THE LOWDOWN:
A travesty. A violation. An ecstasy. A disappointment. An instant. A lie. A theft. A rite of passage.
Whatever you call it, there’s only one first time.
A.S. King, Melvin Burgess, Keith Gray, Patrick Ness, Anne Fine, Sophie McKenzie, Bali Rai, Jenny Valentine, Mary Hooper, and Andrew Smith. Some of today’s leading international YA authors contributed to this hard-hitting collection of original short stories: some funny, some moving, some haunting, but all revolving around the same subject—virginity.
FIRST IMPRESSION:
It hurt. A lot. There was a lot of blood too.
I took my eyes off the ball for only a second, maybe two. It smacked me in the face so hard that my feet lifted off the ground, my nose popped with a sound like bubble-wrap, and I went down on my arse in the wet mud.
“Scoring” by Keith Gray
–ARC paperback edition
SNAPSHOT:
This collection of short stories tackles virginity—having it, losing it, giving it away, caring or not caring about it—in a respectful manner from a wide spectrum of viewpoints.
While the collection does not end on a particularly strong note, with no lasting impression from the final lines, it is overall worth the read.
Highlights include “The Age of Consent” which bridges the age-gap, the comedic but heartfelt “Different for Boys”, and the gut-twisting “The White Towel”.
Appropriate for ages 14+. Some stories may be more suitable for younger teens. Strong language, violence, sexism, intense situations, drug and alcohol use/discussion, rebellion, and minors exploring their sexuality.
Deals with sex, sexuality, sexual assault, identity, and a whole lot more.
Readers should be encouraged to discuss the title ‘Losing It’, and what virginity means—if anything—to them. Further discussion of sex and sexuality, consent issues, societal pressure to compete, sexism/heterosexism, and slutshaming can each start from this collection.
For readers interested in starting open-minded discussions on sex, they should check out the recent TED Talk by Al Vernacchio: “Sex Needs a New Metaphor”.
GET IT ON YOUR SHELF:
If you…
– Enjoy short stories that pack a punch
– Have ever been curious about how others might feel about the V-word
– Are a teen considering your pros and cons
– Want an ultimately hopeful collection that peers into our hearts and souls
THE ESSENTIALS:
YA Short Story Collection
Hardcover & Ebook 200 pages
Published October 10th, 2013 by Carolrhoda LAB, ISBN: 1467720410
(Review copy provided by Carolrhoda Books)