There is so, so much to love in this anthology. Whether you’re here for the cute, contemporary romance, or if you’re here for the witchy horror and girls turning into lobsters, there is space here for everyone at Foreshadow‘s table. No matter what kind of reader you are, I’m nearly certain that you’ll find something to love and take home with you from this book.

It’s very evident to me that each short story was crafted with much, much love from the authors’ own lives, as was the book as a whole—the little follow-up essays from the editors are insightful and contain meaningful advice for the aspiring writer in all of us. Its most ardent wish is probably firstly, that you get lost exploring all these vastly different narratives, and secondly, that you pick up a pen and start telling your own inspired stories too.

Full review on The Quiet Pond!

“FORESHADOW: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA” edited x Nova Ren Suma and Emily X.R. Pan is a collection of 13 short stories from diverse authors who I can’t wait to read more from. Stories like “Risk” brought me back to the awkwardness of high school and the sacredness of girlfriends, while “GLOW” reminded me of the intensity of first love. “Fools” was a treat from the heartless protagonist to the many many layers of nuance in the twisted fairy tale. All of them were engaging, and I especially enjoyed:

"Glow" by Joanna Truman,

"Risk" by Rachel Hylton

"Fools" by Gina Chen

"Belly" by Desiree S. Evans.

There’s truly something to suit everyone’s taste in this collection. In addition to the unique stories, there’s the added gift of the accompanying essays that focus on a specific writing technique and writing exercises. I found myself stopping after each story to reflect on what worked for me and what didn’t, and considering what I could incorporate into pieces I’m writing and then trying the writing exercises. I can’t wait to engage with the other work these authors create and I’m excited to implement the technique lessons.

This book would make a great gift, or investment rather, in a writer you care about whether that’s yourself or another loved one. It also makes for good reading and who doesn’t need more of that? I’m thankful I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this anthology because it came at the perfect time. #Shoutout to Algonquin Young Readers.

I have never reviewed an anthology before, so I’m not really sure how to do this. Because there are 13 stories in this book, but they are too short to review individually, and they are not related to each other, so it is not really possible to do an overall review I guess?!

There are of course some stories that I enjoyed more then others! Some that I really liked were:
- Princess by Maya Prasad
- Fools by Gina Chen
- Monsters by Adriana Marachlian (I think this one was my favourite!)

What I think was really special about this anthology is that this one is really focussed on aspiring authors. So after each story either Emily XR Pan or Nova Ren Suma discussed an aspect of the story. Things like Character connection, Worldbuilding and Building the romance. After some stories there were also story prompts like Fleshing out the world and Opening the door. Which would help you practice your writing I guess.

I think this is a really interesting anthology for people who want to write, I think they can learn something from the discussions after each story!

Since I do not want to write, I don’t think I’m the right audience for this book. But as I said I did really enjoy the majority of the stories, and I do think it would be a great read for aspiring writers!

Thank you to Algonquin and all of the talented authors involved in the making of this collection for allowing me to be a part of the blog tour for Foreshadow.

Short stories are still fairly new to me, although I’ve read quite a few collections this year. I am happy to say that this is the most satisfying collection I have read to date. There were only a couple of stories that really didn’t do it for me, but I would say I thoroughly enjoyed 9-10 of the 13 stories.

Foreshadow covers all genres of YA writing. We get some fantasy, some horror, some romance, some general contemporary goodness, some historical fiction. Each story is followed by an author’s note (some of which were SO. Wholesome. I just can’t), as well as Emily or Nova’s insights on various pieces of the stories. Finally, some stories are also followed with writing prompts for aspiring writers. While I am not one, these prompts made me want to give it a try.

Each of these authors is relatively new to the world of being published, and it’s so great to see established authors reaching out and putting their names on a collection to help promote and create buzz for these fresh faces. Additionally, each story had a prologue from an established author hyping up the story to follow. It is so great to see a community helping bring their colleagues (and in some views, their potential future competitors) to the attention of YA readers in such a positive light. On top of these authors being new, they are also marginalized. Many of these stories are Own Voices, most from voices most of us have not read before – Venezuelan and Puerto Rican to name two examples. Overcoming racism, political turmoil, natural disasters, and emotional/physical abuse among other difficult experiences are covered through these 13 stories.

A couple of my favorites include:

Resilient by Mayra Cuevas
Break by Sophie Meridien
Princess by Maya Prasad
Pan Dulce by Flor Salcedo
This collection is a sure sign that the YA genre is going to continue to go strong for many years to come.

Foreshadow’s subtitle—stories to celebrate the magic of reading and writing YA—is a 100% true statement. This book is beautiful. I loved these stories and they are of a high caliber of creativity that to me is so prevalent in YA fiction. Plus, there are a number of inclusive characters. From reimagining fairy and folk tales to the magic and power of girls to demonic cats and cursed purses, these thirteen stories are all fantastic. If that isn’t enough already, each story is introduced by a well-known YA author who gives you a teaser about the tale. Then, following each work is a short analysis provided by Nova Ren Suma or Emily X.R. Pan in which they draw your attention to certain ways the piece is written. These explanations were amazing, they really deepened my understanding of how an author constructs their worlds and characters or the nuances of a small writing technique. Far from your boring textbook analysis, these made me appreciate the stories more and I found myself paging back to read passages again. If you like YA, this is a good one!

My In-Progress Rating 4.5 out of 5; Based on the Short Stories I've read to date.

FORESHADOW is an wonderful anthology for readers and writers who want take a closer look at writing methods and techniques for some encouragement or ways to improve upon what they already have written. And FORESHADOW is for those who dream of becoming a writer and are just beginning to craft their thoughts into stories. The short stories are introduced by notable authors, then followed by Author's Notes, and then the editors essays. I enjoyed this format and it can serve as a guidebook for writers.

Readers can enjoy the short stories just as they are written, or they can take it a step further and evaluate and consider the process writing. We are given the opportunity to explore the many elements of creating an impactful and memorable story. Readers gain knowledge thorugh the essays about the use of voice, mood, emotions, and the ideas of imagery and the suspension of disbelief. As someone who wants to improve their skills, I like the writing prompts for inspiration and motivation.

I appreciated the Author's Notes - while each story is open to interpretation, I like to idea of knowing the intention of why author writes the way they do, why they felt it was necessary to share specific scenes, their choice of words, their use of characters, and then reevaluate what I took from my reading the story compared to what the author intended. Do those ideas match the intent? How do they differ? Did I get it?

I was surprised when flipped though the pages to find stories from YA authors like Becky Albertalli, Gayle Forman, Jason Reynolds, and Adam Silvera. I guess I should have read the book discription (and cover) more closely. Then I would have known that these authors Introduced with writings of underrepresented voices. That's all on me. But I'm glad to discover these new-to-me writers, and will definitely be on the look out for more of their works.

As I share this review, it should be known that I'm still in the process of reading FORESHADOW and discovering these wonderful stories. That's one thing I enjoy about anthologies, you can read a story whenever you want, skip around from story to story and find one that is most appealing to you, or you can read it cover to cover and enjoy it all at once.

I know that I'll turn to FORESHADOW time and again as I continue to work on my craft as a writer. And now I want to check out the site where this anthology originated from for even more short stories.

FLIGHT, Tanya Aydelott

⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3 out of 5.
The story that opens this anthology is a bit of a strange one – and it’ll set the tone very well for the following stories (opening with the creepy might not have been the best choice for me personally, because creepy really isn’t my thing. anyway).

This was a selkie story, and I don’t think you realize that right away (which was something I really liked). All in all, it was a good story with good writing, and I liked it fine, but like I said, not my thing!

Things that are unexplainable – these are things that people feel they must control. Magic. Beauty. Art.

“Being trapped inside the wrong skin can feel like a curse. The Moment you find the right one, you can’t wait to live in it.”

-------

RISK, Rachel Hylton

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.
Rep: Latinx

Ok. So the thing about this story is that is is most definitely the weirdest thing I have ever and will probably ever read in my life. It is also incredibly imaginative – I mean, how do you get an idea like that? – and the writing is very well executed. Written in the first person plural “we” (an interesting choice, and a very good one), this story will keep you hooked the entire time mostly because you’re just floored by everything going on. I cannot stress how weird it is enough. It was great.

-------

SWEETMEATS, Linda Cheng

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Rep: Chinese
cw: animal death, cannibalism

So this story was deeply unsettling. Sweet – somehow?? – thanks to the two main characters’ relationship and yet just very creepy and morbid. The parent-daughter relationship were also very interesting and something I loved in the story. After last story though, nothing was surprising anymore lol

-------

GLOW, Joanna Truman

⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3 out of 5.
Rep: sapphic relationship between the two main characters

See, as soon as I understood this was not only a gay story but a SAPPHIC story, I got really excited. Unfortunately, this one was a bit of a letdown for me – underwhelming. It felt a little too short (even for a short story); I didn’t have the time to either get to know the characters, get attached to them or even understand them at all. The romance didn’t really hook me, and I feel playing the pining card in a short story might not have been the best idea (is it really pining if it’s only for a page and a half? maybe ao3 ruined this for me… oops. give me a SLOW BURN, though. Otherwise is pining really worth it?)

That said, there were sides to the story I really liked. This quotes is one:

“Of course we can. Girls are magic.” Naia emphasizes the last word, murmurs it like a spell she’s written into the air. “We’re magic.”

The whole concept of this story is brilliant. I tried to explain it just now but I can’t because I really don’t want to give away any spoilers. Guess you’ll have to read to find out!

-------

ESCAPE, Tanvi Berwah

⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3 out of 5.
tw: underage sex

This story just didn’t to it for me. I enjoyed the end – men and consequences, ah, beautiful – but besides that, nothing much. Not saying this was bad – I was just not a big fan. The underage thing going on just distracted me too much from enjoying the story (although the author in no way shape or form shows this is as a good thing ! ! quite the opposite)

-------

PAN DULCE, Flor Salcedo

⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3 out of 5.
Rep: latinx (Mexican, Mexican-American)

I think I just completely missed the point of this story. I wrote this long rant in my notes but I really don’t think anyone wants to read it. I’ll just leave you with – I didn’t understand the point of this, what it was trying to show, and all it did was leaving me hungry for pan dulce. I will say though, the name of the story is perfect; it tricks you.

-------

SOLACE, Nora Elghazzawi

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Arab

tw: anorexia

SOLACE is the first story I gave 5 stars to, and the first story of a streak of a few stories I gave 5 stars to.

The characters were real and raw; this was a story about finding yourself, about healing (the beginning of it, anyway) and about hope. It hooked me from the beginning with the beautiful writing and voice and the vivid imagery. The way this is written is just brilliant – I can’t explain it but boy you have to read this. The atmosphere was very interesting: calming, in a way, although the story in itself isn’t calming at all.

The romance (because we do have to talk about it) was lovely. Gabe was a character I liked right away.

“I like you. But I don’t control you. I want you to choose whatever makes you happy. So please, do the same for me.”

"But I am no moon. I am a girl. Not a satellite, but a soul. I am of this world."

-------

PRINCESS, Maya Prasad

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Indian

This. This is the world building you wish you had in your book. The world building was absolutely mind blowing – how Maya Prasad did an amazing job at giving us so much information in so little time. This will definitely I will go back to and study how it was all done. Mind blown.

Besides that, the characters were loveable and witty. The little plot twist was awesome and the side romance soooo cute!

-------

FOOLS, Gina Chen

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Chinese-American writer – fantasy that “mixe[s] the different lores and aesthetics living in [her] imagination”

THIS STORY LITERALLY CAME AT ME WITH:

a badass protagonist with no heart but who is still nice and wants love and isn’t completely heartless to the point of it being her only personality trait
a half demon hot guy love interest with wings AND DIMPLES. OMG THE DIMPLES.
ENEMIES TO LOVERS. OR AT LEAST BANTER TO LOVERS. OR BANTER TO LOVERS-IN-THE-NEAR-FUTURE. anyway you get my point
a god lady who is actually nice and doesn’t take the girls as prisoners and forces them to stay with her forever or whatever. I didn’t know I needed this – I didn’t know how refreshing it would be – until I read it
everything. I’m so happy I read this. It was great amazing mind blowing awesome just– yeah.

“Well, I don’t have any blood. I don’t even have a heart. What does that make me, Potato?”
“Rude, apparently.”

-------

MONSTERS, Adriana Marachlian

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Venezuelan

First of all – DRAGONS. Second of all – MONSTERS (cute ones). Third of all – LATINX REP.

Y’all have no idea what hearing characters speak in Spanish in stories does to me. Not only that, but one of the characters (the guy, the hot one) speaks French. Way to come for my heart!!!

It gets kinda creepy at some point but (and coming from someone who usually does not do creepy) in such a good way? Anyway I’m doing a horrible job at hyping this up but it was just so good.

"Back in Venezuela, the waves had moods."

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BREAK, Sohie Meridien

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 5 out of 5.
rep: Black, Korean

cw: microagression (mentioned)

The thing is. My notes for the past three stories go like “OMG THIS IS MY FAVOURITE.” “NO I TAKE IT BACK THIS ONE IS MY FAVOURITE.” “NO THIS ONE.”

I will have to say though; this story is my favourite. I have come to the hard conclusion. It was the best thing I’ve read in a while.

This one is a romance. An absolutely phenomenal romance, might I add. From the very first second I was HOOKED. I shipped them right away and kept rooting for them all along – I could, and would, more than happily read a whole book about them. Seriously. GIMME GIMME

The diversity is absolutely amazing. Behind the romance is a discussion on racism – the protagonist is a Black woman. It was a very important story.

but anyway. THE BANTER!?!?!?!? THE COINCIDENCES!?!?!? IT WAS DELIGHTFUL. AS I’M WRITING THIS I WANNA REREAD IT IT WAS SO GOOD. SERIOUSLY I’M NOT KIDDING!!! bless this story made my literal month that’s all.

“Kikade.”
“Jin-ho.”
“Kiss me. It’s what the universe wants.”

-------

RESILIENT, Mayra Cuevas

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.
rep: Puerto Rican

This story is loosely based on real people – young adults who left Puerto Rico after the devastating effects of Hurricane María. It was a beautiful story that stuck with my as being cold, and grey (which was most likely exactly what we were supposed to feel and how the main characters were feeling).

What I loved most in this story were the relationships. Marisol and her cousin, them both and their family back home, the new sense of community in a harsh world in their new home in South Dakota.

-------

BELLY, Desiree S. Evans

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
rep: POC

tw: sexual harassment

This anthology closes off with a story based (I’m more or less guessing) in Southern United States. It’s a good story, but I didn’t feel invested enough to give it more than 3.5 stars. That said, I loved the idea of a girl who has a little of this river in her – a river that remains “hidden” throughout the story and intrigues me a lot.

"Hurricane girls, she’ll call them from now on. Storm-born girls."

-------

I gave this anthology 4 stars – an average of all the short stories’ ratings. It feels right, but one thing I absolutely loved (and maybe the thing I loved most?) in this anthology (that wasn’t reflected in my rating) was the “reflection” or explanation from the writer about their story and the short essay by an editor accompanying them. They gave the stories a new understanding and I found myself fascinated when reading them.

Not to mention the writing exercises and advice that came along. By reading this anthology, I feel like I was not only able to read some wonderful and very diverse short stories, I also learnt a lot about writing. Not even talking about the awesome editor Q&A and author Q&A at the end of the book!! Just… so much love.

In the end, I recommend this anthology to absolutely everyone. All readers will find something they like, and the lessons these stories teach are ones everyone should learn. Kudos to all the writers and editors for such an amazing job!!!

Foreshadow is a collection / anthology of short stories, analysis and helpful notes to write one. These short stories are so clever, so twisted and exquisitely written ah - I couldn't help but fall in love with them 😍

Stories spanned genres and diverse themes. You'll find some of your favourite authors spinning such sinister fairy tales set in the contemporary world, tales of friendship, of romance with a dash of blood and myth - and so much more!!

I've been fan of Emily X. R. Pan since reading and falling in love with The Astonishing Color of After, and I jumped at the opportunity to read this. Nova Ren Suma is a comparatively new name for me, but after reading the ways of her analysis of the short stories and the tips and helpful notes were splendid.

Foreshadow is not only a book of short stories but also one that will help an aspiring writer to hone their skills. There are various writing prompts in between, and both Emily and Nova put forward brilliant ways to write different aspects of a story. There's characters, the plot twist, how to instill that sense of mystery and suspense, thrill and yearning - it's that and so much more.

I really enjoyed reading these little tales so much and have to commend all the authors for writing these fantastic stories that kept me hooked and intrigued 😍 if you enjoy short stories and looking for helpful tips on writing too, Foreshadow should be a book to look out for ♥️

A fascinating collection of short stories, each based around a different prompt, many of which are horror or have a large unusual twist. At the beginning of each story is a quote from a well known YA author, and at the end, the author and editor process about the story devices.

This is a good book for anyone who liked story telling. These stories are really well done, and so many of them I found to be captivating. this is also a great book for anyone looking to understand more about literary tools in story telling, or to improve their writing independently, as each story is talked through at the end.

I did really like hearing about the inspiration behind the piece at the end of each story. I hope to hear more from these authors down the road!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the type of collection that sneaks up on you and makes you love it, without any warning or apology. Some of these authors definitely deserve a space on your 'Authors to watch' list, because the things they did with such a short amount of words...magical!

I will be raving about Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng, Fools by Gina Chen and Break by Sophie Meridien for a long time to come.

There was heartbreak, intrigue, spookiness and overall confusion. Everything I like in my favourite books. But there was also so much cheek and fluff that my secret softie heart could also be satisfied. There's something for everyone here.

Linda Cheng’s Sweetmeats is a retelling of Grimms’ Hansel and Gretel and I adore it. Cheng’s backdrop of the Chinese culture as proof of destruction is fascinating. I was immediately drawn into the story by the mystery and then sucked in by Mei’s dilemma. I was floored by one twist at the end, but not the two obvious ones. (I’m not telling, you have to read it!) I cannot wait to see what Cheng writes in the future.

Escape is a Hitchcockian tale that stayed in my mind long after I put the book down. Tanvi Berwah writes a tale of young love, lust, and folklore. It is creepy with suspense and just like a Twilight Zone episode you cannot stop watching. I kind of knew what was going to happen and said, “Damn, don’t do it...uh-oh...girl, leave it alone…”. (laugh) Berwah drew me in like a fly in a web. Once you get caught in the story, you can’t get out and you don’t want to.

The anthology is perfect for those who want to deepen their appreciation of art and craft, aspiring YA writers and fans of YA fiction.

Writers include: Tanya S. Aydelott, Tanvi Berwah, Gina Chen, Linda Cheng, Mayra Cuevas, Nora Elghazzawi, Desiree Evans, Rachel Hylton, Adriana Marachilian, Sophie Meridien, Maya Prasad, Flor Salcedo, and Joanna Truman.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

FORESHADOW:
Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA
By Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma
5 / 5 🌟

𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚?

In a recent discussion with my English major daughter, I told her that I feel I don’t read nearly enough short stories. As an avid reader, book blogger, and aspiring writer, I felt that exposure to this genre was sorely lacking. And then, like magic, FORESHADOW came into my life.

This unique book contains thirteen short stories all from new, creative voices in YA. The stories are rooted in magic, fantasy, fear, and even romance.

The aching in Nora Elghazzawi’s 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 is palpable. Laila is a girl who is grieving, but she is growing through the dirt and seeds she plants in her garden. She feeds others her harvest, and soon she’ll reap the bounty too.

𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 by Adriana Marachlian takes us deep into a young girl’s heart. Milagros has arrived in Brooklyn from Venezuela and now she is terrorized by the monsters she sees. Why can’t her cousin and aunt see these creatures? The monster that lives in the subway tunnel is dangerous, Milagros knows she must confront it. When she finally faces it, she is surprised by what she finds the monster to truly be.

The stories themselves are extremely enjoyable, but I loved the added editorial notes from Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma. They highlighted a specific aspect in each story, such as world-building, voice, imagery, and building romance. Their thoughts are brilliant and help to make the writing of these stories pop. If that wasn’t enough, each story is introduced by a master YA storyteller!

Going back to the question I posed in the beginning; this book certainly came into my life just when I needed it. This will be a book I refer to over and over again.

Thank you to @algonquinyr @exrpan @novaren for this advanced copy for review. Pick up your copy today!

4.5 stars

An interesting take at the writers behind the curtain in a YA anthology filled with underrepresented voices, fantastical fiction, and more. This is a must read for anyone interested in the craft of writing.

Concept: ★★★★★
Writers' workshop elements: ★★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★

Foreshadow is a really unique concept for an anthology. Curated by authors Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma, this collection features thirteen YA stories from a diverse group of lesser known YA authors—with each of their stories introduced by some of the bigger names in YA, including Melissa Albert, Laurie Halse Anderson, Roshani Chokshi, Jandy Nelson, Sabaa Tahir, and more.

To put it simply, this was a joy to read. As someone who loves YA, loves the craft of writing, and loves discovering new writers to watch, this was the trifecta.

Each of these stories carries something different. Some are romances, some are fantastical, some handle some deeper themes. They're great stories, and that's important. But what was actually more interesting for me as a reader was what came AFTER the stories. Following each of those stories is a writers' breakdown—a section focusing on the particular theme/concept/writing tool that was used by the author, and a technical analysis for what worked for that story to use that particular device/etc.

This is an anthology that is a love letter to the craft of writing YA. I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, but for the readers who like to peek behind the curtain at the act of writing itself, this one to pick up.

Thank you to Algonquin for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Foreshadow is a collection of short stories by several under-appreciated young adult authors. It is also so much more than that. In these short stories, we dig into the art of storytelling and its magic. These stories are by authors from every genre so, there’s a little bit of everything for everyone.

In the introduction of this book, the author mentions that sometimes it’s harder to write a short story than it is to write a longer story. In a longer story, you have room to include all the plot and character details over the span of pages. In a short story, you have to highlight the plot, characters, and theme all in a limited number of pages. I applaud any author that can do that.

Before each of these stories, another author gives a little comment/praise for the story to come which I thought was wonderful. I believe authors should praise one another. It helps build a strong YA (or any genre for that matter) community. 

After each of the stories, there was an authors note from the author that wrote that particular story where they would highlight their struggles while writing the story, the intentions with the story, their inspiration for the story, etc. There was also an examination of some aspects of each story from the author of the book like character building, making the reader believe in the story, etc. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learning about writing short stories. I also really enjoyed reading these stories from authors I already knew of and a few that were new to me. I would highly recommend this book if you are looking to discover the secrets of writing short stories or if you’re looking to discover new YA authors.

Thank you, NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 5/5 STARS⁣
⁣
𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗔𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦: So this is a collection of short stories written by some huge YA writers— Gayle Forman, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jason Reynolds, and Sabaa Tahir are just a few to name. ⁣
⁣
These stories range from contemporary to fantasy and they celebrate the idea of writing. After each story, there is an explanation of what the aim of the story was, how it developed, what type of atmosphere was created. This collection isn’t just a celebration of a range of worlds and stories, it’s also a compilation of discussions about writing itself. It shines a light on the process behind a, short story, character and varying themes. ⁣
⁣
I loved reading these stories and reading about what made each story unique—exploring the different processes behind each story was so illuminating. ⁣
⁣
𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥: readers looking for a collection of stories with varying genres that celebrates the art of writing.

Thank you @AlgonquinYR for inviting me to participate in the bookstagram book tour for Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA, edited by @exrpan and @novaren. ✨ The Young Adult genre is near and dear to my heart, and it remains one of my favorite genres to this day. There’s just something truly and uniquely magical about the way that these books capture the minds of so many young readers, often inspiring a love of literature that sticks with readers throughout their lives. Revisiting the genre through this anthology of short stories was such a fun experience, and I highly recommend it to any and all readers and writers.

“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.”

I’d like to start off by saying thank you to Alongquin Young Readers for giving me an Advanced Reader’s Copy and for letting me be a part of this book tour for Foreshadow. It’s such a great pleasure to share the joy of reading these stories.

FORESHADOW is an anthology of fresh stories by upcoming young adult writers who have submitted these during a call for submissions for the said title. The book contains 13 stories from such amazing writers with different backgrounds. Each story has it's own twist and taste. These stories are written by authors with their own cultural norms and backgrounds weaved into the words. At the same time, the editors explain what's special about the story and what element of writing is highlighted in the story.

FORESHADOW features story prompts that encourage the reader to try his hand in writing their own story. Through these stories, aspiring writers are given a crash course on writing with no barriers.

Not all stories are something of my cup of tea but again, we all have different tastes. I am so thankful to have read this. It was such a welcome change in YA to see all these voices being represented. There’s so much more that these authors could give and it’s amazing how the editors and publisher gave them this chance to show the world what stories they had to share.

It’s also amazing how the editors are so willing to share with aspiring writers their knowledge and tips in writing stories. They even gave prompts that are somewhat out of the blue.

FULL REVIEW ON MY BLOG

4.5 stars

I’ve always loved stories. Books, movies, personal anecdotes, even the occasional fanfic or two…I love stories like a foodie loves food, so when I saw an anthology celebrating the magic of reading YA–an oft scorned and under-appreciated genre–I knew I had to read it.

Of all the anthologies I’ve read thus far, this is my favorite by a long shot in part because its premise is so unique:
1) it analyzes of the writing process
2) it focuses on new voices in YA
3) it includes underrepresented voices

1) This is like a YA Fiction primer. I wish this had been around when I was in school. It makes lit analysis so fun and approachable. It strips the stories down to their technical make-up, breaking them down to their nuts and bolts to show us what goes into a good story. With practical advice like tips on world building, imagery, and characterization, it’s the perfect workbook for aspiring or actual authors.

I’m not a writer by any stretch of imagination, but Foreshadow makes me think maybe I could be one. Putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) can seem so intimating, but the anthology makes the process accessible to writers of all levels. It breaks it down into easily digestible steps and offers simple prompts that makes writing a story a fun and achievable goal.

2) I don’t know how this is the first published work for so many of these authors because each work shows a command of the English language that rivals (or surpasses) the work of many established YA writers out there. In the intro, Pan explains why a good short story is so hard to write, which makes this collection even more impressive. The economic use of language, the compacted world-building, the gorgeous prose…it’s a reminder that being unpublished doesn’t make you any less legitimate as an author. But this is more than a MasterClass in the use of literary devices. There’s an art of crafting the perfect story, and each work is the perfect alchemy of technique and storytelling.

Let’s be real, there’s a reason YA gets so flak for being clichéd, predictable, and derivative. Don’t get me wrong, I love YA. Take one look at my bookshelf, and you’ll see that I’m not ashamed to indulge in the occasional (or not-so-occasional) fluffy piece of fiction. But sometimes you just want something a little substantial, and that’s the beauty of Foreshadow. It explores the expanse of Young Adult fiction by going beyond the stereotypical love triangle, Chosen One trilogies. This has horror and magical realism and, yes, a contemporary romance or two, but they’re all done in a way that’s refreshingly original. These stories are meant to entertain, but they’re also thought-provoking, evocative, and moving. There’s something about this collection that resonates with the reader. The stories vary from the fantastical to somewhat ordinary, but they’re all grounded in something that’s real and manage to capture the essence of that strange in-between of being not quite grown but not quite youth.

3) This has so much rep, and I love it. I don’t think I’ve read such a diverse set of stories back-to-back-to-back, well…ever. It’s refreshing to read such a varied collection of perspectives. Even if the stories aren’t autobiographical in nature, it’s obvious how each of the author’s upbringing and background has influenced their work. If you’re wondering why “We Need Diverse Books” and #ownvoices are starting to make waves in YA, I think Adriana Marachlian puts it best: “The first time I saw my country mentioned in a young adult novel. I cried. I remembered it was a throwaway comment, an exotic detail in a list of other interesting bits, with no bearing on the characters or plot, but all the bearing on the world to me…The thrill of being seen, even briefly, never left me. Vines can grow from a single tendril, and here was mine: I could do that for someone else.”

Featuring thirteen short stories curated from the online platform of the same name, Foreshadow celebrates young adult literature, and also offers retrospective essays that dive into why each story works, the themes and tropes it uses, and for the writers out there, analysis for incorporating similar ideas into their own stories. Each story is introduced by a well-known YA author, and the authors of the stories are budding voices ready to make their mark in YA. Foreshadow offers a window into the beating heart and magic of young adult literature that captures the minds and imaginations of millions of youth around the globe.

What a fascinating and portentous collection of YA stories and insight! I knew I had to read this from the moment I saw it because I love YA and I wholeheartedly support lifting up new and talented authors as veterans in the field did here. Foreshadow has a little something for everyone, because its wide-ranging stories are written by diverse creators who pull from many mythological and fantastical concepts to bring these short stories to the fore. For readers new to YA, this book could be a great primer to introduce many of the tropes and concepts that YA is known for, and to give the reader a feel for what they might like and dislike in YA. Beyond that, there is also material here for YA die-hards and writers trying to break into the genre. This might sound scattershot at first, but the structure, composition, and consistency of the layout is what keeps the flow of Foreshadow going, and coalesces its short stories and analysis into a magical whole. I recommend this collection to anybody who wants to read or learn more about young adult literature, and a big thank you to Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma for compiling and editing this wonderful writing trove.

I went into this book a little nervous because I don't really read short stories a lot, and I really never heard of any of these authors....buttttt...that's the point. To bring more attention to diverse authors in a very popular genre like YA is today. Personally I loved the diversity in these short stories, but I will also say that a lot of them aren't for me. However, they were very well written, and I loved how after every story, Emily X.R. Pan and Nova Red Suma sort of talked more in depth about the stories. This included a authors note, discussing the writing style and a few prompts to get the readers thinking and perhaps starting a discussion in their head about the story.

As a person who would love to write one day, I found these discussions and little authors notes fulfilling because it makes you see what works as a writer. Each story is amazing in its own way and they have a strong voice to them. There are many genres to choose to your liking. There's science fiction, romance, there's some dark and scary ones, even ones with a lot of fantasy elements to them. There's a lot of other controversial topics
(i.e stories about the Venezuelan Government) that will definitely have you thinking and want to discuss with a fellow reader. It's really refreshing to hear 13 author's voices through their writing that shows the appeal towards YA. Hopefully by reading this book it will inspire you to find yourself and the strengths you didn't know you had. Thanks to Algonquin Young Reader, Algonquin, and NetGalley for copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Also helps that I have a physical copy to show off on my shelf.