5 Diverse Anthologies You Shouldn’t Miss in 2019

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. How it works is that each Tuesday the host assigns a topic and then posts their top ten list that fits the topic. Every blogger can create their own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well and link to the host’s. The topic for February 5th, 2019 is: Upcoming Releases I’m On the Fence About. I’m tweaking the topic a little to help you put these amazing books on your TBR.

1. Black Enough

Edited by: Ibi Zoboi

Contributors: Justina Ireland, Varian Johnson, Rita Williams-Garcia, Dhonielle Clayton, Kekla Magoon, Leah Henderson, Tochi Onyebuchi, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, Liara Tamani, Renée Watson, Tracey Baptiste, Coe Booth, Brandy Colbert, Jay Coles, Ibi Zoboi and Lamar Giles

Genre: Contemporary

Release date: January 8th

Summary: This collection presents the beauty of black humanity in all its many forms. The teens in these tales are dealing with mental health issues, complicated family dynamics, sexuality and gender constraints, and being part of a marginalized group. The entries offer a rich tableau of the black teen diaspora in an accessible way.

2. A People’s Future of the United States

Edited by: Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams

Contributors: Violet Allen, Charlie Jane Anders, Lesley Nneka Arimah, Ashok K. Banker, Tobias S. Buckell, Tananarive Due, Omar El Akkad, Jamie Ford, Maria Dahvana Headley, Hugh Howey, Lizz Huerta, Justina Ireland, N. K. Jemisin, Alice Sola Kim, Seanan McGuire, Sam J. Miller, Daniel José Older, Malka Older, Gabby Rivera, A. Merc Rustad, Kai Cheng Thom, Catherynne M. Valente, Daniel H. Wilson, G. Willow Wilson and Charles Yu

Genre: Speculative fiction

Release date: February 5th

Summary: A People’s Future of the United States is a call to arms for anyone who believes in our power to dream a just world. Thrilling, inspiring, and a sheer joy to read, this anthology reminds us of the life-giving power of storytelling.

3. Proud

Edited by: Juno Dawson

Contributors: Steve Antony, Dean Atta, Kate Alizadeh, Fox Benwell, Alex Bertie, Caroline Bird, Fatti Burke, Tanya Byrne, Moïra Fowley-Doyle, Frank Duffy, Simon James Green, Leo Greenfield, Saffa Khan, Karen Lawler, David Levithan, Priyanka Meenakshi, Alice Oseman, Michael Lee Richardson, David Roberts, Cynthia So, Kay Staples, Jessica Vallance, Kristen Van Dam and Kameron White

Genre: Contemporary (prose, poetry and illustartions)

Release date: March 7th

Summary: A stirring, bold and moving anthology of stories and poetry by top LGBTQ+ YA authors and new talent, giving their unique responses to the broad theme of pride. A celebration of LGBTQ+ talent, Proud is a thought-provoking, funny, emotional read.

4. Hungry Hearts

Edited by: Elsie Chapman and Caroline Tung Richmond

Contributors: S. K. Ali, Adi Alsaid, Elsie Chapman, Rin Chupeco, Jay Coles, Sara Farizan, Sangu Mandanna, Anna-Marie McLemore, Sandhya Menon, Phoebe North, Karuna Riazi, Caroline Tung Richmond and Rebecca Roanhorse

Genre: Varied

Release date: June 18th

Summary: Welcome to Hungry Hearts Row, where the answers to most of life’s hard questions are kneaded, rolled, baked. Where a typical greeting is, “Have you had anything to eat?” Where magic and food and love are sometimes one and the same. Told in interconnected short stories, Hungry Hearts explores the many meanings food can take on beyond mere nourishment.

5. Colour Outside the Lines

Edited by: Sangu Mandanna

Contributors: Adam Silvera, Samira Ahmed, Michelle Ruiz Keil, Danielle Paige, Eric Smith, Sangu Mandanna, Elsie Chapman, Anna-Marie McLemore, Lauren Gibaldi, Kelly Zekas and Tarun Shanker, Lori M. Lee, Caroline Tung Richmond, Karuna Riazi, L.L. McKinney, Tara Sim and Lydia Kang

Genre: Varied

Release date: November 12th

Pitch: This modern, groundbreaking YA anthology explores the complexity and beauty of relationships where differences are front and center. Featuring stories about Chinese ghost pirates, colonial India, a female Hades, Black vigilantes, a flower festival and so much more, Color Outside The Lines is a collection of stories about young, fierce, brilliantly hopeful characters in love.

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Do you love reading anthologies? I personally started loving them ever since I read A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Ellen Oh and Elsie Chapman. What anthologies or short story collections are you looking forward to in 2019? Let’s discuss in the comments section below.

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