Present Tense--Writing and Art by Young Women: Edited by the Calyx Young Women's Editorial Collective

This intriguing anthology showcases the original art and unpublished literature of women linked by their youth. According to the nine editors, its authors are ""the prophets of the new millennium."" Including prose, poetry, art and book reviews, the wide range of genres here is matched by the diversity of these prophets, whom Mira Chieko Shimabukuro, one of the editors, calls these ""Generations X-ers, apathetic slackers, baggy/tight jeans, clunky heels, pierced navels, eyebrows, tongue and cheek. Daughters of the women's civil rights and liberation movements, all out there trying to make sense of what's come before us, what we'll bring, what will follow.'' All of which makes for a wide-ranging representation of ethnic identity, economic background, educational experience and sexual orientation. Nonie Proffit's poem about fighting fires in the wilderness is followed by Ann E. Green's story of her family farm; and the two are sandwiched between Deborah L. Blicher's story about the bombing of an abortion clinic and a piece about a journey in the family car written by Emily Regan Wills, an eighth grader. While each selection has its own voice, some more distinct than others, the black-and-white artwork often gets lost in the chorus. Radiating the enthusiasm and conviction of its authors and editors, this rich sampling of talent is an unabashed celebration of subjectivity. (Feb.)