A review by shrrawat
Who Done It? by Jon Scieszka
4.0
Who Done It? That is the question the reader must ask after the death of the malodorous, malevolent, malignant, and whatever other adjective that start with "mal" editor Herman Mildew. The suspects include some of the most beloved YA and children authors. Each must provide their alibi to prove their innocence, but when it among people who lie and manufacture stories, who can you trust?
When I got this book, I was really excited. I have always had a soft spot for short stories (they're like mini-books making up one big book), and eighty of them? With authors like Libba Bray, Lemony Snicket, and John Green? I was in short story heaven.
However, the book ended up being a disappointment. Not that I didn't enjoy it. I did. But the expectations I had of the book, the standards I held for each of the authors, were not quite met. About half way through the book, I found many of the stories blurring together in my brain, until I could barely tell one from the others. There were, however, a few gems that shone through. I loved David Levithan's story, a play on the famous poem "This is Just to Say". Sarah Mlynowski and Courtney Sheinmel's tale had me laughing out loud. The new and original forms of other authors, were also greatly appreciated. Michael Northrop's story, though, was in my opinion, the best of all, and absolutely DEMANDS A SEQUEL.
In the end, I do tip my hat to each and every author who contributed to this anthology. Although I felt that their best work weren't present, I do appreciate that they did this only to advance a worthy organization such as 826 NYC.
When I got this book, I was really excited. I have always had a soft spot for short stories (they're like mini-books making up one big book), and eighty of them? With authors like Libba Bray, Lemony Snicket, and John Green? I was in short story heaven.
However, the book ended up being a disappointment. Not that I didn't enjoy it. I did. But the expectations I had of the book, the standards I held for each of the authors, were not quite met. About half way through the book, I found many of the stories blurring together in my brain, until I could barely tell one from the others. There were, however, a few gems that shone through. I loved David Levithan's story, a play on the famous poem "This is Just to Say". Sarah Mlynowski and Courtney Sheinmel's tale had me laughing out loud. The new and original forms of other authors, were also greatly appreciated. Michael Northrop's story, though, was in my opinion, the best of all, and absolutely DEMANDS A SEQUEL.
In the end, I do tip my hat to each and every author who contributed to this anthology. Although I felt that their best work weren't present, I do appreciate that they did this only to advance a worthy organization such as 826 NYC.