If your teen prefers short stories to novels, The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy for Teens, edited by Jane Yolen and Patrick Nielson Hayden, offers a range of excellent choices culled from stories published in 2004. In the first such collection especially for teens, the 11 entries cover the gamut from high fantasy to hard science fiction and everything in-between. From fairies living in handbags to augmented super dogs, flying islands, dark changelings and baby dragons, there is something for every reader’s taste. The contributors include many authors already popular with kids today, such as Garth Nix and David Gerrold, as well as some who might be new to teenage readers, including Theodora Goss and Kelly Link. A bonus story by Rudyard Kipling, first published 100 years ago, gives historic range to the collection. With suggestions for other books to read and a list of Honor Stories that came out in 2004, this anthology can lead the reader to even more wonderful tales. Colleen Cahill is Recommending Officer of Science Fiction and Fantasy at the Library of Congress.
Valiant Women is a vital and engrossing attempt to correct the record and rightfully celebrate the achievements of female veterans of World War II.
