As Dann and Gevers explain in their brief but excellent introduction, the Victorian age holds a unique place in the imagination as a period when the supernatural and technology (the ghosts and gaslight of their title) were held in almost equal esteem, and the permeable boundary between the two powers the 17 extraordinary stories in this compilation. From James Morrow’s opening tale “The Iron Shroud,” through exquisite stories by John Langan and Richard Harland, the collection again and again questions how much control humans have over the machines they create and how much they truly know about the world. Mark Flowers, John F. Kennedy Library, Vallejo, CA Adult/High School And lurking just beneath this primary theme is the Read more…

by Datlow, Ellen and Terri WindlingHave you ever wandered alone and felt someone looking at you, only to turn around and find no one there? The Green Man: Tales from the Mythic Forest shows who might have been watching you from a place just beyond today’s ordinary world. Top fantasy writers – such as Neil Gaiman, Charles de Lint and Jane Yolen – give their own magical twist and turn to unraveling the mysteries beyond the powers of the spirit of nature. Charles Vess’s evocative illustrations further add to the enchantment found within a place set apart from time, a place where Green Man whispers in your ear, a place waiting for just you…the Mythic Forest.- reviewed by Amanda, Sugar Creek Branch, Read more…

by Flake, Sharon G.This book of short stories set in urban settings is both sweet and sour at the same time. The sour includes tales of frustrated love, negative self-images, and even one story about a murder. But the sour is mixed with sweet in stories relating to real love, family relationships, and an absent father’s love for his young daughter. Flake’s usual style of having her characters be brutally honest, as they talk in the first person about their lives and actions, shines through in each story. Readers will possibly recognize a little bit of themselves or their friends in these stories and come away with something to talk about. – reviewed by Jeanenne, Steele Creek Branch, Read more…

by Johnson, AngelaHave you ever had a friend who was a Robin Hood of pets? How about a friend from the inner city who was in love with barns? After reading this book of well written short stories, you will. Angela Johnson pulls you into the world of twelve different characters that face social issues as diverse as their personalities. You’ll giggle at the silliness of a girl writing a tragic good-bye letter to a hair salon and do anything but laugh at the tale of a man who pushes around empty egg cartons. Each story is fast paced with dynamic characters who deal with the hand life has dealt them in surprising ways. Johnson covers a broad range of social issues without ever losing momentum. – reviewed by Debra, Independence Read more…

by Cabot, Meg; Harrison, Kim; Jaffe, Michelle; Meyer, Stephenie; Myracle, LaurenI bet you dreamed of your prom night, right? But, I bet you have not dreamed up a prom like these five authors. Meg Cabot, Kim Harrison, Michelle Jaffe, Stephanie Meyer and Lauren Myracle have created five paranormal prom stories that have taken the prom experience to new heights. Lauren Myracle, best known for her novels TTYL, and TTFN, delves into the art of fortune telling and curses in her story, “The Corsage”. A story about a girl, her dream prom date and a wish gone bad, “The Corsage” is a bone tingling good read. With stories about vampires, angels versus devils, grim reapers and a boy rising from the dead you will not be disappointed in these Read more…