Losing It

August 26, 2013
Ten authors approach the subject of losing one’s virginity from a variety of angles in a collection of stories first published in the U.K. In Andrew Smith’s “Green Screen,” one of two stories original to the U.S. edition, a dorky sophomore feels out of his depth when he’s partnered with a 12th-grade “reformed slut” on a class project; A.S. King inverts the idea of a “promise ring” in the other new story, as the ring a girl receives from an older guy turns out to stand for very little. In Patrick Ness’s “Different for Boys,” about the changing relationships among a group of boys, profanity and mentions of sex are blacked out like a classified document. Mary Hooper offers a welcome bit of historical perspective with the heartbreaking story of a Victorian girl forced into prostitution, while Bali Rai contributes a brutal account of an honor killing. While sex and its implications loom in the minds of nearly all of the characters, the authors are more interested in the buildup to, aftermath of, and emotions surrounding the act than in the act itself. Sometimes funny, sometimes painful, and thoroughly thought-provoking. Ages 14–up.

November 1, 2013

Gr 9 Up-This collection of short stories about firsts-specifically first sexual experiences-includes serious, comic, tragic, historical, and cultural selections. Contributors include Melvin Burgess, Patrick Ness, A.S. King, Andrew Smith, and several other, mostly well-known YA authors. Some entries are stronger than others, and cover the gamut: a Victorian girl having to turn to prostitution in order to help support her brothers, a nerdy boy paired with a "reformed slut" for a class project, a boy wondering if all the sexual fooling around with a male friend means he's no longer a virgin, a girl picked up for shoplifting a music CD for her boyfriend, an Indian girl visiting her relatives who finally learns the truth about the death of her aunt, a student athlete wondering if he will ruin the team's chances in the championship game if he has sex, and a health teacher remembering her experiences as a teen. The stories are uniformly engaging and polished, but a few reference British personalities and incidents with which most readers will not be familiar. None of the stories are graphic, but the subject matter alone will interest older teens and give insight into this rite of passage.-Suanne B. Roush, Osceola High School, Seminole, FL

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2013
The "it" in question is likely just what those noticing the title will expect in this beautifully varied collection of 10 short stories about teens losing their virginity. Most of the well-known authors here have a flair for getting inside the heads of the people about whom they write, and common themes emerge. Often wickedly funny and deceptively insightful, these stories are populated with multidimensional characters who delve into issues such as body shame, reputation and the disconnect involved for teens in talking honestly with adults about sex. One of the undeniable jewels here is the offering by Patrick Ness, "Different for Boys," which carries off a brilliant metaexamination of the supposedly controversial nature of writing about sex for teens by using black bars to censor sexual language. "Certain words are necessary...but you can't actually show 'em because we're too young to read about the stuff we actually do, yeah?" remarks the protagonist. The only real break in the cohesion is a work of historical fiction by Mary Hooper, in which an impoverished young woman is forced into prostitution--its melodramatic tone is at odds with the contemporary feel of the rest. This is a fresh, smart collection with a can't-lose subject. (Short stories. 14 & up)

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January 1, 2014
Ten authors contribute short fiction on the topic of virginity. In most stories, contemporary teens contemplate the potential risk and reward of entering sexual relationships. Two historical pieces--the tale of a destitute Victorian girl contemplating prostitution and the chilling story of an honor killing in India--provide cultural and historical perspective to the discussion. A polished, cohesive, and thought-provoking collection.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)