First-Year Orientation
This is an incredibly fun anthology of short stories that all take place on the first day of college orientation.
My story is called “I’m Ric Clingerman,” about a former child actor from a hit Netflix comedy called It’s A Family Thing who wants to distance himself from that identity as he tries to figure out who he’s going to be during college. It’s funny and sweet. But you don’t have to take my word for it!
“Charming. . . The stories explore the push and pull of moving into a new, more independent life stage with humor and compassion, and they portray a wide range of experiences and identities. . . There’s an effortlessness to the representation, with fully fleshed-out characters grappling with their sense of self that isn’t defined by identity politics. . . . By turns realist and surrealist, funny and tender, these stories have something for any teen starting to think about college and will leave them with the reassurance that there’s plenty of magic ahead.”
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)
“These 16 contemporary stories about the first day of college address the unsettling mix of feelings caused by launching into a new life in an unfamiliar place. . . . The stories are cleverly interlinked, with characters making cameos in other stories or experiencing different sides of the same events. . . A strong short story collection focusing on a life-changing transition.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“This title presents readers with 16 short stories which portray 16 different experiences of the first day at college. . . each vignette has a unique voice. . . . may help serve as a foundation for students to foster a sense of empathy within their current and future social circles. . . . All the stories evoke the humor and/or the raw emotions that totally new environments can bring out in people. The stories are written by a diverse collection of authors and the stories reflect this, representing different groups with voices of authenticity.”
—School Library Connection
Official description:
Sixteen acclaimed authors—including a National Book Award nominee, a New York Times best-selling novelist, and a beloved actress—join forces for a cross-genre YA anthology of linked short stories about the first days of college.
Jilly cannot believe her parents keep showing up at all of her orientation events. (Except, yes, she can totally believe that.) Isaac wants to be known as someone other than the kid who does magic and has an emotional support bunny. Lilly is stuck working at the college bookstore during orientation (but maybe new friends are closer than they appear). Hira, meanwhile, just wants to retire from ghost hunting once and for all, but a spirit in the library’s romance section has other ideas. For their sophomore effort, the contributing editors behind the critically acclaimed Battle of the Bands admit us to opening day at a fictional college, with a collection that makes an ideal high school graduation gift or “summer-before” read. This colorful array of stories spans genres and moods—from humorous to heartfelt to ghostly—tackling with sensitivity, humor, and warmth what it feels like to take those first shaky steps into adulthood.
With stories by:
Adi Alsaid * Anna Birch * Bryan Bliss * Gloria Chao * Jennifer Chen * Olivia A. Cole * Dana L. Davis * Kristina Forest * Lauren Gibaldi * Kathleen Glasgow * Sam Maggs * Farah Naz Rishi * Lance Rubin * Aminah Mae Safi * Eric Smith * Phil Stamper
It’s A Whole Spiel
I'm honored and delighted to be a part of It's a Whole Spiel, a YA fiction #ownvoices anthology of Jewish stories by Jewish writers, out now from Knopf.
My story is entitled “Jewbacca.” It mainly takes place at a Hanukkah party, and it’s funny, honest, and awkward.
I’ve read all the other stories, and I can attest to how truly wonderful they are. This is a perfect gift for any Jewish teens in your life. Non-Jewish teens will appreciate it, too!
“This collection provides a refreshing opportunity for Jewish teens of many beliefs and backgrounds to see themselves—and for others to see them—in stories that are as much about entertainment as they are about Jewishness.” —The Horn Book
“The stories are vibrant and honest portrayals of contemporary teenage life…sincere and enlightening stories about achieving self-acceptance.” —Kirkus
“The voices throughout feel confiding, empathic, with just the right amount of self-deprecating humor…And throughout, the underlying assurance is that the world is largely benign or benevolent.”
—Publishers Weekly
Official description:
Get ready to fall in love, experience heartbreak, and discover the true meaning of identity in this poignant collection of short stories about Jewish teens, including entries by David Levithan, Nova Ren Suma, and more!
A Jewish boy falls in love with a fellow counselor at summer camp. A group of Jewish friends take the trip of a lifetime. A girl meets her new boyfriend's family over Shabbat dinner. Two best friends put their friendship to the test over the course of a Friday night. A Jewish girl feels pressure to date the only Jewish boy in her grade. Hilarious pranks and disaster ensue at a crush's Hanukkah party.
From stories of confronting their relationships with Judaism to rom-coms with a side of bagels and lox, It's a Whole Spiel features one story after another that says yes, we are Jewish, but we are also queer, and disabled, and creative, and political, and adventurous, and anything we want to be. You will fall in love with this insightful, funny, and romantic Jewish anthology from a collection of diverse Jewish authors.