Zombies vs. Unicorns edited by Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier

Justine and Holly, the editors of this anthology, are engaged in a heated, friendly argument about which is cooler: zombies or unicorns?  Justine is all about zombies; they are obviously much, much cooler.  But Holly insists that beneath their glittery charm, unicorns are just as dangerous and unrelentingly cool as some people think zombies are.  In between each short story -- a collection of titles by authors like Scott Westerfeld, Meg Cabot, Libba Bray, and Garth Nix -- Justine and Holly add their own snark to the mix, each making a case for their team.  It's up to you in the end, based on the material as it's presented to you, to choose which side you're on. 

Like most anthologies, there is a mix of quality on these pages, but in this case it's really a matter of good vs. great.  (I listened to the audio version and love Justine's Australian accent.  I definitely turned out to be on Team Zombie, and my favorite story was one about some special little kids . . .)

Reviewed by kate the librarian.

With a promo by John Green. :) www.youtube.com/watch?v=avhOcKHWb-Y

The Kissing Game : Short Stories by Aidan Chambers

In a note from the author, he talks a little bit about the style of "flash fiction."  As he explains it, flash fictions "are like a flash of light, a spark, which allows one quick view of a whole scene or person or event."  "They can be prose with or without dialogue, or only dialogue."  "Some of the greatest authors of literature wrote flash fictions.  For example, Kafka, Chekhov, Hemingway, Raymond Carver, Italo Calvino, and Kawabata, which he called 'palm-of-the-hand' stories."  Flash fictions are often very short stories, usually weighing in at 1,000 words or less.

In this collection of flash fictions, Aidan Chambers presents a variety of scenarios and emotions, including revenge, anger, and hypocrisy, mixed in alongside individuals' needs to guard what we love, fight back against our fears, and project airs of self-confidence in the view of those we want to appreciate us.  Love can be uncomprehendingly confusing, or heartbreakingly simple, often simultaneously.  These stories combine conflicting feelings and intentions to present unflinching looks at love and relationships from the perspective of the individual (rather than focusing on just the idea of "love").

Reviewed by kate the librarian.

P.S. Aidan Chambers is a Printz Award-winning author and the author of one of my all time favorites, This is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn, which is just about as far from a short story as one can get.

Lips Touch : Three Times by Laini Taylor

Lips Touch is the compilation of three separate stories, all with a similar nature. Whether it's goblins, demons, humans, or spirits, love can lead to unexpected things. In “Goblin Fruit,” Kizzy's heart begs to be loved and for just one kiss she might be willing to risk her soul. “Spicy Little Curses (Such as These)” introduces the reader to the pain and the power of Hell, and to a woman named Estella who can journey back and forth to Hell to make deals and trades and bargains to save lives on Earth. One of those deals results in a curse that goes unchallenged for years until a young man challenges a beautiful woman to voice her love for him. And in “Hatchling,” three women all rely on safety from the same man, a man who is in love with the woman who is a danger to the other two. In a world of demons and unreliable memories, one wonders how much strength love provides. Laini Taylor is an elegant storyteller, and the illustrative talent of Jim DiBartolo enhances the inherent beauty of printed words.

Recommended to older readers, especially those with an appreciation for the short story. Due to the strong fantastical elements, underlying fairy-tale themes, and a focus on love and romantic destiny, these stories will likely appeal particularly to girls and those who love fairy-tale retellings.
Call number: YA TAYLOR (Teen Room)

Reviewed by kate the librarian

Some of Tim's Stories by S. E. Hinton

Disclaimer: I love S. E. Hinton. The Outsiders is hands-down my favorite book; I could read it over, and over, and over again (and have). I met the author two years ago at Book Expo NYC and secured a signed copy of the 40th anniversary edition of her ground-breaking book. I first read The Outsiders on the suggestion of a friend of mine in 7th grade (before we were assigned to read it in school), and have since read everything Ms. Hinton has written, including her stand-alone adult title and her children's book. I never knew that Some of Tim's Stories exsisted until I came across the 2009 edition, published by Speak.

Tim's stories are autobiographical, starring Tim himself as Mike. Terry and Mike are cousins -- their dads are brothers who married sisters -- but were raised as close as brothers. These stories tell of various times in their lives, mostly tough times through which they struggled to survive, emotionally and physically. What comes across most clearly in these stories is the idea that we very often don't know where we're going in life, how to get there, or what to do with what we have. We can almost always get from Point A to Point B, but B usually isn't what was anticipated at the onset.

The stories are followed by a series of interviews with the author, S. E. Hinton, who began writing fiction at age 15, had her first book, The Outsiders, published when she was 17, and who wrote many of Tim's Stories at a point in her life when she was struggling with severe writer's block. Understanding more of Ms. Hinton's journey helps the reader to form a closer relationship with Tim/Mike, and to come the realization that life brings unexpected twists and turns all the time . . . it's up to the individual to make the best of it.

Recommended to readers interested in the "process," and also for those who just can't get enough of the author who invented Ponyboy and Johnny . . .
Call number: YA HINTON (Teen Room)

Reviewed by kate the librarian