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pardonmywritings's review
5.0
I was super excited about this new release by @stripesbooks and it did not disappoint! 📣 A Change is Gonna Come is brimming with Young Adult stories of different genres from history to contemporary to magical realism and dystopia. And they're all written by fantastic black, Asian and minority ethnic writers! Ayisha Malik, Nikesh Shukla and Musa Okwonga to name a few! Does it get better than that?
ashortbooklover's review
5.0
A top contender for one of the best books I've read this year. Gripping, powerful and moving. This is a must-read.
hobbes199's review
4.0
3.5 *
Anthologies are tricky beasts; too long and they feel like a chore, too short and they lose purpose. This anthology of UK BAME writers falls somewhere in-between.
The outstanding short stories here are: 'Astounding Talent! Unequaled performance!' by Catherine Johnson- a fictional retelling of the Georgian circus performer William Darby/Pablo Fanque, a Black orphan who became a renowned circus owner in his own right; 'The Clean Sweep' by Patrice Lawrence about a dystopic regressive therapy program run in desolate Brighton; and Yasmin Rahman's 'Fortune Favours the Bold' about a Muslim teen finding confidence after a recent terror attack. What made these three stories stand out for me above the others was the fact that they were coherent and the author seemed passionate about the topic.
Whilst the other tales were decent, they were either let down by their structure, plot devices, or narrative voices that just didn't feel right for the scenario.
I'd recommend this for readers aged 13+. TW for bereavement, Islamaphobia, OCD, Racism, Terrorism. Also contains sexual references.
Anthologies are tricky beasts; too long and they feel like a chore, too short and they lose purpose. This anthology of UK BAME writers falls somewhere in-between.
The outstanding short stories here are: 'Astounding Talent! Unequaled performance!' by Catherine Johnson- a fictional retelling of the Georgian circus performer William Darby/Pablo Fanque, a Black orphan who became a renowned circus owner in his own right; 'The Clean Sweep' by Patrice Lawrence about a dystopic regressive therapy program run in desolate Brighton; and Yasmin Rahman's 'Fortune Favours the Bold' about a Muslim teen finding confidence after a recent terror attack. What made these three stories stand out for me above the others was the fact that they were coherent and the author seemed passionate about the topic.
Whilst the other tales were decent, they were either let down by their structure, plot devices, or narrative voices that just didn't feel right for the scenario.
I'd recommend this for readers aged 13+. TW for bereavement, Islamaphobia, OCD, Racism, Terrorism. Also contains sexual references.
taegibee's review
3.0
Favourites include: Nikesh Shukla, Yasmin Rahman and Phoebe Roy, they were all just *heart eyes*
ljbentley27's review
3.0
If I am honest, I am not a huge fan of the short story. I like to be lost in a book for 400 pages and be taken on an emotional rollercoaster as I read. However, sometimes a collection of short stories comes along and it has some real gems within its pages. The latest one of these is A Change is Gonna Come.
It is a collection of stories that gives a voice to the voiceless. The topics range from LGBT love, racism and terrorism among others. They are told from a perspective that we wouldn’t necessarily normally encounter.
As a reader I A Change is Gonna Come extremely interesting. As an educator I found it necessary. I will be reading a selection of these stories to my students.
Covering topics such as racism, terrorism and the LGBT community among others
A Change is Gonna Come by Various is available now.
For more information regarding Stripes Publishing (@StripesBooks) please visit www.littletiger.co.uk.
It is a collection of stories that gives a voice to the voiceless. The topics range from LGBT love, racism and terrorism among others. They are told from a perspective that we wouldn’t necessarily normally encounter.
As a reader I A Change is Gonna Come extremely interesting. As an educator I found it necessary. I will be reading a selection of these stories to my students.
Covering topics such as racism, terrorism and the LGBT community among others
A Change is Gonna Come by Various is available now.
For more information regarding Stripes Publishing (@StripesBooks) please visit www.littletiger.co.uk.
bibliyogi's review
3.0
I really loved some of the works, particularly those written by Catherine Johnson, Mary Bello and Yasmin Rahman!
lifeofpippa's review
5.0
Will be reviewing on the blog as one of my favourite reads in my quarterly 'Books You Need In Your Life' series!
- Life Of Pippa (www.lifeofpippa.co.uk/)
- Life Of Pippa (www.lifeofpippa.co.uk/)
flying_snow's review
4.0
Like any anthology, this contains some very good items and some less good. Unusually, however, these were all enjoyable and interesting enough to keep me engaged. Also unusually, I would describe over half of them as "very good."
My personal favourites:
- The Elders on the Wall
- Marionette Girl
- Hackney Moon
- Dear Asha
- A Refuge
- The Unwritten Future of Moses Mohammad Shabazz Banneker King
- Fortune Favours the Bold
My personal favourites:
- The Elders on the Wall
- Marionette Girl
- Hackney Moon
- Dear Asha
- A Refuge
- The Unwritten Future of Moses Mohammad Shabazz Banneker King
- Fortune Favours the Bold
charlottesomewhere's review
5.0
A Change is Gonna Come is a brilliant collection of short stories and poems from a variety of excellent authors, some authors whose work I was already familiar with and several who were new to me. All the pieces related to being marginalised or oppressed in some way and showed the need for change.
I loved that there was an index of issues covered as a kind of trigger-warning for readers and also a resources section for anyone affected by the issues raised.
Everything in the collection is brilliant and has a different take on the subject of change. My favourite in the collectiom was Aisha Bushby's Marionette Girl, a story about Amani, who has OCD, trying to negotiate a world with rituals, until one day something happens that forces her to do something brave. I also loved Hackney Moon by Tanya Burne, which offers a different narrative perspective and tells the story of Esther on thr precipice of an important decision. I loved seeing how Esther grew and changed and the ending melted my heart. We Who was one of the most heart-breaking in the collection, telling a story of friendship and racism that stuck in my mind long after I finished it. Every piece in this collection is wonderful in its own way.
I really can't recommend A Change is Gonna Come highly enough: every reader needs a copy on their shelf.
I loved that there was an index of issues covered as a kind of trigger-warning for readers and also a resources section for anyone affected by the issues raised.
Everything in the collection is brilliant and has a different take on the subject of change. My favourite in the collectiom was Aisha Bushby's Marionette Girl, a story about Amani, who has OCD, trying to negotiate a world with rituals, until one day something happens that forces her to do something brave. I also loved Hackney Moon by Tanya Burne, which offers a different narrative perspective and tells the story of Esther on thr precipice of an important decision. I loved seeing how Esther grew and changed and the ending melted my heart. We Who was one of the most heart-breaking in the collection, telling a story of friendship and racism that stuck in my mind long after I finished it. Every piece in this collection is wonderful in its own way.
I really can't recommend A Change is Gonna Come highly enough: every reader needs a copy on their shelf.