Speaking Out: LGBTQ Youth Stand Up anthology edited by Steve Berman Bold Strokes Books, 2011 Source: review copy provided by publisher Review by Lydia Sharp     SPEAKING OUT is a diverse collection of short stories about teens who must speak up and take a stand, either for themselves or someone close to them. The stories feature gay teens, lesbian teens, bi teens, and transgender teens, all with different backgrounds and facing different obstacles. I was especially intrigued by the variety of parental views highlighted in the stories. For example, in the opening story, "Lucky P" by Rigoberto [...]

Hushed by Kelley York Young Adult Contemp Thriller (upper YA, dark) Entangled Publishing *Advance reader copy provided by the publisher. This in no way affected my review of the material. He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.   Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.   Then along comes Evan, the only person [...]

Thanks to Dennis Upkins for allowing us to reprint his review of Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey. A boy who can see the world’s secrets and unravel spells with just a glance. Braden’s witch eyes give him an enormous power. A mere look causes a kaleidoscopic explosion of emotions, memories, darkness, and magic. But this rare gift is also his biggest curse. Compelled to learn about his shadowed past and the family he never knew, Braden is drawn to the city of Belle Dam, where he is soon caught between two feuding witch dynasties. Sworn rivals Catherine Lansing [...]