YA stories take a different form in this anthology

     What started as a website to showcase short stories is soon to be a published anthology. Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate The Magic of Reading & Writing YA was compiled by Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma to highlight the different genres that make up the YA world of stories. Set to be released on October 20th by Algonquin Young Readers, this collection allows people to see a new side of young adult literature.
     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. 
     Each story featured in this book is so unique that it’s hard to really summarize this book as a whole (but I will try my best)! It is fascinating to read such different stories and how each one is so engaging despite each story only being a few pages long. I may post a more in-depth review of each story, but for now I’m just going to appreciate the compilation as a whole!
     One thing I really liked was not only how magical and mythical some of the stories were, but the little details before and after each story. There are author testimonials explaining why they liked the story. Additionally, after each story’s conclusion, there is a little author’s note explaining the background of the story and other points that lead to a really insightful reading of each story. 
     Even if you aren’t a fan of young adult literature, this anthology is so intriguing that anyone would become enthralled by these stories. If you’ve been wanting to experience more short stories then this is definitely the book for you!

*I received an ARC from Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for my honest opinion.

---