Through this inclusive We Need Diverse Books (Fresh Ink) fantasy anthology, editor Dhonielle Clayton (The Belles) shows that all children may be "destined for greatness" and that "every voice [should] be allowed into every kind of space."
A Universe of Wishes brings together accomplished YA fantasy and science fiction writers to present stories for readers of all races, ethnic backgrounds, gender identities and sexual preferences. Acclaimed authors such as Samira Ahmed, Zoraida Córdova, Tochi Onyebuchi and Nic Stone contribute stories about magicians who make memories disappear, queer boys who harvest magic from dead bodies and spaceship captains who right the wrongs of colonization, one museum heist at a time.
This collection prioritizes marginalized voices, including BIPOC and trans and nonbinary individuals, but it's also a mirror for people living in poverty and with chronic illness. In "Wish," by Jenni Balch, a 14-year-old Venusian can't travel to Earth with the rest of her friends to attend school because she has immune thrombocytopenic purpura, an autoimmune disorder that causes low platelets. Balch, who also shares this diagnosis, makes clear the loneliness and isolation that often come with such a disease. The Venusian makes contact with a "Granter," and it's from his perspective that readers glean the emotional toll--"restlessness, impatience, and frustration"--on people who feel held back by their diagnoses, a feeling not too different than how the Granter feels when stuck in the "LAMP" for too long.
With a variety of authors comes a variety of themes, but most stories fall into these categories: romance, social justice and reimagined fairy tales. In Anne-Marie McLemore's "Cristal y Ceniza," a family of "los campesinos" sends their daughter to a transgender prince's ball so she can ask the royal family to protect her mothers from "la corrección"--forced marriages between queer men and women. McLemore easily infuses magic, romance, oppression and fighting injustice into this tightly told reimagining of Cinderella. In addition to wholly original stories with new characters, readers will be pleased to also find new stories about beloved characters from familiar worlds. Characters from V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic series, Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy and Clayton's own Belles books all make a welcome appearance. --Lana Barnes, freelance reviewer and proofreader
Shelf Talker: A Universe of Wishes is a noteworthy collection brimming with empowering tales that confirm all readers deserve to have their stories told.