Harmonious Hearts 2018--Stories from the Young Author Challenge

March 1, 2019

Gr 9 Up-The fifth annual "Harmonious Hearts" anthology brings together short stories from young authors (ages 14-21) sharing the common theme of highlighting the range and diversity of LGBTQ+ experiences. The entries in this volume follow a range of diverse characters and experiences-from the poignant moment that a teen realizes she's in love with her best friend to stories capturing the cringe-worthy awkwardness of flirting and first dates. Overall, the quality of writing is very high, and it can be easy to forget that the authors are themselves young people, but ideas about what it can mean to be young and queer are clearly written by people who are sharing experiences as they have lived them. This volume definitely deserves to find its way into the right hands: queer students and their allies, and adults who would like a reminder of the poignancy, perspective, and emotional roller-coaster that defines adolescence. VERDICT A strong purchase for YA romance and short story shelves.-Erin Downey, Boise School District, ID

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