A review by abookwanderer
Up All Night: 13 Stories Between Sunset and Sunrise by Laura Silverman
medium-paced
4.0
Happy Paperback release to Up All Night, a YA anthology featuring talented authors who’ve spun creative tales set during my favorite time of day: the night! When this collection of short stories released last year, it quickly went on to-be-read list. So when I was invited to join in the paperback release blog tour, I quickly accepted!
I’ve always enjoyed reading anthologies, where I’m introduced to new-to-me authors or reunited with old favorites. They’re perfect to read when I’m busy and only have a short attention span, or if I need some kind of palate cleanser after a long or more intense book. While I’ve only read previous books by two of these authors, I found several new authors to add to my ever-growing TBR.
What I enjoyed most about this collection: so much representation and diversity—from sexuality to race to physical abilities. There’s something here for everyone. They’re all very well-written, too!
✶ Never Have I Ever by Karen M. McManus – 3.5 stars
A band-nerd party (boy, do I know about those!) that takes a turn when a popular kid crashes and takes over the festivities. I’ve read One of Us is Lying by McManus, which I enjoyed, so I knew this story would probably involve a murder. It took a surprising turn, though, and while I liked the ingenuity, I wasn’t sure if it made sense with the story. Maybe I just needed more time to connect with the characters?? But I still had fun with it!
✶ Like Before by Maurene Goo – 4 stars
Three high school besties have drifted apart and one of them is determined to remind the others of their past with an all-night scavenger hunt. This one was heartbreaking. It’s hard to grow up and apart.
✶ Old Rifts and Snowdrifts by Kayla Whaley – 4 stars
Wheelchair-bound Nori finds herself snowed-in with her ex-best friend at the flower shop where they work. This one was super sweet. Maybe even a little too sweet for me, but I loved the simplicity! And I’m always a fan of the snowed-in trope.
✶ Con Nights, Parallel Hearts by Marieke Nijkamp – 4.5 stars
I’ve read This is How it Ends by Nijkamp, so I knew she could pack a punch. This one is my favorite story, and probably the most creative! Friends are camping out the night before a convention and Quinn yearns to share her painful secret. The reader gets three parallel versions of Quinn’s decision. Heart-wrenching and so well-done, I was blown away by this one.
✶ Kiss the Boy by Amanda Joy – 4 stars
Ayana is determined to finally kiss her high school crush on Senior Night and her friends are determined to help. This one was super cute and sweet. Made me nostalgic for my own teen years.
✶ Creature Capture by Laura Silverman – 4.25 stars
Abby is determined to finally catch an illusive monster in her Pokemon Go-like game, Creature Capture. She learns a lot about herself and friendships along the way. Another super creative story, I enjoyed the straightforwardness of this one. Very well-written, as well.
✶ Shark Bait by Tiffany D. Jackson – 4.25 stars
Candice, a black teen, has recently escaped to Martha’s Vineyard where she falls for blue-eyed Hunter. But is he really what she needs or wants? I was very into this one, loving the writing, loving the deeper subject matter, the angst between the characters, but then it took a surprising turn. Which was also kind of cool and shocking?? I’m still not sure how I feel about it.
✶ A Place to Start by Nina LaCour – 4 stars
Two new step-siblings find themselves alone in their new house while their moms are on their honeymoon. Very sweet, I adored the simplicity of this one!
✶ When You Bring a Dog to Prom by Anna Meriano – 4 stars
A fun prom night adventure among friends and crushes. And a dog! Need I say more?
✶ Missing by Kathleen Glasgow – 4 stars
A group of friends search for ghosts at an abandoned women’s asylum. It doesn’t get much creepier than that, right?! I was not expecting how spooky this one became. Glasgow did a wonderful job weaving in deeper issues, as well.
✶ What About Your Friends by Brandy Colbert – 3 stars
An all-night dance marathon at college gets complicated when Michaela discovers the ex-best friend she ghosted is there, too. This was my least favorite. It felt unpolished to me, like there were a few odd transitions that didn’t make sense emotionally to the story.
✶ Under Our Masks by Julian Winters – 3.5 stars
An undercover teen superhero agrees to a stake-out with his crush to catch his alter ego. I liked the characters, the vibes between the two boys, the message, but I’m not a big superhero fan. It did have some powerful words, though.
“People expect us to take off our masks and reveal our secret identities so they can decide if we’re heroes or villains.”
✶ The Ghost of Goon Creek by Francesca Zappia – 3.5 stars
Sydney, the local expert on all things ghostly, is surprised when some of her classmates want to join her on her annual ghost hunting expedition. She’s convinced they must have ulterior motives but slowly learns making assumptions might be what’s keeping friendships at arms length. This one was sweet, with great characters, but I kept hoping it would get a little spookier. I saw another reviewer describe it as the origin story of the Scooby-Doo gang, and that feels so accurate.
I had fun reading this collection of short stories set during the night! Whether you’re a night owl or not, you’re sure to find something that speaks to you within this anthology.
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
I’ve always enjoyed reading anthologies, where I’m introduced to new-to-me authors or reunited with old favorites. They’re perfect to read when I’m busy and only have a short attention span, or if I need some kind of palate cleanser after a long or more intense book. While I’ve only read previous books by two of these authors, I found several new authors to add to my ever-growing TBR.
What I enjoyed most about this collection: so much representation and diversity—from sexuality to race to physical abilities. There’s something here for everyone. They’re all very well-written, too!
✶ Never Have I Ever by Karen M. McManus – 3.5 stars
A band-nerd party (boy, do I know about those!) that takes a turn when a popular kid crashes and takes over the festivities. I’ve read One of Us is Lying by McManus, which I enjoyed, so I knew this story would probably involve a murder. It took a surprising turn, though, and while I liked the ingenuity, I wasn’t sure if it made sense with the story. Maybe I just needed more time to connect with the characters?? But I still had fun with it!
✶ Like Before by Maurene Goo – 4 stars
Three high school besties have drifted apart and one of them is determined to remind the others of their past with an all-night scavenger hunt. This one was heartbreaking. It’s hard to grow up and apart.
✶ Old Rifts and Snowdrifts by Kayla Whaley – 4 stars
Wheelchair-bound Nori finds herself snowed-in with her ex-best friend at the flower shop where they work. This one was super sweet. Maybe even a little too sweet for me, but I loved the simplicity! And I’m always a fan of the snowed-in trope.
✶ Con Nights, Parallel Hearts by Marieke Nijkamp – 4.5 stars
I’ve read This is How it Ends by Nijkamp, so I knew she could pack a punch. This one is my favorite story, and probably the most creative! Friends are camping out the night before a convention and Quinn yearns to share her painful secret. The reader gets three parallel versions of Quinn’s decision. Heart-wrenching and so well-done, I was blown away by this one.
✶ Kiss the Boy by Amanda Joy – 4 stars
Ayana is determined to finally kiss her high school crush on Senior Night and her friends are determined to help. This one was super cute and sweet. Made me nostalgic for my own teen years.
✶ Creature Capture by Laura Silverman – 4.25 stars
Abby is determined to finally catch an illusive monster in her Pokemon Go-like game, Creature Capture. She learns a lot about herself and friendships along the way. Another super creative story, I enjoyed the straightforwardness of this one. Very well-written, as well.
✶ Shark Bait by Tiffany D. Jackson – 4.25 stars
Candice, a black teen, has recently escaped to Martha’s Vineyard where she falls for blue-eyed Hunter. But is he really what she needs or wants? I was very into this one, loving the writing, loving the deeper subject matter, the angst between the characters, but then it took a surprising turn. Which was also kind of cool and shocking?? I’m still not sure how I feel about it.
✶ A Place to Start by Nina LaCour – 4 stars
Two new step-siblings find themselves alone in their new house while their moms are on their honeymoon. Very sweet, I adored the simplicity of this one!
✶ When You Bring a Dog to Prom by Anna Meriano – 4 stars
A fun prom night adventure among friends and crushes. And a dog! Need I say more?
✶ Missing by Kathleen Glasgow – 4 stars
A group of friends search for ghosts at an abandoned women’s asylum. It doesn’t get much creepier than that, right?! I was not expecting how spooky this one became. Glasgow did a wonderful job weaving in deeper issues, as well.
✶ What About Your Friends by Brandy Colbert – 3 stars
An all-night dance marathon at college gets complicated when Michaela discovers the ex-best friend she ghosted is there, too. This was my least favorite. It felt unpolished to me, like there were a few odd transitions that didn’t make sense emotionally to the story.
✶ Under Our Masks by Julian Winters – 3.5 stars
An undercover teen superhero agrees to a stake-out with his crush to catch his alter ego. I liked the characters, the vibes between the two boys, the message, but I’m not a big superhero fan. It did have some powerful words, though.
“People expect us to take off our masks and reveal our secret identities so they can decide if we’re heroes or villains.”
✶ The Ghost of Goon Creek by Francesca Zappia – 3.5 stars
Sydney, the local expert on all things ghostly, is surprised when some of her classmates want to join her on her annual ghost hunting expedition. She’s convinced they must have ulterior motives but slowly learns making assumptions might be what’s keeping friendships at arms length. This one was sweet, with great characters, but I kept hoping it would get a little spookier. I saw another reviewer describe it as the origin story of the Scooby-Doo gang, and that feels so accurate.
I had fun reading this collection of short stories set during the night! Whether you’re a night owl or not, you’re sure to find something that speaks to you within this anthology.
Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer