Loved the concept of this anthology! I loved how each story jumped from varying time periods, and not in chronological order. Overall, I was hoping for more diversity within the queer content, specifically, but amazing concept & great short stories! ( )

This collection of LGBTQ+ historical fiction was such an unexpected delight. From the first tale, inspired by an 1870's Mexican outlaw who defied gender norms, to the last, about the granddaughter of a curandera in 1930's New Mexico, every short story in this book was a new and exciting flavor. There was a retelling of the Robin Hood myth with a twist at the end, and a story set on the eve of Y2K in Massachusetts. (I am a little offended that 1999 is now considered "historical," but such is life.) Each one was a masterpiece that gave voice to people throughout history who hid in the shadows, concealed who they were, or feared to have what they desired most. This book deserves a place on the shelf of every high school library.

Loved the concept of this anthology! I loved how each story jumped from varying time periods, and not in chronological order. Overall, I was hoping for more diversity within the queer content, specifically, but amazing concept & great short stories! ( )

I found this collection to be very uneven, and think it could have benefited from more editorial oversight to make it more cohesive. I found it jarring to go back and forth between historical fiction and historical-based fantasy, and thought that many of the fantasy stories were trying to do more worldbuilding than they had space for in a short story, at the expense of developing characters and plot. In addition, the vast majority of stories in this collection are set in America or western Europe in the last 300 years, which was disappointing in an anthology subtitled "throughout the ages".

Out of the fantasy stories my favorites were by Anna-Marie McLemore and Tehlor Kay Mejia; both did a good job of limiting the scope of plot to something appropriate for a short story, and both drew their fantasy elements from the culture and time period they were set in. Out of the historical fiction stories my favorite was Malinda Lo's, which created a very strong sense of place and time, and ended on a satisfyingly open note. ( )

A historical-fiction anthology shines the spotlight on queer teens, from as far back as the 1300s up to the turn of the 21st century.

Two boys who fall for each other while assisting competing magicians, an asexual roller skater who navigates a crush, and a transgender Robin Hood on the run from a female Sheriff of Nottingham are only a hint of what readers can expect to find in these stories from 17 authors for teens. The vast majority come to life through sumptuous language, plentiful historical detail, and satisfying endings. Most stories acknowledge—and sometimes directly deal with—the hardships of being queer in these settings, but that’s not the focus here. Instead, the collection centers on adventure, first love, and self-discovery. Nearly every tale ends with a sense of hope, even triumph. Although the casts are somewhat ethnically diverse, about half the stories take place in the 1900s, and most are set in the United States, which may leave readers wishing for more scope. The stories, both realistic and fantastical, primarily feature lesbian and gay teens, although transgender and asexual characters also make appearances. Author’s notes follow some stories to provide background and further insights.

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. (Short stories/historical fiction. 14-18)