Gr 9 Up-n Justina Ireland's alternative history story "Dread South," conversations about sexuality, racism, and the legacies of chattel slavery in the United States are deftly woven into a tale of zombies. In Rae Carson's contribution to this engaging short story collection, Earth has been destroyed by an asteroid. The futuristic tale leaves three teens alone on a foreign planet, where the sole female survivor makes a startling decision regarding the continuation of the human race. Vampires, residents of Mars, and high school students with supernatural powers all make appearances. More realistic contemporary entries include a college freshman deciding between two lovers; troubled young adults living in the midst of drugs and partying in Las Vegas; and two Oklahoma friends offering clandestine kissing classes. The authors use unique strategies for weaving together sexuality and relationships in their love trianglethemed prose. Some follow the classic romance format while others conjure up ancient wisdom of goddesses or infuse their characters with powers beyond their human capabilities. The depiction of various identities and romantic choices make this collection an inclusive, relevant one that is likely to foster acceptance among high school readers. VERDICT A recommended selection for libraries serving teens interested in short stories.Karin Greenberg, Queens College, NY

Love them or hate them, love triangles are an inarguable staple of YA romance. This collection, featuring 16 acclaimed authors, offers stories that play with and dismantle that most familiar of tropes. Some, like Julie Murphy's "Lessons for Beginners" and Brandy Colbert's "Hurdles," take a straightforward approach; in the former, a girl gives kissing lessons to couples, while in the latter, a star athlete is torn between her perfect boyfriend and the troubled boy she's always loved. Others take a different approach: E. K. Johnston takes a speculative look at three friends in three different universes, while Brenna Yovanoff's love triangle features a boy, a girl, and a city. There's sci-fi (Veronica Roth's "Vim and Vigor"), fantasy (Lamar Giles' "The Historian, the Garrison, and the Cantankerous Catwoman"), and, of course, the requisite vampires (Bethany Hagen's "Unus, Duo, Tres"). Not all stories are equally strong th a prompt like this, there are bound to be contrivances t those that work offer a fresh, and maybe redeeming, look at popular trope.

More than a dozen YA writers take swings at the classic love triangle in this 16-story anthology edited by Parker (Beware the Wild), which features an array of genres and settings. Katie Cotugno kicks off the collection with a poignant story about a newly out lesbian pining for her brother-s longtime best friend. In Rae Carson-s tense -Omega Ship,- the last three teens in the universe-only one of whom is a girl-consider how to continue the human race. Julie Murphy-s funny-sexy -Lessons for Beginners- is a highlight: her heroine-s moneymaking enterprise as a kissing instructor (aka the -Kisser Fixer-) gets personal when she falls for one half of a couple she is coaching. Renée Ahdieh turns in a seductive escapist tryst in Buenos Aires, and Justina Ireland offers a fierce tentative romance set in the zombie-riddled post-Civil War era of her forthcoming Dread Nation. Offerings from Brandy Colbert, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Garth Nix, Veronica Roth, Sabaa Tahir, and others bring additional romantic entanglements to a volume that has something for readers of all genders and orientations. Ages 14-up. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary (Dec.)