A Tyranny of Petticoats

December 14, 2015
Fifteen female authors including Andrea Cremer, Kekla Magoon, Marissa Meyer, and Elizabeth Wein deliver a delightful selection of historical tales set in North America and featuring strong-willed, capable women. In J. Anderson Coats’s harrowing “Mother Carey’s Table,” 16-year-old Joe dresses as a boy to accompany her father aboard a pirate ship. In Marie Lu’s “The Journey,” set in 1723, an Inuit teenager, Yakone, attempts a dangerous cross-country journey after her parents are murdered. Helen, an heiress in 19th-century Chicago, flees to the Wyoming frontier to escape a forced marriage in Beth Revis’s “Pearls.” And in Y.S. Lee’s “The Legendary Garrett Girls,” two sisters fight to protect the bar they run in 1898 Alaska. Other stories are set in Civil War–era Washington, D.C., Indiana during the Great Depression, post-WWII Los Angeles, and Chicago during the 1968 Democratic National Convention riots. Historical figures like pilot Bessie Coleman, voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, and robber Bonnie Parker make cameos, while author notes help contextualize the stories. These energizing, adventurous, and occasionally somber tales will readily please fans of historical fiction. Ages 14–up. Agent: Jim McCarthy, Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

Starred review from April 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-Fifteen notable YA authors come together to write enthralling short historical narratives starring ambitious young women. The contributors include Leslye Walton, Marie Lu, Beth Revis, Elizabeth Wein, Kekla Magoon, and Robin Talley. The stories are arranged chronologically-from British North America in 1710 to Chicago in 1968-and address several eras in American history. Throughout, strong female leads have resilient motives and less than genteel demeanors. In addition, there are no happily ever after endings, but most do leave room for hope. Topics range from societal expectations to racial issues to less than eligible suitors to sexuality to women's contributions to historical movements. Furthermore, most stories are woven with various folklore and myths and are inspired by real people or events. Each entry is strong on its own, and the characters' voices are unique in each tale. Teens will be hard-pressed to choose a favorite, and even those who are not fans of historical fiction might find a genre-blended tale worth reading. Overall, the pacing for each selection is steady, and the conclusions have enough punch to make the characters and their situations memorable. VERDICT A must-buy. This collection will be sure to spark an interest in anyone who wants to indulge in strong and introspective young women living in a variety of historical time periods.-Briana Moore, School Library Journal

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2016
This group of 15 original short stories, penned by a mix of authors both well-known and relatively new, places young women of racially diverse backgrounds at the centers of fictional narratives throughout American history. The stories present protagonists using physical skills such as J. Anderson Coats' Joe, disguised as a boy on a pirate ship, or Marie Lu's Yakone, mushing through the Alaskan wilderness; however, primarily, it is their wits and daring that get them through. Some of the stories are historical fantasy, such as one about three Mexican sisters that places the Fates in post-annexation Texas, by Leslye Walton. Andrea Cremer offers a tale from the Civil War era that positions supernatural creatures on either side. Another, more traditional story from that same time by Caroline Richmond finds a teen spy at odds with her own family. The collection is enhanced by the unexpected, such as one from Kekla Magoon about the Black Panthers in a surprising setting. A few stories are based on actual people and events, but what each story does best is anchor the narrative securely in its time. The young women do heroic things, but there is little that is anachronistic. There is range and balance in tone, voice, and approach, a challenge for anthologies. Placing the stories in historical order allows readers to move smoothly through, and a helpful author's note follows each selection. Readers of historical fiction and adventure need look no further. (Historical short stories. 14 & up)

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Starred review from February 1, 2016
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Brassy bank robbers, brave trailblazers, and ball-busting debutants make all sorts of noise in this collection of 15 stories. The settings span North America between 1710 and 1968, and the stories feature a variety of heroines. Some love boys, some love girls, and some don't love anyone; they are siblings and daughters; and they represent a multitude of ethnicities and social classes. Though several of the stories contain fantastical elements, this is ultimately historical fiction at its finest, and it boasts a host of hot YA authors, including Marie Lu, Marissa Meyer, Elizabeth Wein, and Kekla Magoon. The collection as a whole is strong, though standouts include Leslye Walton's El Destinos, a fable of fate in 1840s Texas; Andrea Cremer's High Stakes, which pairs a mythological creature with the dynamics of America just before the Civil War; Lindsay Smith's City of Angels, about a would-be screenwriter who falls for her starlet roommate in 1945 L.A.; and Robin Talley's The Whole World Is Watching, a chillingly timely depiction of the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests in Chicago. Each individual story is thoroughly researched, and each includes an author's note explaining the context. The heroines are tough and memorable and full of heart, and the concept is irresistible. Stock upthis one will practically sell itself.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)