Barb's YA Reads: All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages by Saundra Mitchell

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Mitchell, S., Anna-Marie Mclemore, Parker, N. C., Nilah Magruder, Lee, M., Talley, R., Lo,

M., Adler, D., Scelsa, K., Wake, E., Tracey, S., Sharpe, T., Sanchez, A., Kody Keplinger,

Farizan, S., Gratton, T., Shaun David Hutchinson, & Tehlor Kay Mejia. (2018). All Out:

The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages. Harlequin Teen.

ISBN 9781335470454

PLOT SUMMARY

In this young adult novel, this novel is a collection of stories by different authors. The authors

are young adults from the LGBTQ community writing their own short stories and edited by

Saundra Mitchell.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This unique novel is made of fictional short stories that resemble situations of where people

might have found themselves realizing that they were different from others. This lovely

novel that I am sure is highly relatable to many people when they have that “AHA”

moment of realization. This novel can be relatable to anybody, whether LGBTQ or not,

that has ever felt awkward, out of place, different and is comforting to know that you are

not alone. I really enjoyed this novel, and it just reminds me of when I was younger and

feeling those moments of being misunderstood, craving to feel that normalcy.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

"Sumptuous language, plentiful historical detail, and satisfying endings....Readers searching

for positive, nuanced, and authentic queer representation-or just a darn good selection of

stories-need look no further than this superb collection."

–Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"LGBTQIA story collections are scarce, but even if they weren't, this one would be essential."

--Booklist

"The diversity is refreshing... well written...Give to those teens who don't read full novels

but still long for LGBTQ representation. A strong choice for most collections."

–School Library Journal

CONNECTIONS

"Historical fiction has not been very common in queer YA, and All Out is here to change

that. Queer people have so often been erased from history that it can feel as if we have

no roots. All Out imagines the lives of queer teens throughout different time periods,

often playing with genre (retellings, fairy tales, magical realism, fantasy) as well. Not

only does this imagine queer histories, it imagines happy ones! It also features a range

of identities, including trans, gay, lesbian, asexual, and aromantic characters."

– Vulture

Companion Anthologies:

Barb's YA Reads