Rural voices : 15 authors challenge assumptions about small-town America

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Title:

Rural voices : 15 authors challenge assumptions about small-town America

ISBN:

9781536212105

Edition:

1st ed.

Physical Description:

300 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm.

Contents:

The (unhealthy) breakfast club / The hole of Dark Kill Hallow / A border kid comes of age / Fish and fences / Close enough / Whiskey and champagne / What home is / Island rodeo queen / Best in show / Praise the Lord and pass the Little Debbies / The cabin / Black nail polish / Secret menu / Pull up a seat around the stove / Home waits

Reading Level:

860 L Lexile

Subject Term:

Cities and towns -- United States -- Fiction.

Small cities -- United States -- Fiction.

Country life -- United States -- Fiction.

Communities -- United States -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

United States -- Rural conditions -- Fiction.

Genre:

Essays.

Poetry.

Short stories.

Added Author:

Carpenter, Nora Shalaway Close enough.

Roe, Monica, 1978- (Unhealthy) breakfast club.

Costello, Rob Hole of Dark Kill Hallow

Bowles, David (David O.) Border kid comes of age.

Bybee, Veeda, Fish and fences.

Bybee, Veeda, Secret menu.

Cosby, S. A. Whiskey and champange.

Pérez, Ashley Hope, What a home is.

Méndez, Yamile Saied Island rodeo queen.

Price, Tirzah,

Gill, David Macinnis, 1963- Praise the Lord and pass the Little Debbies.

Hopson, Nasug̊raq Rainey Cabin.

Carys, Shae, Black nail polish

Bruchac, Joseph, 1942- Pull up a seat around the stove.

Laure, Estelle Home waits.

Summary:

For most of America's history, rural people and culture have been casually mocked, stereotyped, and, in general, deeply misunderstood. Now an array of short stories, poetry, graphic short stories, and personal essays, along with anecdotes from the authors' real lives, dives deep into the complexity and diversity of rural America and the people who call it home. Fifteen extraordinary authors--diverse in ethnic background, sexual orientation, geographic location, and socioeconomic status--explore the challenges, beauty, and nuances of growing up in rural America. From a mountain town in New Mexico to the gorges of New York to the arctic tundra of Alaska, you'll find yourself visiting parts of this country you might not know existed--and meet characters whose lives might be surprisingly similar to your own. --

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake)	TEEN FICTION RUR	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Park Grove Library (Cottage Grove)	TEEN FICTION RUR	Searching... Unknown
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury)	TEEN FICTION RUR	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Stillwater Public Library	TEEN FICTION RUR	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Think you know what rural America is like? Discover a plurality of perspectives in this enlightening anthology of stories that turns preconceptions on their head.

Gracie sees a chance of fitting in at her South Carolina private school, until a "white trash"-themed Halloween party has her steering clear of the rich kids. Samuel's Tejano family has both stood up to oppression and been a source of it, but now he's ready to own his true sexual identity. A Puerto Rican teen in Utah discovers that being a rodeo queen means embracing her heritage, not shedding it. . . .

For most of America's history, rural people and culture have been casually mocked, stereotyped, and, in general, deeply misunderstood. Now an array of short stories, poetry, graphic short stories, and personal essays, along with anecdotes from the authors' real lives, dives deep into the complexity and diversity of rural America and the people who call it home. Fifteen extraordinary authors--diverse in ethnic background, sexual orientation, geographic location, and socioeconomic status--explore the challenges, beauty, and nuances of growing up in rural America. From a mountain town in New Mexico to the gorges of New York to the arctic tundra of Alaska, you'll find yourself visiting parts of this country you might not know existed--and meet characters whose lives might be surprisingly similar to your own.

Featuring contributors:
David Bowles
Joseph Bruchac
Veeda Bybee
Nora Shalaway Carpenter
Shae Carys
S. A. Cosby
Rob Costello
Randy DuBurke
David Macinnis Gill
Nasugraq Rainey Hopson
Estelle Laure
Yamile Saied Méndez
Ashley Hope Pérez
Tirzah Price
Monica Roe

Author Notes

Nora Shalaway Carpenter is a graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and is the author of the young adult novel The Edge of Anything and the picture book Yoga Frog . Previously, she worked as associate editor of Wonderful West Virginia magazine and has been a certified yoga teacher since 2012. Originally from West Virginia, Nora Shalaway Carpenter currently lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her husband, three young children, and the world's most patient dog and cat.

Reviews (3)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 9 Up--In this collection, 15 authors give a voice to rural America, which is often misunderstood. From upstate New York to the middle of Alaska, these stories span geographic as well as emotional landscapes. Although the obstacles and challenges faced in each tale vary, each voice feels authentic. From Sunny's deeply physical bond to achingly beautiful Taos, NM, to Jesse's struggle to accept himself in the face of his father's disappointment, readers will feel connected with each entry. The variety of formats, such as poetry and graphic stories, along with a variety of voices, helps keep the pages turning and interest high. From laughing out loud to holding back tears, readers who enjoy emotionally resonant books will not be disappointed. Those from similar geographic areas will be nodding their heads while every reader, regardless of location, will connect to the universal triumphs and tribulations of teen life. Fans of Rainbow Rowell will dive headfirst into this collection. VERDICT A great addition that explores an often misrepresented portion of readers.--Carrie Finberg, South Park H.S., PA

Publisher's Weekly Review

With carefully curated precision spanning poetry, comic, and prose, this anthology turns the spotlight on young adults living in rural areas of the United States. Providing an impactful opening is Monica M. Roe's "The (Unhealthy) Breakfast Club," highlighting the unlikely friendship among four scholarship students from below the poverty line at an elite school in South Carolina. In his poetry series "A Border Kid Comes of Age," David Bowles poignantly examines what it means to be Latinx and bisexual. Veeda Bybee's "Fish and Fences" delves into a small town in Idaho where the protagonist, a child of Laotian refugees, is often mistaken for a member of the only other Asian family in town. And Tirzah Price's "Best in Show" is a standout, offering a resonant look at a Michigan teenager who feels she must defend her passion for pig showing while struggling to act upon her queerness. Themes including self-discovery, expression, and self-acceptance thread throughout. While some entries may hold less appeal than others, the wide range of representation ensures that readers will find an authentic voice to their liking. Ages 14--up. (Oct.)

Kirkus Review

A diverse selection of stories reflecting the different ways of life led by rural teens in the U.S. Despite stereotypes, the lives of teens in rural communities are varied. Editor and contributor Carpenter states her intention to present an alternative to the idea of rural America as a monolith, one that is frequently regarded with mockery and contempt. Featuring stories set in 12 states, the tales' formats include verse, graphic novel, memoir, as well as prose. Locales range from the southern and western sections of the country to Alaska and upstate New York. The teen protagonists, like the contributors, come from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and issues of class emerge in surprising ways. Some characters grapple with ideas about who they are in relation to their environments while others are clear about what they gain from their rural identities. The strength of the collection is how well it demonstrates the universality of themes such as belonging, family struggles, grief, the desire for individual growth, the meaning of home, and challenging injustice. At the same time, cultural specificity is highlighted and celebrated. The compilation successfully meets the challenge of serving as a cohesive whole while providing readers with enough variety of tone, pace, and voice to keep the reading experience interesting. A fresh and highly accessible contribution. (map, contributor biographies) (Anthology. 12-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Monica RoeRob CostelloDavid BowlesVeeda BybeeNora Shalaway CarpenterS. A. CosbyAshley Hope PérezYamile Saied MéndezRandy DuBurkeTirzah PriceDavid Macinnis GillNasugraq Rainey HopsonShae CarysVeeda BybeeJoseph BruchacEstelle Laure

Introduction	p. xi
The (Unhealthy) Breakfast Club	p. 1
The Hole of Dark Kill Hollow	p. 22
A Border Kid Comes of Age	p. 45
Fish and Fences	p. 62
Close Enough	p. 83
Whiskey and Champagne	p. 106
What Home Is	p. 117
Island Rodeo Queen	p. 129
Grandpa	p. 152
Best in Show	p. 172
Praise the Lord and Pass the Little Debbies	p. 198
The Cabin	p. 212
Black Nail Polish	p. 227
Secret Menu	p. 247
Pull Up a Seat Around the Stove	p. 259
Home Waits	p. 279
About the Contributors	p. 301
Acknowledgments	p. 318

Available:*

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

Summary

Author Notes

Reviews (3)

School Library Journal Review

Publisher's Weekly Review

Kirkus Review

Table of Contents

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