I will admit it. I used to DESPISE short story collections. Mostly because each story was over too quickly. But I have come to appreciate short stories. If I only have the tiniest amount of time to read, I can make it through a short story. And it's a great way to be introduced to an unfamiliar author. I've read several short story collections this year that inspired me to seek out longer works by the authors featured. Want some recommendations? Here are some recent releases that will win you over to the glory of the short story.
All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages edited by Saundra Mitchell
From a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in war-torn 1870s Mexico featuring a transgender soldier, to an asexual girl discovering her identity amid the 1970s roller-disco scene, this collection of short stories crosses cultures and time periods to shed light on a world where queer figures live, love and shape the world round them.
Fresh Ink edited by Lamar Giles
An anthology featuring award-winning diverse authors about diverse characters. Short stories, a graphic novel, and a one-act play explore such topics as gentrification, acceptance, untimely death, coming out, and poverty, and range in genre from contemporary realistic fiction to adventure and romance.
Meet Cute by Jennifer L. Armentrout, et al
A collection of short stories exploring the moment when a couple meets for the first time--from an African American girl in upstate New York who simultaneously finds a prom dress and a date to a transgender girl who confronts the student blocking her right to use the school restroom.
The Radical Element: 12 Stories of Daredevils, Debutantes, and Other Dauntless Girls edited by Jessica Spotswood
An anthology of historical short stories features a diverse array of girls standing up for themselves and their beliefs, forging their own paths while resisting society's expectations.
Scream and Scream Again!: Spooky Stories from Mystery Writers of America edited by R.L. Stine
Includes works from New York Times bestselling authors telling tales of wicked ice-cream trucks, time-travelling heroes, witches and warlocks, and of course, haunted houses.
A Thousand Beginnings and Endings : 15 Retellings of Asian Myths and Legends edited by Ellen Oh & Elsie Chapman
Fifteen authors of Asian descent reimagine the folklore and mythology of East and South Asia, in short stories ranging from fantasy to science fiction to contemporary, from romance to tales of revenge.
Unbroken : 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens edited by Marieke Nijkamp
An anthology of stories in various genres, each featuring disabled characters and written by disabled creators. The collection includes stories of interstellar war, a journey to Persia, a dating debacle. The teenaged characters reflect diverse colors, genders, and orientations-- without obscuring the realities of their disabilities.
