The Puppet's Payback and Other Chilling Tales written by Mary Downing Hahn and reviewed by Debra Gantz

Summary: These 10 short stories have something for every horror reader. The suspense, the triggers (dolls, ghosts), and the main characters' choices will reach those who like scary stories. Some of them are rooted in irresistibly eerie situations: the undead, hide and seek in cemeteries after midnight, and witches. This book is for those who like to write scary stories to get some great ideas from Hahn's afterward and for those who really don't want to be terrified, but like suspenseful stories. Most of these characters live through these stories which made it better for more of my students. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: My students say they love scary books. They always ask for more. (I fear they are not truthful when they swear they don't get scared. I bet parents will tell me a different tale.) I use reviews to add horror to my libraries as the genre it is not my jam. I had not seen this one before and though I despise being scared, I thought a short story collection was more attainable for me. I am glad I did. This is a great addition to a school collection in elementary or middle schools. Mary Downing Hahn is a consistent writer of horror for kids. I like that in this collection of short stories, she also adds a bit about why she got into this line of work.

Not One Damsel in Distress: Heroic Girls From World Folklore, written by Jane Yolen, reviewed by Anneliese White

Summary: Originally published in 2000, and republished again in 2018 with two additional folk stories, “Not One Damsel in Distress: Heroic Girls from World Folklore,” explores fifteen folktales that feature women heroes (not heroines, or sheroes, but strong women heroes!). Yolen compiled this collection for young girls, especially her granddaughters, who unlike her as a child, could have a book that represents strong women, who use weapons and/or their wit to fight peril. Featured are a collection of stories from all livable continents of the world including Niger, Germany, Argentia, China, Scotland, Greece, Romania, the United States, Poland, Japan, France, England, Indonesia, and Azerbaijan. Not only does it give young readers a varying scope of world cultures, it shows them women heroes come in numerous variations, giving them a range of champions to identify with. It is a beautiful and well put together collection, and I especially enjoyed enough representation of stories from the Middle East and Asia, which may be especially new to American readers.

Straight Talk for Librarians: School libraries’ non-fiction collection is often lacking, and this title is a perfect purchase for the folklore section. It has such a diverse collection of stories that readers will feel transported across the globe and will savor each hero. Yolen perfectly pieced this collection together to show that girl champions come in many forms, from princesses to warriors to average girls. This title has so many lesson possibilities with folk tales, studies on individual foreign nations, and of course bravery and courage. Notes on the stories at the end of the book fantastically explain the origin and variations of each story. My only criticism is I wish there were more illustrations, and that those illustrations were in color. In an open letter to Jane Yolen at the end, her daughter and granddaughters perfectly sum up that they in fact, did not need this book because they already know girls have the power to be heroes, but that boys need this book even more so they know that girls can be heroes too.

Good Guys 5-Minute Stories, edited by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, reviewed by Anneliese White

Summary: There seems to be a short story for every type of personality in a boy in this collection, but the underlying theme is there: boys are awesome! “Space Boy,” “Real Cowboys,” and “Curious George and the Firefighters,” show male readers different careers they may dream of, and all three of them have a heartwarming aspect to them. “Happy Belly, Happy Smile,” tells the story of a boy named Louie visiting his grandfather’s Asian restaurant, and has unique and exquisite artwork. “Mustache Baby,” and “Quiet Wyatt” will make readers laugh out loud. “A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever,” is a great camping tale, and “Kid Amazing vs. the Blob,” and “Brothers,” will connect with readers who have to deal with siblings, younger or older. Finally, “Guyku,” tells the story of a whole year in the form of a haiku. All ten stories are fantastic as individual reads, and a powerhouse as a collection of stories.

Straight Talk for Librarians: This is an easy automatic add for all libraries! It has ten stories, all of which are great for storytime on their own, let alone as a collection with different messages for male readers. The illustrations are on point for each of the stories; some are super artsy, most are vibrant in color, and as a whole, represent diversity which is important. An obvious thing to point out is that this will most likely not attract girl readers, but there is a companion book of five-minute stories for girls that could be purchased too. It does a great job of having a story for a variety of interests that boys typically have, and would be fantastic for a variety of lessons.

Review: Meet Cute: Some People are Destined to Meet by various authors

Meet Cute is a collection of short stories featuring couples as they meet for the first time. Each story is vastly different, from a girl who meets her distant crush only to find out he's the son of the man who destroyed her family, to the girl whose challenging client at her new job turns out to be another teen with her same interests and passions. The stories span genres and styles, including a science fiction story about two teens interviewing for a spot to travel to Mars, and one featuring a futuristic dating app with a nearly perfect success rate. The stories also feature a variety of couples, including same sex couples and a couple that includes a transgender teen, as well as a wide variety of people from different races, backgrounds, and religions.

Straight Talk for School Librarians: There are occasional references to teenage drinking, but overall, the volume is relatively tame and could be appropriate down to the middle school level. Romance fans will go crazy for this set of tales, with the only possible complaint being that each story fades to black just as the characters are coming together.  It's the meet cute moments that the volume focuses on, after all.  But all of the slow-burning build-up to the romance is here, the primary topic of each story. This collection might have some potential in a family and consumer science class, like Contemporary Relationships, but is most likely to appeal as a choice novel for students. The short story format may make this volume appealing to busy or reluctant readers, who will appreciate the ability to jump in and out of the stories quickly, or skip over a story that is less appealing. This is a much more representative and modern collection of romantic short stories than one published even five or ten years ago. Your students deserve an upgrade.

by Bethany Bratney @nhslibrarylady
Author Twitters: @nina_lacour, @jocelyndavies, @emerylord, @katharinemcgee, @kassmorgan, @sarabooks, @NicolaYoon, @ibizoboi, @andimJULIE
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt @HMHteen