenomenal romance, might I add. From the very first second I was HOOKED. I shipped them right away and kept rooting for them all along – I could, and would, more than happily read a whole book about them. Seriously. GIMME GIMME
The diversity is absolutely amazing. Behind the romance is a discussion on racism – the protagonist is a Black woman. It was a very important story.
but anyway. THE BANTER!?!?!?!? THE COINCIDENCES!?!?!? IT WAS DELIGHTFUL. AS I’M WRITING THIS I WANNA REREAD IT IT WAS SO GOOD. SERIOUSLY I’M NOT KIDDING!!! bless this story made my literal month that’s all.
“Kikade.”
“Jin-ho.”
“Kiss me. It’s what the universe wants.”
-------
RESILIENT, Mayra Cuevas
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
rep: Puerto Rican
This story is loosely based on real people – young adults who left Puerto Rico after the devastating effects of Hurricane María. It was a beautiful story that stuck with my as being cold, and grey (which was most likely exactly what we were supposed to feel and how the main characters were feeling).
What I loved most in this story were the relationships. Marisol and her cousin, them both and their family back home, the new sense of community in a harsh world in their new home in South Dakota.
-------
BELLY, Desiree S. Evans
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
rep: POC
tw: sexual harassment
This anthology closes off with a story based (I’m more or less guessing) in Southern United States. It’s a good story, but I didn’t feel invested enough to give it more than 3.5 stars. That said, I loved the idea of a girl who has a little of this river in her – a river that remains “hidden” throughout the story and intrigues me a lot.
"Hurricane girls, she’ll call them from now on. Storm-born girls."
-------
I gave this anthology 4 stars – an average of all the short stories’ ratings. It feels right, but one thing I absolutely loved (and maybe the thing I loved most?) in this anthology (that wasn’t reflected in my rating) was the “reflection” or explanation from the writer about their story and the short essay by an editor accompanying them. They gave the stories a new understanding and I found myself fascinated when reading them.
Not to mention the writing exercises and advice that came along. By reading this anthology, I feel like I was not only able to read some wonderful and very diverse short stories, I also learnt a lot about writing. Not even talking about the awesome editor Q&A and author Q&A at the end of the book!! Just… so much love.
In the end, I recommend this anthology to absolutely everyone. All readers will find something they like, and the lessons these stories teach are ones everyone should learn. Kudos to all the writers and editors for such an amazing job!!!
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Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own
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FLIGHT, Tanya Aydelott
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
The story that opens this anthology is a bit of a strange one – and it’ll set the tone very well for the following stories (opening with the creepy might not have been the best choice for me personally, because creepy really isn’t my thing. anyway).
This was a selkie story, and I don’t think you realize that right away (which was something I really liked). All in all, it was a good story with good writing, and I liked it fine, but like I said, not my thing!
Things that are unexplainable – these are things that people feel they must control. Magic. Beauty. Art.
“Being trapped inside the wrong skin can feel like a curse. The Moment you find the right one, you can’t wait to live in it.”
-------
RISK, Rachel Hylton
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Rep: Latinx
Ok. So the thing about this story is that is is most definitely the weirdest thing I have ever and will probably ever read in my life. It is also incredibly imaginative – I mean, how do you get an idea like that? – and the writing is very well executed. Written in the first person plural “we” (an interesting choice, and a very good one), this story will keep you hooked the entire time mostly because you’re just floored by everything going on. I cannot stress how weird it is enough. It was great.
-------
SWEETMEATS, Linda Cheng
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Rep: Chinese
cw: animal death, cannibalism
So this story was deeply unsettling. Sweet – somehow?? – thanks to the two main characters’ relationship and yet just very creepy and morbid. The parent-daughter relationship were also very interesting and something I loved in the story. After last story though, nothing was surprising anymore lol
-------
GLOW, Joanna Truman
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Rep: sapphic relationship between the two main characters
See, as soon as I understood this was not only a gay story but a SAPPHIC story, I got really excited. Unfortunately, this one was a bit of a letdown for me – underwhelming. It felt a little too short (even for a short story); I didn’t have the time to either get to know the characters, get attached to them or even understand them at all. The romance didn’t really hook me, and I feel playing the pining card in a short story might not have been the best idea (is it really pining if it’s only for a page and a half? maybe ao3 ruined this for me… oops. give me a SLOW BURN, though. Otherwise is pining really worth it?)
That said, there were sides to the story I really liked. This quotes is one:
“Of course we can. Girls are magic.” Naia emphasizes the last word, murmurs it like a spell she’s written into the air. “We’re magic.”
The whole concept of this story is brilliant. I tried to explain it just now but I can’t because I really don’t want to give away any spoilers. Guess you’ll have to read to find out!
-------
ESCAPE, Tanvi Berwah
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
tw: underage sex
This story just didn’t to it for me. I enjoyed the end – men and consequences, ah, beautiful – but besides that, nothing much. Not saying this was bad – I was just not a big fan. The underage thing going on just distracted me too much from enjoying the story (although the author in no way shape or form shows this is as a good thing ! ! quite the opposite)
-------
PAN DULCE, Flor Salcedo
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Rep: latinx (Mexican, Mexican-American)
I think I just completely missed the point of this story. I wrote this long rant in my notes but I really don’t think anyone wants to read it. I’ll just leave you with – I didn’t understand the point of this, what it was trying to show, and all it did was leaving me hungry for pan dulce. I will say though, the name of the story is perfect; it tricks you.
-------
SOLACE, Nora Elghazzawi
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Arab
tw: anorexia
SOLACE is the first story I gave 5 stars to, and the first story of a streak of a few stories I gave 5 stars to.
The characters were real and raw; this was a story about finding yourself, about healing (the beginning of it, anyway) and about hope. It hooked me from the beginning with the beautiful writing and voice and the vivid imagery. The way this is written is just brilliant – I can’t explain it but boy you have to read this. The atmosphere was very interesting: calming, in a way, although the story in itself isn’t calming at all.
The romance (because we do have to talk about it) was lovely. Gabe was a character I liked right away.
“I like you. But I don’t control you. I want you to choose whatever makes you happy. So please, do the same for me.”
"But I am no moon. I am a girl. Not a satellite, but a soul. I am of this world."
-------
PRINCESS, Maya Prasad
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Indian
This. This is the world building you wish you had in your book. The world building was absolutely mind blowing – how Maya Prasad did an amazing job at giving us so much information in so little time. This will definitely I will go back to and study how it was all done. Mind blown.
Besides that, the characters were loveable and witty. The little plot twist was awesome and the side romance soooo cute!
-------
FOOLS, Gina Chen
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Chinese-American writer – fantasy that “mixe[s] the different lores and aesthetics living in [her] imagination”
THIS STORY LITERALLY CAME AT ME WITH:
a badass protagonist with no heart but who is still nice and wants love and isn’t completely heartless to the point of it being her only personality trait
a half demon hot guy love interest with wings AND DIMPLES. OMG THE DIMPLES.
ENEMIES TO LOVERS. OR AT LEAST BANTER TO LOVERS. OR BANTER TO LOVERS-IN-THE-NEAR-FUTURE. anyway you get my point
a god lady who is actually nice and doesn’t take the girls as prisoners and forces them to stay with her forever or whatever. I didn’t know I needed this – I didn’t know how refreshing it would be – until I read it
everything. I’m so happy I read this. It was great amazing mind blowing awesome just– yeah.
“Well, I don’t have any blood. I don’t even have a heart. What does that make me, Potato?”
“Rude, apparently.”
-------
MONSTERS, Adriana Marachlian
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Venezuelan
First of all – DRAGONS. Second of all – MONSTERS (cute ones). Third of all – LATINX REP.
Y’all have no idea what hearing characters speak in Spanish in stories does to me. Not only that, but one of the characters (the guy, the hot one) speaks French. Way to come for my heart!!!
It gets kinda creepy at some point but (and coming from someone who usually does not do creepy) in such a good way? Anyway I’m doing a horrible job at hyping this up but it was just so good.
"Back in Venezuela, the waves had moods."
-------
BREAK, Sohie Meridien
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Black, Korean
cw: microagression (mentioned)
The thing is. My notes for the past three stories go like “OMG THIS IS MY FAVOURITE.” “NO I TAKE IT BACK THIS ONE IS MY FAVOURITE.” “NO THIS ONE.”
I will have to say though; this story is my favourite. I have come to the hard conclusion. It was the best thing I’ve read in a while.
This one is a romance. An absolutely phenomenal romance, might I add. From the very first second I was HOOKED. I shipped them right away and kept rooting for them all along – I could, and would, more than happily read a whole book about them. Seriously. GIMME GIMME
The diversity is absolutely amazing. Behind the romance is a discussion on racism – the protagonist is a Black woman. It was a very important story.
but anyway. THE BANTER!?!?!?!? THE COINCIDENCES!?!?!? IT WAS DELIGHTFUL. AS I’M WRITING THIS I WANNA REREAD IT IT WAS SO GOOD. SERIOUSLY I’M NOT KIDDING!!! bless this story made my literal month that’s all.
“Kikade.”
“Jin-ho.”
“Kiss me. It’s what the universe wants.”
-------
RESILIENT, Mayra Cuevas
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
rep: Puerto Rican
This story is loosely based on real people – young adults who left Puerto Rico after the devastating effects of Hurricane María. It was a beautiful story that stuck with my as being cold, and grey (which was most likely exactly what we were supposed to feel and how the main characters were feeling).
What I loved most in this story were the relationships. Marisol and her cousin, them both and their family back home, the new sense of community in a harsh world in their new home in South Dakota.
-------
BELLY, Desiree S. Evans
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
rep: POC
tw: sexual harassment
This anthology closes off with a story based (I’m more or less guessing) in Southern United States. It’s a good story, but I didn’t feel invested enough to give it more than 3.5 stars. That said, I loved the idea of a girl who has a little of this river in her – a river that remains “hidden” throughout the story and intrigues me a lot.
"Hurricane girls, she’ll call them from now on. Storm-born girls."
-------
I gave this anthology 4 stars – an average of all the short stories’ ratings. It feels right, but one thing I absolutely loved (and maybe the thing I loved most?) in this anthology (that wasn’t reflected in my rating) was the “reflection” or explanation from the writer about their story and the short essay by an editor accompanying them. They gave the stories a new understanding and I found myself fascinated when reading them.
Not to mention the writing exercises and advice that came along. By reading this anthology, I feel like I was not only able to read some wonderful and very diverse short stories, I also learnt a lot about writing. Not even talking about the awesome editor Q&A and author Q&A at the end of the book!! Just… so much love.
In the end, I recommend this anthology to absolutely everyone. All readers will find something they like, and the lessons these stories teach are ones everyone should learn. Kudos to all the writers and editors for such an amazing job!!!
October 21, 2020
4.5 stars
An interesting take at the writers behind the curtain in a YA anthology filled with underrepresented voices, fantastical fiction, and more. This is a must read for anyone interested in the craft of writing.
Concept: ★★★★★
Writers' workshop elements: ★★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★
Foreshadow is a really unique concept for an anthology. Curated by authors Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma, this collection features thirteen YA stories from a diverse group of lesser known YA authors—with each of their stories introduced by some of the bigger names in YA, including Melissa Albert, Laurie Halse Anderson, Roshani Chokshi, Jandy Nelson, Sabaa Tahir, and more.
To put it simply, this was a joy to read. As someone who loves YA, loves the craft of writing, and loves discovering new writers to watch, this was the trifecta.
Each of these stories carries something different. Some are romances, some are fantastical, some handle some deeper themes. They're great stories, and that's important. But what was actually more interesting for me as a reader was what came AFTER the stories. Following each of those stories is a writers' breakdown—a section focusing on the particular theme/concept/writing tool that was used by the author, and a technical analysis for what worked for that story to use that particular device/etc.
This is an anthology that is a love letter to the craft of writing YA. I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, but for the readers who like to peek behind the curtain at the act of writing itself, this one to pick up.
Thank you to Algonquin for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
An interesting take at the writers behind the curtain in a YA anthology filled with underrepresented voices, fantastical fiction, and more. This is a must read for anyone interested in the craft of writing.
Concept: ★★★★★
Writers' workshop elements: ★★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★
Foreshadow is a really unique concept for an anthology. Curated by authors Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma, this collection features thirteen YA stories from a diverse group of lesser known YA authors—with each of their stories introduced by some of the bigger names in YA, including Melissa Albert, Laurie Halse Anderson, Roshani Chokshi, Jandy Nelson, Sabaa Tahir, and more.
To put it simply, this was a joy to read. As someone who loves YA, loves the craft of writing, and loves discovering new writers to watch, this was the trifecta.
Each of these stories carries something different. Some are romances, some are fantastical, some handle some deeper themes. They're great stories, and that's important. But what was actually more interesting for me as a reader was what came AFTER the stories. Following each of those stories is a writers' breakdown—a section focusing on the particular theme/concept/writing tool that was used by the author, and a technical analysis for what worked for that story to use that particular device/etc.
This is an anthology that is a love letter to the craft of writing YA. I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, but for the readers who like to peek behind the curtain at the act of writing itself, this one to pick up.
Thank you to Algonquin for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram
October 11, 2020
Average Rating :⭐️⭐️⭐️.9
I’m definitely having a better time reading short fiction these days, so I decided to pick this one up and it blew me away with the breadth of amazing writing in it and the wonderful new voices we get introduced to. The stories are diverse and fun and intense, and I loved the editors mentioning the reasons behind choosing these stories, and the sprinkling of writing advice throughout the anthology was just icing on the cake. There are also prompts for budding writers to try out their own hand at short fiction, and interviews with the editors towards the end which has some great advice for writers on how to approach drafting as well as editing their pieces. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves YA and wants to discover new and upcoming authors, as well as the writers at heart who would love some genuine advice.
Flight by Tanya S. Aydelott
I won’t say I understood the mythology behind the creatures that form a part of this story, but it’s very beautifully written and very mysterious and has a very interesting take on women’s relationship with their bodies, as well as how men choose to objectify and represent them in art.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Risk by Rachel Hylton
A story of a group of girls in high school who are always supportive of each other, despite the circumstances - this was very weirdly fascinating but probably not my kind of story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng
This is a modern day horror retelling of Hansel and Gretel and it was spectacular. It has the scary parts but it also has a beautiful female friendship, the two girls just trying their best to be there for each other, while also having themes of difficult relationships between mothers and daughters. Definitely an author I look forward to read more of.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Glow by Joanna Truman
A story of two powerful girls with magic, this had all the beautiful yearning and angst of a girl whose heart is full of overwhelming feelings for another which she just wants to express and be loved back. The author really brought the emotion to life with her words.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Escape by Tanvi Berwah
Wow. This was mysterious, wonderfully written and had family drama, heirlooms and old stories, with a side dish of twisted revenge. Very enjoyable.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Pan Dulce by Flor Salcedo
This story takes us back to the 90s when teenagers could still drive across the southern border to party, but it also weaves in a little of the dreaded times to come. Both the innocence and invincibility that the teenage girls feel and the ominous nature of their journey are captured perfectly.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Solace by Nora Elghazzawi
This was such an emotional exploration of loss and grief, but also asks us to grow and nurture and hope despite the darkness and I really enjoyed it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Princess by Maya Prasad
I’ve read a good number of short stories about AI/digital immortality, but reading one with similar themes but inspired by Indian mythology is a different kind of joy. I loved the MC Leela who takes the second lease of life that she gets to dream for something bigger than herself and make choices that she believes in. Very interesting story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Fools by Gina Chen
This starts off quite sad but it was such a beautiful story of a girl finding where she fits in and what she wants to do with her life. There’s love and humor and wonderful descriptions here alongwith a great ensemble of lovable characters.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Monsters by Adriana Marachlian
This was kind of sad, especially with the backdrop of the situation in Venezuela which the author captures with her words, but it’s also about feeling like the other, being alone and scared and not being believed by anyone, and how that struggle shapes a person’s choices.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Break by Sophie Meridien
This was such a cute and romantic story of two high school seniors trying to get to know each other in the small moments they get to spend together. It also has some angst and a message, but overall it just made me smile.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Resilient by Mayra Cuevas
This is a story about resilience set after the events of hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and it’s absolutely devastating to read about what happened after through the words of young people who had to give up on their dreams because survival was more important. It ends with a bit of hope, but the it’s definitely more of a bittersweet story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Belly by Desiree S. Evans
There is a great sense of place in this story, with the land and river and the character’s relationship to them forming the emotional core of the story. It was both sad as well as inspiring, with hope that it’ll get better.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I’m definitely having a better time reading short fiction these days, so I decided to pick this one up and it blew me away with the breadth of amazing writing in it and the wonderful new voices we get introduced to. The stories are diverse and fun and intense, and I loved the editors mentioning the reasons behind choosing these stories, and the sprinkling of writing advice throughout the anthology was just icing on the cake. There are also prompts for budding writers to try out their own hand at short fiction, and interviews with the editors towards the end which has some great advice for writers on how to approach drafting as well as editing their pieces. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves YA and wants to discover new and upcoming authors, as well as the writers at heart who would love some genuine advice.
Flight by Tanya S. Aydelott
I won’t say I understood the mythology behind the creatures that form a part of this story, but it’s very beautifully written and very mysterious and has a very interesting take on women’s relationship with their bodies, as well as how men choose to objectify and represent them in art.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Risk by Rachel Hylton
A story of a group of girls in high school who are always supportive of each other, despite the circumstances - this was very weirdly fascinating but probably not my kind of story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng
This is a modern day horror retelling of Hansel and Gretel and it was spectacular. It has the scary parts but it also has a beautiful female friendship, the two girls just trying their best to be there for each other, while also having themes of difficult relationships between mothers and daughters. Definitely an author I look forward to read more of.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Glow by Joanna Truman
A story of two powerful girls with magic, this had all the beautiful yearning and angst of a girl whose heart is full of overwhelming feelings for another which she just wants to express and be loved back. The author really brought the emotion to life with her words.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Escape by Tanvi Berwah
Wow. This was mysterious, wonderfully written and had family drama, heirlooms and old stories, with a side dish of twisted revenge. Very enjoyable.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Pan Dulce by Flor Salcedo
This story takes us back to the 90s when teenagers could still drive across the southern border to party, but it also weaves in a little of the dreaded times to come. Both the innocence and invincibility that the teenage girls feel and the ominous nature of their journey are captured perfectly.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Solace by Nora Elghazzawi
This was such an emotional exploration of loss and grief, but also asks us to grow and nurture and hope despite the darkness and I really enjoyed it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Princess by Maya Prasad
I’ve read a good number of short stories about AI/digital immortality, but reading one with similar themes but inspired by Indian mythology is a different kind of joy. I loved the MC Leela who takes the second lease of life that she gets to dream for something bigger than herself and make choices that she believes in. Very interesting story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Fools by Gina Chen
This starts off quite sad but it was such a beautiful story of a girl finding where she fits in and what she wants to do with her life. There’s love and humor and wonderful descriptions here alongwith a great ensemble of lovable characters.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Monsters by Adriana Marachlian
This was kind of sad, especially with the backdrop of the situation in Venezuela which the author captures with her words, but it’s also about feeling like the other, being alone and scared and not being believed by anyone, and how that struggle shapes a person’s choices.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Break by Sophie Meridien
This was such a cute and romantic story of two high school seniors trying to get to know each other in the small moments they get to spend together. It also has some angst and a message, but overall it just made me smile.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Resilient by Mayra Cuevas
This is a story about resilience set after the events of hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and it’s absolutely devastating to read about what happened after through the words of young people who had to give up on their dreams because survival was more important. It ends with a bit of hope, but the it’s definitely more of a bittersweet story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Belly by Desiree S. Evans
There is a great sense of place in this story, with the land and river and the character’s relationship to them forming the emotional core of the story. It was both sad as well as inspiring, with hope that it’ll get better.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
October 17, 2020
Foreshadow was originally an online literary project that featured new and emerging authors from marginalized groups. Each of their stories is introduced here by some of the most highly recognized and beloved voices in YA today. Following each tale is a brief glimpse into the writer’s mind:
> What myths are incorporated into their stories and why?
> Why the story is narrated in first person or second person voice and how does this change how
the audience views the characters?
> The importance of humor in driving the story.
At the end of each tale editors Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma add their analysis. This look into the writing process and how it informs the writing style is eye-opening and adds another depth of understanding to the work. Foreshadow goes further to include writing prompts for the audience based on some of the stories.
This anthology had a vast array of genres and facets of life. Overall Foreshadow was clever and magical and uplifting. I personally found it refreshing to see girls and women given so much freedom to be who they are and exercise their power and gifts. I can see and would hope that high school teachers would include this book as part of their curriculum. I hope that the authors and editors realize their goal of “foreshadowing” where the landscape of YA fiction is going. We certainly need more of these new voices and their stories.
> What myths are incorporated into their stories and why?
> Why the story is narrated in first person or second person voice and how does this change how
the audience views the characters?
> The importance of humor in driving the story.
At the end of each tale editors Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma add their analysis. This look into the writing process and how it informs the writing style is eye-opening and adds another depth of understanding to the work. Foreshadow goes further to include writing prompts for the audience based on some of the stories.
This anthology had a vast array of genres and facets of life. Overall Foreshadow was clever and magical and uplifting. I personally found it refreshing to see girls and women given so much freedom to be who they are and exercise their power and gifts. I can see and would hope that high school teachers would include this book as part of their curriculum. I hope that the authors and editors realize their goal of “foreshadowing” where the landscape of YA fiction is going. We certainly need more of these new voices and their stories.
October 21, 2020
My Blog | My BookTube | My Book Club | Instagram | Twitter
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'm happy to have my blog tour date be October 18, 2020 on my blog Honey Roselea Reads!
Hello everyone here is the review to Foreshadow
Want to read
June 26, 2020Thank you so so much Edelweiss and Workman for providing me with an ARC of this book!
This is one of my most anticipated releases since, not only does it have stories, but it has writing advice. I've got to read it now.
This is one of my most anticipated releases since, not only does it have stories, but it has writing advice. I've got to read it now.
October 20, 2020
hey look ma i'm in the acknowledgments :~)
October 26, 2020
Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for a complimentary copy and including me on the book tour. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Foreshadow
By: Emily X. R. Pan & Nova Ren Suma
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆☆
Imagine holding a lovely little object in your hand. You marvel at its craftsmanship and sense of magic. Now, take it apart, and realize you have limited knowledge about its inner workings. Fortunately, the creator of this object leaves a note explaining a bit of how or why it came to be. Plus, an expert gives insight as to what in particular makes this object distinct and alluring. Now, you have a better understanding of origins. Additionally, you are learning about the special skills and techniques needed to create such an amazing object of mystery and beauty.
In Foreshadow, thirteen short stories by unknown, underrepresented and #ownvoices ya authors are each introduced by a well established ya author, such as Gayle Forman. Then, following each story is a personal note from that story's author about its origins. Lastly, editors Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma further interpret and explain a literary technique central to each story specifically. Each story becomes a unique and informative teaching tool.
This young adult collection is a useful resource for writers wishing to learn more about the craft through various techniques. Plus, throughout the book there are writing prompts based on the techniques discussed. For readers, a collection like this one is invaluable for understanding the ideas and moving pieces that ultimately make a cohesive story. It helps readers get a sense of what pulls you into a story and an explanation of how this is accomplished.
For whatever reason, I've been drawn to short story collections this year. Foreshadow is certainly the most unique among these. The authors are amazing, and I hope to read more of their stories in the future. Whether you like short story collections or not, Foreshadow is a great book to read any time. I highly recommend this book for everyone.
Foreshadow
By: Emily X. R. Pan & Nova Ren Suma
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆☆
Imagine holding a lovely little object in your hand. You marvel at its craftsmanship and sense of magic. Now, take it apart, and realize you have limited knowledge about its inner workings. Fortunately, the creator of this object leaves a note explaining a bit of how or why it came to be. Plus, an expert gives insight as to what in particular makes this object distinct and alluring. Now, you have a better understanding of origins. Additionally, you are learning about the special skills and techniques needed to create such an amazing object of mystery and beauty.
In Foreshadow, thirteen short stories by unknown, underrepresented and #ownvoices ya authors are each introduced by a well established ya author, such as Gayle Forman. Then, following each story is a personal note from that story's author about its origins. Lastly, editors Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma further interpret and explain a literary technique central to each story specifically. Each story becomes a unique and informative teaching tool.
This young adult collection is a useful resource for writers wishing to learn more about the craft through various techniques. Plus, throughout the book there are writing prompts based on the techniques discussed. For readers, a collection like this one is invaluable for understanding the ideas and moving pieces that ultimately make a cohesive story. It helps readers get a sense of what pulls you into a story and an explanation of how this is accomplished.
For whatever reason, I've been drawn to short story collections this year. Foreshadow is certainly the most unique among these. The authors are amazing, and I hope to read more of their stories in the future. Whether you like short story collections or not, Foreshadow is a great book to read any time. I highly recommend this book for everyone.
October 18, 2020
This book is truly unique. One of a kind. The 13 short stories are not only all amazing, but the comments that Pan and Suma make are so refreshing! I never read a book like this but I learned a lot and found it fascinating! I believe that both readers and authors can really learn something from this book! The analysis of a story is so interesting to see and giving out writing advice at the same time… amazing!
Want to read
September 8, 2020September 08, 2020: Look at all those contributors OMG how amazing is this going to be-
Read
May 9, 2021Review copy: ARC via publisher
When I first learned of the concept of Foreshadow that Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma developed, I was so excited. I found the concept intriguing and was glad they were choosing to highlight marginalized voices. When I learned of the print version my excitement bubbled over again.
And what editors Pan and Suma have done with the anthology is a love letter to amazing stories and the craft of writing itself. Each story is introduced by an established YA author that gives just a hint about what the story is about. Each story also includes an author’s note at the end where we get a glimpse at what inspired each author to write their short story. It’s at this point is where this anthology becomes unique. After each story either Pan or Suma give a brief reflection on what each story excels at from a craft issue. Reflections include topics such as Voice, Mood, Plot Twist, Romance, Imagery, and Motif. From a teacher’s standpoint I loved these craft insights as I could see using them in the creative writing classroom as discussion lead ins. And as a writer, it allowed me to really look at a particular craft technique that the writer excelled at and digest the story differently. After some of these craft reflections we are gifted with some amazing writing prompts. My favorite one was called “The Ending of the World” which encouraged writers to craft a piece about a character’s world ending either figuratively or literally. The prompt reminded me both as a teacher of teens and a yet-to-be published YA writer that small moments in a teens life can be “world ending” and we have to give space for those moments. But the craft goodness doesn’t end here. At the end of the anthology, Pan and Suma give space to the editors of the anthology to discuss the editing process and their approach to cultivating an author’s voice. For me, this was an insightful glimpse at the editing process of not just an anthology but of a novel. (full disclosure: I submitted a short story to Foreshadow and was rejected of course. However, I received lovely feedback from the editors/readers to help improve the piece, so I can attest to the care they all took in uplifting emerging authors.) The anthology ends with a writing prompt that so lovingly wraps everything together with a prompt of inspiring words that will hopefully spark a story in a writer. Foreshadow is a perfect anthology filled with beautiful stories that will touch a reader, while at the same time inspire others to take up a pen and write.
I can’t wax poetic about this anthology without mentioning some of the stories that I really loved. Mayra Cueva’s “Resilient” broke my heart as the story is about Marisol and her cousin Rosita who leave Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria for a job at a turkey processing plant in South Dakota. The story really brought home how Hurricane Maria completely upended the lives of everyone on the island and how our government failed them. The story ends on a positive note with Marisol changing her state of mind and deciding that being resilient will be what gets her through her time in South Dakota. Another story that I loved was Gina Chen’s “Fools”. Chen’s story is a fantasy where the magic came alive and I fell in love with all the characters. Fanny is a teen without a heart, literally, but she is the heart of the story in her relationships with her grandmother and the other magical girls who live on the island. Her world is changed when a demon, named Sidoi/Dimen, crosses into her realm. The two develop a fun push and pull relationship that challenges Fanny to grow in ways she couldn’t imagine. I would totally love to see a novel with these two as the main characters going on adventures. Lastly, Nora Elghazzawi’s “Solace” was a touching story of a teen overcoming her grief. Laila is on the verge of adulthood but is directionless as she is still dealing with the death of her younger brother. She is being encouraged by school counselors and her parents to move on, while also cultivating a relationship with Gabe Briar who has also experienced loss. The story also hints that Laila might have been teetering on a food discorder due to her grief and I like that the story focused on her healing, how her gardening helped her heal, but was also in a sense what was holding her back.
In addition to being moving stories, all of the works in Foreshadow are beautifully written. There was so much thought and care that was put into this anthology and it comes through to the reader. If I were teaching high school creative writing I would definitely use this anthology in my classroom. Readers will enjoy this anthology for the richness of all the stories and the insight into craft. Writers will appreciate the chance to dig a little deeper into each story to help them improve their craft. Emily X.R. Pen and Nova Ren Suma put their heart and soul into Foreshadow and we are all the richer for it.
When I first learned of the concept of Foreshadow that Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma developed, I was so excited. I found the concept intriguing and was glad they were choosing to highlight marginalized voices. When I learned of the print version my excitement bubbled over again.
And what editors Pan and Suma have done with the anthology is a love letter to amazing stories and the craft of writing itself. Each story is introduced by an established YA author that gives just a hint about what the story is about. Each story also includes an author’s note at the end where we get a glimpse at what inspired each author to write their short story. It’s at this point is where this anthology becomes unique. After each story either Pan or Suma give a brief reflection on what each story excels at from a craft issue. Reflections include topics such as Voice, Mood, Plot Twist, Romance, Imagery, and Motif. From a teacher’s standpoint I loved these craft insights as I could see using them in the creative writing classroom as discussion lead ins. And as a writer, it allowed me to really look at a particular craft technique that the writer excelled at and digest the story differently. After some of these craft reflections we are gifted with some amazing writing prompts. My favorite one was called “The Ending of the World” which encouraged writers to craft a piece about a character’s world ending either figuratively or literally. The prompt reminded me both as a teacher of teens and a yet-to-be published YA writer that small moments in a teens life can be “world ending” and we have to give space for those moments. But the craft goodness doesn’t end here. At the end of the anthology, Pan and Suma give space to the editors of the anthology to discuss the editing process and their approach to cultivating an author’s voice. For me, this was an insightful glimpse at the editing process of not just an anthology but of a novel. (full disclosure: I submitted a short story to Foreshadow and was rejected of course. However, I received lovely feedback from the editors/readers to help improve the piece, so I can attest to the care they all took in uplifting emerging authors.) The anthology ends with a writing prompt that so lovingly wraps everything together with a prompt of inspiring words that will hopefully spark a story in a writer. Foreshadow is a perfect anthology filled with beautiful stories that will touch a reader, while at the same time inspire others to take up a pen and write.
I can’t wax poetic about this anthology without mentioning some of the stories that I really loved. Mayra Cueva’s “Resilient” broke my heart as the story is about Marisol and her cousin Rosita who leave Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria for a job at a turkey processing plant in South Dakota. The story really brought home how Hurricane Maria completely upended the lives of everyone on the island and how our government failed them. The story ends on a positive note with Marisol changing her state of mind and deciding that being resilient will be what gets her through her time in South Dakota. Another story that I loved was Gina Chen’s “Fools”. Chen’s story is a fantasy where the magic came alive and I fell in love with all the characters. Fanny is a teen without a heart, literally, but she is the heart of the story in her relationships with her grandmother and the other magical girls who live on the island. Her world is changed when a demon, named Sidoi/Dimen, crosses into her realm. The two develop a fun push and pull relationship that challenges Fanny to grow in ways she couldn’t imagine. I would totally love to see a novel with these two as the main characters going on adventures. Lastly, Nora Elghazzawi’s “Solace” was a touching story of a teen overcoming her grief. Laila is on the verge of adulthood but is directionless as she is still dealing with the death of her younger brother. She is being encouraged by school counselors and her parents to move on, while also cultivating a relationship with Gabe Briar who has also experienced loss. The story also hints that Laila might have been teetering on a food discorder due to her grief and I like that the story focused on her healing, how her gardening helped her heal, but was also in a sense what was holding her back.
In addition to being moving stories, all of the works in Foreshadow are beautifully written. There was so much thought and care that was put into this anthology and it comes through to the reader. If I were teaching high school creative writing I would definitely use this anthology in my classroom. Readers will enjoy this anthology for the richness of all the stories and the insight into craft. Writers will appreciate the chance to dig a little deeper into each story to help them improve their craft. Emily X.R. Pen and Nova Ren Suma put their heart and soul into Foreshadow and we are all the richer for it.
August 21, 2020
Average rating: 3.7 stars
This was such a diverse collection of stories, there really was something for everyone to enjoy. I really enjoyed this anthology on a whole and feel that it will be very inspiring for present and future writers alike. I think the story prompts included with some story will be very helpful to aspiring writers to help them with their writing. My favourite stories were Sweetmeats, Solace, Fools, and Break for various reasons. I have included short review and ratings for each individual story below.
Flight by Tanya S. Aydelott
- This was a very cool take on the selkie folktale. I really liked how the story unfolded and found the way the author told the story to be very enjoyable.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Risk by Rachel Hylton
- This story was weird with a capital W. That doesn't mean it was bad, on the contrary, I found it to be so amusing. I think the ending however was a bit to abrupt.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng
- This story was fantastic. It was super creepy, weird, and the craziest twist on Hansel and Gretel I have ever read. There is some body horror aspects to this story so be warned. I want this story to be turned into a full fledged book because I cannot stop thinking about it.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Glow by Joanna Truman
- This story talks about the power that girls have to unmake and remake the world with their power. while the message of the story is powerful, I found the fantastical elements of the narrative not to my taste.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Escape by Tanvi Berwah
- This story was not my cup of tea. I didn't really like the characters or the story. It was an easy enough read but a purse full of demon cats just didn't intrigue me enough.
Rating: 2/5 stars
Pan Dulce by Flor Salcedo
- I always really dislike at least one story in an anthology, and for me it was this one. I know the story is personal to the author but for me all the characters were unlikable and I found myself bored reading.
Rating: 1/5 stars
Solace by Nora Elghazzawi
- This story broke my heart into a million pieces and then slowly stitched it back together. I wanted the before and after of this story. I want to read all of Laila's thoughts, feelings, and darkest secrets. I will definitely be checking out anything else this author does in the future.
Rating 5/5 stars
Princess by Maya Prasad
- This story was so unexpected. Usually science fiction in anthologies doesn't work because something lacks. Whether it is the world build or character development because you don't have enough time. This story managed both and did it very well. The concept was cool and I enjoyed this story.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Fools by Gina Chen
- A heartless girl, in the literal sense as she has no heart, falls in love with a demon. What more do you need to know. I'd like the rest of the story in the form of a complete novel now please!
Rating: 5/5 stars
Monsters by Adriana Marachlian
- This story was interesting and I thought the concept was unique but I don't think the short-story format did it justice. It needed more pages to flesh out some of the details that would have made it more compelling. I just needed more.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Break by Sophie Meridien
- This contemporary romance was done so well that I was swooning by the end of it. I love the way the author told the story through meetings and spin-the-bootle rounds. To me it was perfect. I'd love to see Kikiade and Kastov get their own full novel someday.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Resilient by Mayra Cuevas
- This story was well written and did a lot in the pages it had but to me it felt unfinished. It seemed that it ended in the middle of being told and that there was more that needed to be said. The fact that it is based on somewhat true events is also very cool.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Belly by Desiree S. Evans
- This story covered a lot of things in such a short narrative. Climate change, segregation, rape culture, lgbtq, and so much more. Jaima is such a strong character and you cannot help but admire her continued strength with all she is going through while reading.
Rating: 4/5 stars
This was such a diverse collection of stories, there really was something for everyone to enjoy. I really enjoyed this anthology on a whole and feel that it will be very inspiring for present and future writers alike. I think the story prompts included with some story will be very helpful to aspiring writers to help them with their writing. My favourite stories were Sweetmeats, Solace, Fools, and Break for various reasons. I have included short review and ratings for each individual story below.
Flight by Tanya S. Aydelott
- This was a very cool take on the selkie folktale. I really liked how the story unfolded and found the way the author told the story to be very enjoyable.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Risk by Rachel Hylton
- This story was weird with a capital W. That doesn't mean it was bad, on the contrary, I found it to be so amusing. I think the ending however was a bit to abrupt.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng
- This story was fantastic. It was super creepy, weird, and the craziest twist on Hansel and Gretel I have ever read. There is some body horror aspects to this story so be warned. I want this story to be turned into a full fledged book because I cannot stop thinking about it.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Glow by Joanna Truman
- This story talks about the power that girls have to unmake and remake the world with their power. while the message of the story is powerful, I found the fantastical elements of the narrative not to my taste.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Escape by Tanvi Berwah
- This story was not my cup of tea. I didn't really like the characters or the story. It was an easy enough read but a purse full of demon cats just didn't intrigue me enough.
Rating: 2/5 stars
Pan Dulce by Flor Salcedo
- I always really dislike at least one story in an anthology, and for me it was this one. I know the story is personal to the author but for me all the characters were unlikable and I found myself bored reading.
Rating: 1/5 stars
Solace by Nora Elghazzawi
- This story broke my heart into a million pieces and then slowly stitched it back together. I wanted the before and after of this story. I want to read all of Laila's thoughts, feelings, and darkest secrets. I will definitely be checking out anything else this author does in the future.
Rating 5/5 stars
Princess by Maya Prasad
- This story was so unexpected. Usually science fiction in anthologies doesn't work because something lacks. Whether it is the world build or character development because you don't have enough time. This story managed both and did it very well. The concept was cool and I enjoyed this story.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Fools by Gina Chen
- A heartless girl, in the literal sense as she has no heart, falls in love with a demon. What more do you need to know. I'd like the rest of the story in the form of a complete novel now please!
Rating: 5/5 stars
Monsters by Adriana Marachlian
- This story was interesting and I thought the concept was unique but I don't think the short-story format did it justice. It needed more pages to flesh out some of the details that would have made it more compelling. I just needed more.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Break by Sophie Meridien
- This contemporary romance was done so well that I was swooning by the end of it. I love the way the author told the story through meetings and spin-the-bootle rounds. To me it was perfect. I'd love to see Kikiade and Kastov get their own full novel someday.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Resilient by Mayra Cuevas
- This story was well written and did a lot in the pages it had but to me it felt unfinished. It seemed that it ended in the middle of being told and that there was more that needed to be said. The fact that it is based on somewhat true events is also very cool.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Belly by Desiree S. Evans
- This story covered a lot of things in such a short narrative. Climate change, segregation, rape culture, lgbtq, and so much more. Jaima is such a strong character and you cannot help but admire her continued strength with all she is going through while reading.
Rating: 4/5 stars
August 3, 2020
Such an amazing collection of short stories! Although not all of them were my cup of tea, this book really showcased the amazing talent these thirteen writers have. The stories were short and sweet, each just long enough to connect to the character. I would recommend this to anyone and the ages of 17 +. My only wish is that all the stories were catered to me(but that's just a litttleeee selfish..)
November 15, 2021
This is definitely a book that I will share with students! It is unique in that it provides valuable tips to the reader about writing. I love YA and this was the perfect book to read . Quick stories and the time to reflect worked for me. I am sure this will find itself in many classroom libraries!
October 6, 2020
I really liked most of these stories, and even those which I didn't like are powerful and would be great in another reader's hands. This book is amazing and YA star writers introducing all these amazing new YA writers is a hopeful, powerful thing. LOVED the book and its purpose!
Flight: 2/5. I liked its final thoughts on the whole thing, but the story didn't convince nor was my cup of tea. I understand not understanding since we start with the same amount of information the main character has, but I didn't enjoy it because it was mysterious in a confusing way. I didn't know what I was reading.
Risk: 5/5. Disgusting as The Metamorphosis (or at least what I remember about it). It lets you read it in a million different ways and every single one of them is better than the last one. A really good example on how to keep the reader reading regarding a short story.
Sweetmeats: 5/5. I would 100% read a whole book inspired in this short story. For real. I'm still amazed at how the author manages the rhythm, the characters and their interactions. One of my favorites.
Glow: 2.5/5. Uhhhh I love sapphic stories but this one was kind of bland for me. I didn't like Naia at all and it all felt kind of rushed? It's about the power all girls have in themselves and the message is really empowering, but I didn't feel it in the story.
Escape: 2/5. I didn't like the rythm of the narration nor the character's voices, and it read as a really long story for me for being a short story. I liked how the main character solves the main problem, but not the ending.
Pan dulce: 1/5. I didn't like how it was written nor the characters (I found the main character's voice horrible) nor the topics. I don't wanna be rude because this story reads as a really personal one for the author, but... if almost nothing is gonna happen in your story then you have to get the reader to stay focused in other ways. Before the thing happened I was bored as hell, and after the thing happened everything went back to being boring. The thing didn't save the rest of the story. I get that it's a story that takes place in the 90s, but it's 2020: the narration is on the very verge of being sexist and slutshaming. We don't let the false dichotomy of pretty =/= intelligent pass anymore.
Solace: 4/5. Beautiful. Beautiful narration and beautiful characters. The ending was kind of a Hallmark film but even then I loved it. I would totally read a book about this, because if so much grief, sadness and hope is present in a short story, IMAGINE a book about it!
Princess: 4/5. The story wasn't that interesting for me, but I loved the world building and how in a few pages the author gave us a clear view of the world with rules that are, let's say, consistent for what we've read.
Fools: 5/5. I would TOTALLY read a book about this. I loved the characters, the world and the come and go between Fan and Dimen. For being a short story, it was well developed and written. One of my favorites.
Monsters: 5/5. Lovely. Beautiful story, development and writing. It's incredible how in not many pages you can say so much, from Milagros' past in Venezuela to two years later, when she encounters the monster a second time. I would read a book about this, a miggle grade series that ends up being YA.
Break: 5/5. A cute, lovely story that you can revisit to end up with a smile on your face. Fresh rom-com air in the middle of an anthology. Loved the characters!
Resilient: 4/5. I really liked the hopeful tone between the grief. It's not a 5/5 because I feel there was something missing that I would probably be able to find in the same story but in a longer format. Really liked the charaters.
Belly: 3.5/5. I liked it. It's a story with so much spirit... but something was missing. That something is something that I think could be developed in a book, but that falls short in a short story. It possesses too much power to be in an anthology (this one or any one!)
FRTC on my blog for Foreshadow's blog tour on October 19th!
Thanks to Algonquin Books for Young Readers both for choosing me once again for one of their blog tours and for giving me this eARC!
Flight: 2/5. I liked its final thoughts on the whole thing, but the story didn't convince nor was my cup of tea. I understand not understanding since we start with the same amount of information the main character has, but I didn't enjoy it because it was mysterious in a confusing way. I didn't know what I was reading.
Risk: 5/5. Disgusting as The Metamorphosis (or at least what I remember about it). It lets you read it in a million different ways and every single one of them is better than the last one. A really good example on how to keep the reader reading regarding a short story.
Sweetmeats: 5/5. I would 100% read a whole book inspired in this short story. For real. I'm still amazed at how the author manages the rhythm, the characters and their interactions. One of my favorites.
Glow: 2.5/5. Uhhhh I love sapphic stories but this one was kind of bland for me. I didn't like Naia at all and it all felt kind of rushed? It's about the power all girls have in themselves and the message is really empowering, but I didn't feel it in the story.
Escape: 2/5. I didn't like the rythm of the narration nor the character's voices, and it read as a really long story for me for being a short story. I liked how the main character solves the main problem, but not the ending.
Pan dulce: 1/5. I didn't like how it was written nor the characters (I found the main character's voice horrible) nor the topics. I don't wanna be rude because this story reads as a really personal one for the author, but... if almost nothing is gonna happen in your story then you have to get the reader to stay focused in other ways. Before the thing happened I was bored as hell, and after the thing happened everything went back to being boring. The thing didn't save the rest of the story. I get that it's a story that takes place in the 90s, but it's 2020: the narration is on the very verge of being sexist and slutshaming. We don't let the false dichotomy of pretty =/= intelligent pass anymore.
Solace: 4/5. Beautiful. Beautiful narration and beautiful characters. The ending was kind of a Hallmark film but even then I loved it. I would totally read a book about this, because if so much grief, sadness and hope is present in a short story, IMAGINE a book about it!
Princess: 4/5. The story wasn't that interesting for me, but I loved the world building and how in a few pages the author gave us a clear view of the world with rules that are, let's say, consistent for what we've read.
Fools: 5/5. I would TOTALLY read a book about this. I loved the characters, the world and the come and go between Fan and Dimen. For being a short story, it was well developed and written. One of my favorites.
Monsters: 5/5. Lovely. Beautiful story, development and writing. It's incredible how in not many pages you can say so much, from Milagros' past in Venezuela to two years later, when she encounters the monster a second time. I would read a book about this, a miggle grade series that ends up being YA.
Break: 5/5. A cute, lovely story that you can revisit to end up with a smile on your face. Fresh rom-com air in the middle of an anthology. Loved the characters!
Resilient: 4/5. I really liked the hopeful tone between the grief. It's not a 5/5 because I feel there was something missing that I would probably be able to find in the same story but in a longer format. Really liked the charaters.
Belly: 3.5/5. I liked it. It's a story with so much spirit... but something was missing. That something is something that I think could be developed in a book, but that falls short in a short story. It possesses too much power to be in an anthology (this one or any one!)
FRTC on my blog for Foreshadow's blog tour on October 19th!
Thanks to Algonquin Books for Young Readers both for choosing me once again for one of their blog tours and for giving me this eARC!
October 29, 2020
Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
Disclaimer: An eARC was provided via Algonquin YR as part of the Blog Tour. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.
Oh this was such a gorgeous and a brilliant way of introducing some very new voices in the YA genre!
Foreshadow is an anthology of short stories - some very diverse genres ranging from contemporary to fantasy to science fiction.
All wonderfully written by some very talented new voices- loved the inclusion of #ownvoices stories and such wonderful openness of creativity- it gave me such new talent to look forward to!
But what I adored the most was the editorial commentary given by Emily XR Pan and Nova Ren Suma - on the different writing tools used by these talented new authors in their short stories!
Foreshadow is a brilliant adventure of not only introducing new talents, but also a way of giving advice to budding new authors by critiquing the the writing tools not only used in the short stories but also how it can be improved - this was such an informative aspect of the book, for me as a reader.
Because while I was always in awe of the sheer talent and effort that goes into writing a story; the actual details had me slack jawed and all the more appreciative of the authors.
And if as a reader this anthology was informative; I can’t even begin to imagine how appreciative and helpful this collection would be to a hopeful and budding writer!
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
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October 24, 2020
This is a book of short stories written by emerging Young Adult authors and, as an aspiring Young Adult writer myself, I found a lot of joy in the way that this anthology was put together. The project and the website itself are incredibly commendable, and it makes me so happy to know that diverse young adult authors are being supported by such a platform. These are stories that deserve to be broadcasted.
It's difficult to review the book itself, but it had a wonderful structure of Short Story --> Author's Note --> Note on an Element of Writing Style (written by either Emily XR Pan or Nova Ren Suma). It helped highlight the most critical elements of writing good short stories - things I have myself learned from university classes - but applied to the story at hand, in the YA genre. I've read writing books before, and this one seemed remarkably specific and useful - I really appreciated its insight.
On top of that, I'd like to highlight a few of my favourite stories from the volume. The story "Glow" by Joanna Truman was incredibly well written and emotionally resonant, tracking the story of two girls at the end of the world on a road trip. The story "Pan Dulce" by Flor Salcedo investigates the realities of crossing the border into Mexico and what this can mean for young people. The story "Break" by Sophie Meridien uses structure to frame an adorable romance around spin-the-bottle.
The best two, in my opinion, were "Resilient" by Mayra Cuevas, who wrote about two young women fleeing the impacts of Hurricane Maria, and "Princess" by Maya Prasad, which was a sci fi glimpse into humanity. I can't wait to read more of Cuevas' and Prasad's work in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for Young Readers for giving me an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in writing in the YA genre.
It's difficult to review the book itself, but it had a wonderful structure of Short Story --> Author's Note --> Note on an Element of Writing Style (written by either Emily XR Pan or Nova Ren Suma). It helped highlight the most critical elements of writing good short stories - things I have myself learned from university classes - but applied to the story at hand, in the YA genre. I've read writing books before, and this one seemed remarkably specific and useful - I really appreciated its insight.
On top of that, I'd like to highlight a few of my favourite stories from the volume. The story "Glow" by Joanna Truman was incredibly well written and emotionally resonant, tracking the story of two girls at the end of the world on a road trip. The story "Pan Dulce" by Flor Salcedo investigates the realities of crossing the border into Mexico and what this can mean for young people. The story "Break" by Sophie Meridien uses structure to frame an adorable romance around spin-the-bottle.
The best two, in my opinion, were "Resilient" by Mayra Cuevas, who wrote about two young women fleeing the impacts of Hurricane Maria, and "Princess" by Maya Prasad, which was a sci fi glimpse into humanity. I can't wait to read more of Cuevas' and Prasad's work in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for Young Readers for giving me an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in writing in the YA genre.
August 12, 2020
I'm not a writer, but if I were, this would have been the book I was in desperate need to have.
⠀
The moment I saw this book on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. A book that celebrates the YA genre? Give me them all.
And this one didn't disappoint.
⠀
This book collects 13 short-stories in total written by New Voice writers, hidden talents ready to shine. Following each story, you get the Author's note that gives you some insights into the writing and plot planning part. And in addition to all that, there's also a little essay for each, written by Emily or Nova.
Since short-stories aren't exactly my cup of tea, those essays were what made the book for me (and I wish they had been longer).
The amount of short-stories and their size was just perfect for me, though. I wouldn't add any more and yet I could never pick one to not be part of the book.
⠀
Through the eyes of the professionals, I saw all the little details, all the tricks that made a YA story impactful. I was blown away with some of the things I read there. They put into words the feelings I felt when reading, feelings I hadn’t even acknowledged, and the reason WHY I had felt them. They gave me the answer to all my “why” questions.
⠀
Storytelling really is a magical art and it is way more complex than it seems. This book made me realize that.
⠀
I'd totally recommend anyone gets this book, even if they're not a writer. To get to read a short-story a night and then to get mind blown over what goes through the writers' mind seems like something any reader would like to read about. This will enrich readers so much- I’ll certainly be less judgy the next time I review a book!!😂
⠀
I have a feeling we'll be seeing some of these New Voice writers on bookshops shelves soon!
⠀
The moment I saw this book on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. A book that celebrates the YA genre? Give me them all.
And this one didn't disappoint.
⠀
This book collects 13 short-stories in total written by New Voice writers, hidden talents ready to shine. Following each story, you get the Author's note that gives you some insights into the writing and plot planning part. And in addition to all that, there's also a little essay for each, written by Emily or Nova.
Since short-stories aren't exactly my cup of tea, those essays were what made the book for me (and I wish they had been longer).
The amount of short-stories and their size was just perfect for me, though. I wouldn't add any more and yet I could never pick one to not be part of the book.
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Through the eyes of the professionals, I saw all the little details, all the tricks that made a YA story impactful. I was blown away with some of the things I read there. They put into words the feelings I felt when reading, feelings I hadn’t even acknowledged, and the reason WHY I had felt them. They gave me the answer to all my “why” questions.
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Storytelling really is a magical art and it is way more complex than it seems. This book made me realize that.
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I'd totally recommend anyone gets this book, even if they're not a writer. To get to read a short-story a night and then to get mind blown over what goes through the writers' mind seems like something any reader would like to read about. This will enrich readers so much- I’ll certainly be less judgy the next time I review a book!!😂
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I have a feeling we'll be seeing some of these New Voice writers on bookshops shelves soon!
October 22, 2020
Foreshadow is a collection / anthology of short stories, analysis and helpful notes to write one. These short stories are so clever, so twisted and exquisitely written ah - I couldn't help but fall in love with them 😍
Stories spanned genres and diverse themes. You'll find some of your favourite authors spinning such sinister fairy tales set in the contemporary world, tales of friendship, of romance with a dash of blood and myth - and so much more!!
I've been fan of Emily X. R. Pan since reading and falling in love with The Astonishing Color of After, and I jumped at the opportunity to read this. Nova Ren Suma is a comparatively new name for me, but after reading the ways of her analysis of the short stories and the tips and helpful notes were splendid.
Foreshadow is not only a book of short stories but also one that will help an aspiring writer to hone their skills. There are various writing prompts in between, and both Emily and Nova put forward brilliant ways to write different aspects of a story. There's characters, the plot twist, how to instill that sense of mystery and suspense, thrill and yearning - it's that and so much more.
I really enjoyed reading these little tales so much and have to commend all the authors for writing these fantastic stories that kept me hooked and intrigued 😍 if you enjoy short stories and looking for helpful tips on writing too, Foreshadow should be a book to look out for ♥️
Stories spanned genres and diverse themes. You'll find some of your favourite authors spinning such sinister fairy tales set in the contemporary world, tales of friendship, of romance with a dash of blood and myth - and so much more!!
I've been fan of Emily X. R. Pan since reading and falling in love with The Astonishing Color of After, and I jumped at the opportunity to read this. Nova Ren Suma is a comparatively new name for me, but after reading the ways of her analysis of the short stories and the tips and helpful notes were splendid.
Foreshadow is not only a book of short stories but also one that will help an aspiring writer to hone their skills. There are various writing prompts in between, and both Emily and Nova put forward brilliant ways to write different aspects of a story. There's characters, the plot twist, how to instill that sense of mystery and suspense, thrill and yearning - it's that and so much more.
I really enjoyed reading these little tales so much and have to commend all the authors for writing these fantastic stories that kept me hooked and intrigued 😍 if you enjoy short stories and looking for helpful tips on writing too, Foreshadow should be a book to look out for ♥️
September 30, 2020
Foreshadow is a collection of 13 novellas, set up a little different than normal. Because you get a lot more than 13 short stories all with an amazing plot twist, you also get a short essay explaining why each story works, what makes it tick and you get explained how to keep suspense, how to set up a story and how to get people to accept the weirdest things. Because believe me: things get weird!
One thing I love about short stories is that they’re mostly about ideas. You can get that one brilliant spark of an idea and just write about it, and it brings across the point very nicely because it’s short. These authors all used this quite well, because as I said: things get weird. Was it sometimes too weird for me? Yes. Especially as some stories ventured into horror. But I did see the point very clearly and the plot twists were so cool and basically you’re reading all kinds of plot twists and get amazed at every turn and then it even gets explained so your own writing and understanding improves. I think this book will be very valuable and a great read for many, especially writers but also “normal” readers like me who just want to be amazed and learn about stories a bit more.
I received a free e-copy in exchange for my honest review.
One thing I love about short stories is that they’re mostly about ideas. You can get that one brilliant spark of an idea and just write about it, and it brings across the point very nicely because it’s short. These authors all used this quite well, because as I said: things get weird. Was it sometimes too weird for me? Yes. Especially as some stories ventured into horror. But I did see the point very clearly and the plot twists were so cool and basically you’re reading all kinds of plot twists and get amazed at every turn and then it even gets explained so your own writing and understanding improves. I think this book will be very valuable and a great read for many, especially writers but also “normal” readers like me who just want to be amazed and learn about stories a bit more.
I received a free e-copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 12, 2021
I've always loved stories. Books, movies, personal anecdotes, even the occasional fanfic or two...I love stories like a foodie loves food, so when I saw an anthology celebrating the magic of reading YA--an oft scorned and under-appreciated genre--I knew I had to read it.
Of all the anthologies I've read thus far, this is my favorite by a long shot. Even its premise is unique:
1) it analyzes of the writing process
2) it focuses on new voices in YA
3) it includes underrepresented voices
1) This is like a YA Fiction primer. I wish this had been around when I was in school. It makes lit analysis so fun and approachable. It strips the stories down to their technical make-up, breaking them down to their nuts and bolts to show us what goes into a good story. With practical advice like tips on world building, imagery, and characterization, it's the perfect workbook for aspiring or actual authors.
I’m not a writer by any stretch of imagination, but Foreshadow makes me think maybe I could be one. Putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) can seem so intimating, but Foreshadow makes the process accessible to writers of all levels. It breaks it down into easily digestible steps and offers simple prompts that makes writing a story a fun and achievable goal.
2) I don't know how this is the first published work for so many of these authors because each work shows a command of the English language that rivals (or surpasses) the work of many established YA writers out there. In the intro, Pan explains why a good short story is so hard to write, which makes this collection even more impressive. The economic use of language, the compacted world-building, the gorgeous prose...it’s a reminder that being unpublished doesn't make you any less legitimate as an author. But this is more than a MasterClass in the use of literary devices. There's an art of crafting the perfect story, and each work is the perfect alchemy of technique and storytelling.
Let's be real, there's a reason YA gets so flak for being clichéd, predictable, and derivative. Don't get me wrong, I love YA. Take one look at my bookshelf, and you'll see that I'm not ashamed to indulge in the occasional (or not-so-occasional) fluffy piece of fiction. But sometimes you just want something a little substantial, and that's the beauty of Foreshadow. It explores the expanse of Young Adult fiction by going beyond the stereotypical love triangle, Chosen One trilogies. This has horror and magical realism and, yes, a contemporary romance or two, but they're all done in a way that’s refreshingly original. These stories are meant to entertain, but they're also thought-provoking, evocative, and moving. There's something about this collection that resonates with the reader. The stories vary from the fantastical to somewhat ordinary, but they're all grounded in something that's real and manage to capture the essence of that strange in-between of being not quite grown but not quite child.
3) This has so much rep, and I love it. I don't think I've read such a diverse set of stories back-to-back-to-back, well...ever. It's refreshing to read such a varied collection of perspectives. Even if the stories aren't autobiographical in nature, it's obvious how each of the author's upbringing and background has influenced their work. If you're wondering why "We Need Diverse Books" and #ownvoices are starting to make waves in YA, I think Adriana Marachlian puts it best: "The first time I saw my country mentioned in a young adult novel. I cried. I remembered it was a throwaway comment, an exotic detail in a list of other interesting bits, with no bearing on the characters or plot, but all the bearing on the world to me...The thrill of being seen, even briefly, never left me. Vines can grow from a single tendril, and here was mine: I could do that for someone else."
A full breakdown of the individual stories can be found on my blog.
Flight (Tanya Aydelott) 2 stars
Risk(Rachel Hylton) 4 stars
Sweetmeats (Linda Cheng) 5 stars
Glow (Joanna Truman) 3 stars
Escape (Tanvi Berwah) 1.5 stars
Pan Dulce (Flor Salcedo) 4 stars
Solace (Nora Elghazzawi) 4.5 stars
Princess (Maya Prasad) 4.5 stars
Fools (Gina Chen) 5+ stars
Monsters (Adriana Marachlian) 3 stars
Break (Sophie Meridien) 5 stars
Resilient (Mayra Cuevas) 5 stars
Belly (Desiree S. Evans) 1 star
Major shout out to Algonquin Young Readers for the ARC!
Of all the anthologies I've read thus far, this is my favorite by a long shot. Even its premise is unique:
1) it analyzes of the writing process
2) it focuses on new voices in YA
3) it includes underrepresented voices
1) This is like a YA Fiction primer. I wish this had been around when I was in school. It makes lit analysis so fun and approachable. It strips the stories down to their technical make-up, breaking them down to their nuts and bolts to show us what goes into a good story. With practical advice like tips on world building, imagery, and characterization, it's the perfect workbook for aspiring or actual authors.
I’m not a writer by any stretch of imagination, but Foreshadow makes me think maybe I could be one. Putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) can seem so intimating, but Foreshadow makes the process accessible to writers of all levels. It breaks it down into easily digestible steps and offers simple prompts that makes writing a story a fun and achievable goal.
2) I don't know how this is the first published work for so many of these authors because each work shows a command of the English language that rivals (or surpasses) the work of many established YA writers out there. In the intro, Pan explains why a good short story is so hard to write, which makes this collection even more impressive. The economic use of language, the compacted world-building, the gorgeous prose...it’s a reminder that being unpublished doesn't make you any less legitimate as an author. But this is more than a MasterClass in the use of literary devices. There's an art of crafting the perfect story, and each work is the perfect alchemy of technique and storytelling.
Let's be real, there's a reason YA gets so flak for being clichéd, predictable, and derivative. Don't get me wrong, I love YA. Take one look at my bookshelf, and you'll see that I'm not ashamed to indulge in the occasional (or not-so-occasional) fluffy piece of fiction. But sometimes you just want something a little substantial, and that's the beauty of Foreshadow. It explores the expanse of Young Adult fiction by going beyond the stereotypical love triangle, Chosen One trilogies. This has horror and magical realism and, yes, a contemporary romance or two, but they're all done in a way that’s refreshingly original. These stories are meant to entertain, but they're also thought-provoking, evocative, and moving. There's something about this collection that resonates with the reader. The stories vary from the fantastical to somewhat ordinary, but they're all grounded in something that's real and manage to capture the essence of that strange in-between of being not quite grown but not quite child.
3) This has so much rep, and I love it. I don't think I've read such a diverse set of stories back-to-back-to-back, well...ever. It's refreshing to read such a varied collection of perspectives. Even if the stories aren't autobiographical in nature, it's obvious how each of the author's upbringing and background has influenced their work. If you're wondering why "We Need Diverse Books" and #ownvoices are starting to make waves in YA, I think Adriana Marachlian puts it best: "The first time I saw my country mentioned in a young adult novel. I cried. I remembered it was a throwaway comment, an exotic detail in a list of other interesting bits, with no bearing on the characters or plot, but all the bearing on the world to me...The thrill of being seen, even briefly, never left me. Vines can grow from a single tendril, and here was mine: I could do that for someone else."
A full breakdown of the individual stories can be found on my blog.
Flight (Tanya Aydelott) 2 stars
Risk(Rachel Hylton) 4 stars
Sweetmeats (Linda Cheng) 5 stars
Glow (Joanna Truman) 3 stars
Escape (Tanvi Berwah) 1.5 stars
Pan Dulce (Flor Salcedo) 4 stars
Solace (Nora Elghazzawi) 4.5 stars
Princess (Maya Prasad) 4.5 stars
Fools (Gina Chen) 5+ stars
Monsters (Adriana Marachlian) 3 stars
Break (Sophie Meridien) 5 stars
Resilient (Mayra Cuevas) 5 stars
Belly (Desiree S. Evans) 1 star
Major shout out to Algonquin Young Readers for the ARC!
October 18, 2020
This collection of short stories is more than just the regular short story anthology. Not only do you get 13 amazing YA short stories – from romance, to heartache, to fantasy, to horror and more – each story comes with an accompanying essay that gives you a lot more insight into the story writing and what makes each story special. How to build characters, how to build suspense (and keep it!), how to build a story arc are only a few of these tips.
In this wonderfully insightful anthology we get to hear the voices of new writers, but also long-time famous professionals! They tell us why YA is as impactful, as popular and as important a genre as it is, and share their knowledge about this most special form of storytelling with us.
I loved every short in this collection and every essay that accompanies it and I recommend it to every writer and reader of the genre! 5 stars from me!
Head over to my blog for my full review!
https://theartsyreader.com/blogtour-b...
In this wonderfully insightful anthology we get to hear the voices of new writers, but also long-time famous professionals! They tell us why YA is as impactful, as popular and as important a genre as it is, and share their knowledge about this most special form of storytelling with us.
I loved every short in this collection and every essay that accompanies it and I recommend it to every writer and reader of the genre! 5 stars from me!
Head over to my blog for my full review!
https://theartsyreader.com/blogtour-b...
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