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 … 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.
more
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 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. u2063
u2063
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.