Fresh Ink edited by Lamar Giles - Blog Tour, (ARC) Review, & Giveaway

I'm very excited to welcome you all to my leg of the Fresh Ink blog tour, hosted by Rockstar Book Tours!  Today, you'll find the details and summary for this novel, my review, a giveaway, and the blog tour schedule.  Thanks for visiting my stop on this blog tour!

About the Book:

Title: FRESH INK Anthology

Author: Lamar Giles, Nicola Yoon, Malinda Lo, Melissa de la Cruz, Sara Farizan, Eric Gansworth, Walter Dean Myers, Daniel José Older, Thien Pham, Jason Reynolds, Gene Luen Yang, Sharon G. Flake, Schuyler Bailar, Aminah Mae Safi 

Pub. Date: August 14, 2018

Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 208

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, B&N, iBooks, TBD

In partnership with We Need Diverse Books, thirteen of the most recognizable, diverse authors come together in this remarkable YA anthology featuring ten short stories, a graphic short story, and a one-act play from Walter Dean Myers never before in-print.

All it takes to rewrite the rules is a little fresh ink in this remarkable YA anthology from thirteen of the most recognizable, diverse authors writing today including Nicola Yoon, Jason Reynolds, Melissa de la Cruz, and many more, and published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books. This collection features ten short stories, a graphic short story, and a one-act play from Walter Dean Myers never before in-print. It will give readers the opportunity to discover how the next chapter is up to them.

Careful--you are holding fresh ink. And not hot-off-the-press, still-drying-in-your-hands ink. Instead, you are holding twelve stories with endings that are still being written--whose next chapters are up to you.

Because these stories are meant to be read. And shared.

Thirteen of the most accomplished YA authors deliver a label-defying anthology that includes ten short stories, a graphic novel, and a one-act play. This collection will inspire you to break conventions, bend the rules, and color outside the lines. All you need is fresh ink.

“I absolutely love this mix of established and newer talents, and I’m really intrigued and excited by the mixed formats.” –BookRiot

“A powerful and varied collection…”—Booklist, starred review

“The stories are distinct in themes, subjects, genres, and formats, creating an inclusive, authentic, and incredible collection”—School Library Journal, starred review

My Review:

❋ ❋ ❋ ❋

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fresh Ink, an anthology edited by Lamar Giles, features short stories, a one-act play, and a short graphic novel from thirteen top YA contemporary authors including Jason Reynolds, Gene Luen Yang, Nicola Yoon, Walter Dean Myers, Daniel José Older, Melissa de la Cruz, and Malinda Lo.  Each contribution to this diverse collection will inspire you think outside of the box and dare to defy conventions.

Short story anthologies regardless of the genre aren't usually my go-to, but lately I have to admit I've come across some pretty fantastic ones.  When I found this collection with so many brilliant authors contributing I knew I had to try it.  Luckily this diverse collection didn't disappoint.  The characters we're introduced to in this variety of shorts all felt quite authentic even though we're only wish them for a short time before moving right along.  The topics covered are all timely and relevant issues, even though some are set in the past and have fantastic elements.  Like I've said before, I honestly wish I had read these kinds of #OwnVoices stories when I was in high school.  I enjoyed all of the stories, but my favorites include "Catch, Pull, Drive" by Schuyler Bailar, "One Voice" by Melissa de la Cruz, "A Boy’s Duty" by Sharon G. Flake, "Don’t Pass Me By" by Eric Gansworth, "Meet Cute" by Malinda Lo, "Be Cool for Once" by Aminah Mae Safi, and "Super Human" by Nicola Yoon.

Overall, the stories and voices of Fresh Ink edited by Lamar Giles are absolutely necessary.  While I may not directly relate to all of them, it's incredibly valuable to see writing that reflects all sorts of lives and experiences for young people.  Plus, I think I've found some great new-to-me authors to explore.

Thanks again, NetGalley.  I read this anthology on July 25th, 2018 and my review is also on Goodreads.


Giveaway Details:

3 winners will win a finished copy of FRESH INK US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:
8/1/2018- YA Books Central- Spotlight
8/2/2018- Always Me- Review
8/3/2018- Book-Keeping- Review

Week Two:
8/6/2018- Here's to Happy Endings- Review
8/7/2018- BookHounds YA- Review
8/8/2018- Confessions of a YA Reader- Review
8/9/2018- Wonder Struck- Review
8/10/2018- Life of a Literary Nerd- Review

Week Three:
8/13/2018- Literary Meanderings- Spotlight
8/14/2018- Mama Reads Blog- Review
8/15/2018- Novel Novice- Review
8/16/2018- Savings in Seconds- Review
8/17/2018- Sweet Southern Home- Review

Week Four:
8/20/2018- The Layaway Dragon- Review
8/21/2018- Eli to the nth- Review
8/22/2018- Comfort Books- Review
8/23/2018- Moonlight Rendezvous- Review
8/24/2018- laura's bookish corner- Review

Week Five:
8/27/2018- Never Too Many To Read- Review
8/28/2018- The Book Nut- Review
8/29/2018- Cindy's Love of Books- Review
8/30/2018- The Pages In-Between- Review
8/31/2018- A Dream Within A Dream- Review