We Mostly Come Out at Night

April 1, 2024
Fifteen tales ranging in genre, tone, and setting are united through their inclusion of monsters and explorations of queerness. Featuring a mix of new voices and well-known published YA authors (including Kalynn Bayron, David Bowles, and Sam J. Miller), this short story collection includes fantastic creatures varying from spooky to tenderhearted and from familiar to unique. Readers will encounter beasts, witches, shape-shifters, angels, trolls, and more. The human and humanoid characters are racially diverse, and a range of queer and trans identities are represented and affirmed. Sometimes the main character interacts with a monster, while in other tales the protagonist is the monster. Regardless, the characters often find that embracing what makes them different gives them power and peace. In most tales, the awareness, acknowledgment, and acceptance of queer identities is paramount. An editor's note warns of content involving pain and trauma (the stories contain elements of homophobia and transphobia), but ultimately there's hope in every story. Each tale opens with a striking illustration and ends with a short reflection from the author about monsters, some poignant and some inconsequential. The stand-out stories are emotionally gripping with fully realized characters and distinct settings, while a few feel underbaked and forgettable. Still, the collection as a whole is compelling and rich with fascinating beasties that provide new twists on monster lore. An uneven collection worthwhile for its strong queer-affirming stance and thought-provoking depictions of monsters. (Anthology. 14-18)

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June 1, 2024

Gr 10 Up-An ambitious anthology centering queer monstrosity in all its forms. Each entry opens with a stunning black-and-white chapter illustration, whetting readers' appetites for the tale to follow. Stories range from ethereal fairy-tale retellings to dystopian quests of teens seeking love and acceptance in dust-soaked, drowned-out Earths. A young girl in Uruguay summons a sea witch to erase her queer feelings; the mirror-bound subject of a fearsome childhood rhyme lures readers to switch lives. This 15-story collection is unique in its diverse portrayals of monsters and of LGBTQIA+ teens, though it is uneven in tone and quality. Some stories feel rich and developed, while others drop readers into a plot that seems to never fully start. The motif of embracing difference and finding connection in the margins, even if it's just with oneself, creates the hopeful throughline tying these pieces together. An editor's note includes content warnings for addiction, poverty, grief, homelessness, and abortion alongside transphobia and homophobia. While this may not be a text to devour in one sitting, readers will likely savor a few stories at a time and revisit their favorites. It could also be utilized in creative writing spaces to prompt teens to explore their own monstrous narratives. VERDICT A solid collection of speculative queer YA, fitting for monster lovers. Recommended for fans of the various notable contributors to this collection.-Ashleigh Williams

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