Girl Meets Boy by various authors, ed. by Kelly Milner Halls

Girl Meets Boy

ed. by Kelly Milner Halls

Stories by: Kelly Milner Halls, Chris Crutcher, Rebecca Fjelland Davis, Terry Davis, Terry Trueman, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Rita Williams-Garcia, Sara Ryan , more...Randy Powell, Ellen Wittlinger, James Howe, Joseph Bruchac

Published by Chronicle Books

Publication Date: December 28, 2011

Source:  Publisher







 
 What do guys and girls really think? Twelve of the most dynamic and engaging YA authors writing today team up for this one-of-a-kind collection of he said/she said stories he tells it from the guy's point of view, she tells it from the girl's. These are stories of love and heartbreak. There's the good-looking jock who falls for a dangerous girl, and the flipside, the toxic girl who never learned to be loved; the basketball star and the artistic (and shorter) boy she never knew she wanted; the gay boy looking for love online and the girl who could help make it happen. Each story in this unforgettable collection teaches us that relationships are complicated because there are two sides to every story.

My Thoughts: 

I was so excited when I first found out about Girl Meets Boy. The title immediately drew me in because it clearly was going to be about relationships. Collaborating authors telling stories from alternating perspectives. Another plus in my book. And yes, a cover that I really like. 

Each story was unique in its own way telling the stories of girls and boys as they build new relationships, reveal crushes, reveal secrets and allow others to see who they really are. Just as in life, not all of the characters are perfect. 

In the first story collection by Chris Crutcher and Kelly Milner Halls, we meet Johnny who wants to learn how to find a girlfriend who isn't so needy or insecure or need a boyfriend who takes care of her. So he approaches one of the toughest girls in school, Wanda Wickam. She appears to have it all together,  but he finds that she needs to be cared for just as much as all of the others. But he needs to learn how to start taking care of himself too.


One of my favorite stories is the collaboration by James Howe/Ellen Wittlinger "Want to Meet"/"Meeting for Real" - the characters of these stories come together because of the need for hope and the possibility of friendship. Alex isn't exactly who she says she is when she introduces herself to Max, but she wants him to be exactly who he says he is to help strengthen her belief in the goodness of people. It ironic that she must present herself as a lie, in order to truth in others. But I don't dislike her because of it. She is actually one of my favorite characters in this collection.


Another story that I liked was "Launchpad to Neptune" by Sara Ryan and Randy Powell. This story is told differently because both perspectives are intertwined to tell Stephanie and Gavin's story. They share a long history of friendship that changes after one rejected kiss. One moment of misunderstanding that isn't reconciled until several years later. This is when we meet Stephanie and Gavin. I love the opening lines to this story:

"The hardest decision the day I was going to meet Gavin: what to wear. 'Your prom dress of course sweetie,' said Dean. 'Shut up,' I said. Then I said the hell with it and wore what I always wear these days. It didn't matter." (pg. 171) 


This is so telling in how this story is going to play out and it made me want to read it quickly to see how it is going to affect the future relationship between the friends and if their friendship will even continue.

I connected with some of the stories more than the others, but they were all filled with characters that I would want to read about again. I want to know what the future holds for Kerry and Rafi from "Mouths of the Granges"/"Mars at Night" after they finally admit to truth of their relationship to their parents.

I also enjoyed Girl Meets Boy because it introduced me to a lot of new authors whose works I'd never read before.  I will be reading their writing in the future, that is a given. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes reading stories told from alternating perspectives, and stories about realistic relationships between girls and boys.

I received Girl Meets Boy from the publisher and author Kelly Milner Halls in exchange for my honest review.

Love My Indie with author Kelly Milner Halls

 

Love My Indie is a feature where fellow bloggers, readers, and authors tell me about their favorite independent bookstores. I love the feeling I get when I go into an independent bookstore - like it is filled with hidden treasures just waiting for me to find them. Maybe one day I will have the chance to visit these amazing bookstores.

Showing some Indie Love today is:

 

Kelly Milner Halls, children's author and

editor of Girl Meets Boy

Twelve years ago, I moved to Washington State from Colorado.  In terms of independent bookstores, I left the grand presence of the legendary Tattered Cover for regions unknown.  Finding Auntie's Bookstore made me certain I would soon call Spokane "home."

 

Chris Crutcher

I've had many of my own in-store events at Auntie's since 1999, but I fell in love with the store watching other authors take the podium.  My friend -- and the only person I knew in Spokane when I arrived -- Chris Crutcher took to the stage and taught me how to reach the general public with humor, humility and articulate grace.  "Let them know who you are," he once told me.  "Let them know why you write what you write."  Hundreds of people turned out to hear Crutcher share a part of himself, and many became my friends. 

Crutcher cut-out

Terry Trueman was one of them.  When Auntie's celebrated the release of his new book, Crutcher was supposed to introduce him, but a flight delay made it impossible.  With only minutes to spare, he emailed me a written statement and I made a Chris Crutcher mask.  With both their blessings, I stood in for Crutcher and read his humorous introduction with the mask covering my face.  It was a funny statement, but the cardboard face and his absence made it even funnier.  It is an Auntie's memory I will always cherish. 

Kelly Milner Halls

I organized a panel on how to write for young readers at Auntie's next.  The plan was to have me, Terry Trueman, Claire Rudolf Murphy, and Chris Crutcher on the stage together to talk about our work and share tips on how to break into the business, then welcome questions.  The turnout was exceptional, but once again, Crutcher was missing.  Another delayed flight.  Trueman couldn't resist himself, he's such a natural entertainer.  As I told the audience Crutcher was trapped in Denver, Trueman stood in mock anger and tossed Crutcher's chair from the four seat line up.  "Does that guy really exist?"  he questioned.  The audience howled and Crutcher was certainly there in spirit.

Fate did allow Crutcher to be at Auntie's a couple of years later to introduce Michael Harmon and his debut novel, SKATE.  Crutcher had mentored Harmon and shared the story of that relationship, start to finish.  I was lucky enough to write about Harmon in the local paper, the Spokesman Review, in advance of their presentation.  Hundreds of people turned out, and a new career was launched -- a career that has proved rich with meaning and fruitful.

Crutcher and Harmon

I limped to the podium to promote MYSTERIES OF THE MUMMY KIDS when I'd torn the ligaments in my right knee just hours earlier.  I barely remember that presentation at Auntie's, but they tell me I did fine, apart from scaring two preschoolers who weren't quite ready for a talk about dead kids throughout history. 

I shared dinosaur fossils with a robust group of curious kids in the Auntie's children's book section to promote DINOSAUR MUMMIES.  I made tiny albino mice bookmarks to promote ALBINO ANIMALS.  I share Sasquatch foot casts when TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS and IN SEARCH OF SASQUATCH were released.  I'll share alien evidence once ALIEN INVESTIGATION hits their shelves.  I've had my share of events on my own, thanks to the generosity of Auntie's.  But the memories of groups of people -- the sense of community -- is what makes Auntie's the best independent bookstore ever.  

I'll always be grateful for the store and the magical people who keep it up and running.  What magic will prevail when Terry Trueman, Terry Davis, Chris Crutcher and I gather to talk about my anthology for Chronicle Books, GIRL MEETS BOY, in the spring of 2012?  Each of us contributed a story to the collection, so sparks are sure to fly.  And who knows, Crutcher may actually find a way to show up.  Just in case, I think I'll invest on a life-size, cardboard Chris Crutcher stand up.  It just might come in handy.  : )   

 
Kelly is the author of nonfiction children's books, and hundreds of magazine articles and reviews. Her newest book In Search of Sasquatch was released this month and her upcoming anthology Girl Meets Boy will be released in early 2012. 

To learn more about Kelly, visit http://www.wondersofweird.com/