Short Stuff

Two gay and two lesbian stories coalesce around a theme of first love in this anthology. Kicking off with an Olympian prospect and the aspiring chef who steals his heart, Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick’s “I Ate the Whole World to Find You” alternates perspectives between Basil, an intensely focused swimmer preparing for Olympic trials, and Will, the pool’s snack bar cook. Conversely, Tommy, in Jude Sierra’s “The August Sands,” doesn’t know who he wants to be outside of caring for his younger siblings and playing things safe, so when he meets Chase on a family vacation, their attraction signifies a first step into adulthood. Kate Fierro’s “Love in the Time of Coffee” is the opposite, tracing the lives of two longtime best friends, Gemma and Anya, with landmark moments accented by various coffee drinks. “Gilded Scales” by Julia Ember breaks with the contemporary tales, taking place in a fantasy setting wherein the heroine, Fenn, volunteers to slay a dragon and finds a girl and a curse instead. Though the final story feels out of place, the rest offer a fresh taste of sweet beginnings and hopeful endings. Ages 12–up. [em](June) [/em]