Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance ed. by Bethany C. Morrow (review)

For this timely anthology, Morrow thoughtfully calls upon contributors from various walks of life, e.g., bestselling authors of color such as Jason Reynolds (Long Way Down, BCCB 10/17) and Samira Ahmed (Internment, BCCB 2/19); accomplished and artful advocates such as Ray Stoeve and Keah Brown; and promising short fiction specialists such as Dr. Darcie Little Badger and L. D. Lewis. Some of the thirteen entries are strong: a Jewish girl faces anti-Semitic harassment online; a police stop turned promposal completely ignores the realities that make a Black girl feel attacked rather than flattered; and a displaced Lipan Apache girl consistently faces insensitivities, and some of the poems are heartfelt. However, too many of the stories are didactic and wrenchingly contrived, losing the plot and characters to hammer the message. Still, the sheer variety in this collection's earnest depiction of bravery in the face of painful adversity is inspiring, making for an admirably contemporary addition to many libraries and at-home bookshelves. Contributor bios are appended.