True to their word, the creators of the "We Need Diverse Books" campaign created this anthology of short stories by some of the hottest, and most diverse, YA authors out there today. In the forward, Ellen Oh writes a short introduction, which is both amusing and abstract. It sets the tone for ten tales which range widely across time and place. All of these vignettes deal with being the odd one out and most feature Middle School aged protagonists, but the concepts and vocabulary can be quite complex. This is one of those situations where Middle School readers will read and enjoy the book, but an older reader might see some subtleties which could otherwise be missed. As a tribute to the late, great Walter Dean Myers, the final story is his. Ms. Oh explains how he was a mentor and inspiration to so many. The bad news is that these stories are short -- many end right when you want to find out more. The good news is that each tale gives a strong flavor of that particular author's works -- which will hopefully lead readers to their full-length novels. My only comment to the folks from the "We Need Diverse Books" campaign on this first effort is "More, Please".
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