A series of short stories highlighting young people striving to make themselves seen. Wonderful stories that touch your heart and your soul. I loved all the characters in this book. I would recommend it to young women of middle school age and on.

I was gifted an advance electronic copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley, but I ultimately read this book as an audiobook from Everand. The following is an honest review, not affected by the fact that I received a copy for free.

Daughter of the Book: Dahlia Adler - 5 stars. A young Jewish girl fights against her community’s tradition in order to get the education she yearns for. Loved it. Would read a whole novel of this story.
Representation of both Ashkenazi (MC) and Sephardic (LI) Jewish cultures.
TW: misogyny.

You’re a Stranger Here: Mackenzi Lee - for my own reasons, I chose not to read this story.

The Magician: Erin Bowman - 4 stars. A maybe-Mexican orphan who was found wandering as an 8-year-old with no memory, who is frequently mistaken for a boy, keeps up that ruse in order to make a living as a stevedore in the hopes of getting enough money to go to San Francisco and maybe find her family. It was not made very explicit how the character felt about gender but she didn’t seem to mind either way, except that being discovered as being “really” a girl would be dangerous.
Rep: sort-of genderqueer, sort-of adopted, both arguable and depends on how you personally view it. Ray doesn’t know where she comes from but her guardian suspects she’s Mexican, and Ray’s skin is frequently described as being brown.
TW: blackmail and manipulation.

Lady Firebrand: Meagan Shepherd - 5 stars. A young white disabled girl and her black best friend, both from Boston, have travelled to stay with the white girl’s family in Charleston and, while there, they interfere with the confederate war effort under the guise of a masked vigilante. A few great comments about how slavery and racism go against what’s written in the Bible, and a good exploration of the disparity between who Pauline actually is to Rose (ie, her equal) and what they must pretend she is in order to protect themselves. Really enjoyed this one.
Rep: black best friend (who, for her own safety in Confederate Charleston, pretends to be Rose’s maid), paraplegic main character who broke her spine in a horse-riding accident and is now in a wheelchair.

Step Right Up: Jessica Spotswood - 3 stars. It was fine but I’m not a big fan of circus stories. Jessica acknowledged the problematic and exploitative nature of some circuses, but was careful to write a circus of her own that was neither of those things.
Rep: queer main character.
TW: domestic abuse, ableist language towards some circus members.

Glamour: AM McLemore - 4.5 stars. A Latina girl in 1920s Hollywood alters her name and uses her family’s glamour magic to hide her true hair, skin and eye colour in order to have better success in films. A boy she’d kissed before shows up on the set of her current film and inadvertently discovers her secret. She takes him home for Easter with the plan to make him forget, but instead discovers he has secrets of his own and she comes to realise find that perhaps her desires aren’t what she thought they were. A lovely contemplation of belonging, place, heritage and dreams.
Rep: Latina main character, disabled trans boy love interest, disabled Latino side character.
TW: overt use of racist and ableist slurs, implied queerphobia, some violence.

Better For All The World: Marieke Nijkamp - 4 stars. This story revolves around the real-life case of Carrie Buck who was sterilised under eugenics laws, the autistic young woman who wants to be a lawyer for whom the case is personal, and the grandson of Oliver Wendell Holmes III who strikes up a friendship with her until their radically differing opinions on the case drive them apart again. A fabulous piece on self-determination and worth in the eyes of yourself vs the eyes of society, of going for what you want despite the things people say are holding you back, for standing up for yourself and the people like you.
Rep: ownvoices autism rep, made explicit through the narration though the word is never used.
TW: discussion of eugenics, (one character argues for them as if they’re a benefit to society, even going as far as to compare eugenics to vaccines) discussion of disabled people being “less than,” use of the term “feeble-minded.”

When The Moonlight Isn’t Enough: Dhonielle Clayton - 4 stars. A Black family is granted the ability to harvest moonlight, which gives them immortality. Emma, frozen in time at age 16 for 191 years, suffers from the isolated life she has to lead in order to protect her family’s secret. This story was engaging and charming and I deeply felt Emma’s desire to get involved and affect history instead of just continuously moving away from the danger. A little more explanation of the moonlight gift would have been nice, but it’s not a dealbreaker.
TW: mention of racism and mistreatment of Black people.

The Belle of the Ball: Sarvenaz Tash - 4 stars. Rosemary wants to be a TV writer for comedy shows like her idol, Madelyn Pugh, a scriptwriter for I Love Lucy. With the encouragement of her next door neighbour and crush Tomás, she sets this in motion against the background of a debut that her mother wants for her much more than she wants it herself. This one felt a bit same-same after cotillion featured so heavily in the previous story but it had spark and I greatly enjoyed it by the end.
Rep: Latino love interest.
TW: period-typical sexism, mention of loss of wealth, internalised classism (Rosemary’s mother), and racism in the form of a throwaway comment in the narration that Rosemary’s mother would consider Tomás’s skin to be “the wrong colour.” Rosemary kisses him anyway.

Land of the Sweet, Home of the Brave: Stacey Lee - 5 stars. A young girl enters a competition to be the face of the sugar brand her mother works for, in the hopes of using the winnings to give her mother a well-earned break from the physically abrasive job. Lana’s sharp, unafraid tongue was an absolute delight and her pushback against the assumption she is “not American enough” when her family is as much, if not more, a part of the backbone of the country as anyone else’s had me cheering. The competition doesn’t unfold as she anticipated but in the end what she receives from the experience is even greater than what she expected.
Rep: Chinese-Japanese MC, a side character who stammers.
TW: racist slurs, racism, period-typical lack of workplace safety rules, mention of the WW2 internment camps, bullying.

The Birth of Susi Go-Go: Meg Medina - 4 stars. Susana wishes to be allowed to fully embrace the American culture she was raised in instead of the Cuban traditions her parents try to keep her tied to. The traditions, to Susana, seem stuffy, stifling and outdated. Her mother Iris longs to bring her own parents over from Cuba, but for Susana this will mean the loss of her personal space and privacy as their apartment is short on bedrooms. Susana encounters by chance her white next door neighbour Linda, who flouts all the rules of the apartment building and owns a particularly scandalous pair of white go-go boots, which Susana is completely enamoured with. This story didn’t completely crystallise for me until I heard the author’s note at the end, but then I appreciated the fullness of what it was trying to achieve. In Meg’s own words: “How do we reconcile competing accounts of history when we’re caught in between? How do we respect our parents and still find our own way among new friends who neither know nor understand what we have experienced to get here?”
Rep: Cuban MC.
TW: displacement, loss of possessions, separation of families geographically and politically.

Take Me With U: Sara Farizan - 4 stars. Soheila is living in Boston with her aunt and uncle to keep her safe from the Iran-Iraq war. She longs to return home, cognisant that her aunt views her as a burden. A new friend called Mai invites Soheila to join her band and this provides some comfort. I’ll be honest, I felt this was too similar to the previous one and that it should have been placed elsewhere in the collection to stop them blending together. There’s nothing wrong with the writing and again I appreciated it very much, but it lacked a spark bc it was so much of the same thing again.
Rep: Iranian MC, sapphic Japanese-American side character, other background characters of colour.
TW: displacement, judgemental and disapproving aunt, anti-Iranian neighbour, mentions of war, minor violence, sexism.

While I wished for a little more from several stories, each of them were very satisfying anyway. I particularly enjoyed the authors’ notes after each story, placing the works in the context of the authors’ own lives, likes and experiences and providing a little explanation and background for why the authors chose these stories, these times, these characters. Definitely a really solid and consistent anthology, even five years later.

Average rating: 4.2/5

This was okay. Not the most exciting read. I did like the characters, though. Will try the author in the future.

I've had this ARC for far too long and I only now got around to reading it. Is it really an ARC now if it's been years since it's been published? Ah well, I still finished it.

This book is a series of short stories about women in American history who are not widely known about. The authors all took a part of history they felt needed more attention, whether it was the Mormons being driven out of their communities to steamships or Jewish girls being educated and did a short story about a girl who defied expectations or tried to make a life for herself in these situations.

This was a set of interesting stories and I enjoyed learning a little more about these different communities, once which I haven't much about. I especially enjoyed the one about a Jewish girl wanting an education and running away to a school for Jewish girls after being refused that education within her community as well as the Japanese girl who wanted to be the face of the sugar logo. Some of these stories didn't get a conclusion about whether the girls' plans worked out, normally they just ended right when they had made the decision to change their life or be settled in their owns kin and I really enjoyed that part of these stories.

As with all short story collections, there were some that I didn't enjoy as much but they didn't stick out as much to me. I would have really enjoyed some stories set in places other than America.

4 stars!

I like the idea of this, but didn’t love the reading of it. I liked the way each story brought you further towards the present and had a very specific sense of place as well as time. There’s a lot of big ambition in the set ups to the stories - some times more than a short story can cope with. Some of the stories didn’t work for me at all but the ones that did were good. But then a lot of anthologies are a bit like this.

I apologize but this title did not work for me. I’ve discovered that I don’t enjoy short stories collections and rather than harm the authors I chose not to rate it.

If not for The Red Raven Ball and The Whole World is Watching I would have given up on this anthology.
It's just. kind of boring. I love the idea behind it but I'd say it just. lacks substance. It's not a feminist anthem I expected it to be.

The subtitle of this book, "12 Stories of Daredevils, Debutantes & Other Dauntless Girls," and the list of contributors were what drew me in. The exploits of the brave protagonists--who in one way or another question the status quo--were what kept me riveted. The satisfaction I felt when I finished was what compelled me to order this one for my classroom library.

Super talented group of authors penning fun, engaging, and inspirational stories. These anthologies edited by Spotswood (Toil & Trouble, A Tyranny of Petticoats) just keep getting better and better.

I love these collections that Jessica Spotswood always does. Each author provides a beautiful short story about their moment of History. This collection combined with thoughtful, deep soul searching tales that did not always have happy endings. I learn a lot about the Jewish religion in this precise book and what is holds on too. I love this book so much I did by myself a copy of it. One day i want to take my time, reread it and provide a better detailed review

I have a hard time enjoying all of the short stories in anthologies, but this one I really loved around 80% of it. The theme of this anthology is really great and empowering. It is such an important book to be out in the young adult sphere.

I read A Tyranny of Petticoats in 2016 and I totally enjoyed it. I don't read a ton of short story anthologies but I loved that one and I was excited to read more, especially with the amazing authors in this collection, and I was not disappointed.

Like the last book, this one was full of diverse stories. It spanned different locations and centuries and immersed the reader in the period and the setting. Each author did a great of establishing the time and place. Some of the stories and locations were familiar and others were completely new to me. Some of the stories had some magic to them, and others were rooted in reality. I think some of my favorites were ones that had more fantasy elements like When the Moonlight Isn't Enough By Dhonielle Clayton and Glamour by Anna-Marie McLemore. I also loved The Magician by Erin Bowman, Step Right Up by Jessica Spotswood, and Land of the Sweet Home of the Brave by Stacey Lee. Obviously some stories were better than others but I don't think there was a bad story in the bunch.

I think one of the best things about this book and the real connective tissue is the characters. Even though they were so different, they all had one thing in common. For one thing, they are all these kick ass female characters. But the real reason they all felt so familiar is that they all had this yearning. This yearning and desire to be more than they are or exactly who they are even though it may not be what people expect for them. It made them really engaging and likable characters. I rooted for all of them and wanted to seem them achieve their goals. Each author really did such a great job with the characterization in such a short story.

This was a really short and easy read. Each of the stories was engaging and interesting and it was easy to read them in short bursts. But before you know it you have finished the entire book. Each story on it's own was really great but collectively this is look at amazing young women throughout history who were completely themselves and achieved their yearning for more. It's a fantastic collection of stories of kickass women that I really enjoyed.

The first three stories had to similar religious themes for my taste and overall I had several stories I did not like while others were fantastic. I think it's a good mix in themes and representation (apart from the mentioned first stories).

The Radical Element 12 Stories of Daredevils, Debutantes & Other Dauntless Girls
by Candlewick Press

Description: In an anthology of revolution and resistance, a sisterhood of YA writers shines a light on a century and a half of heroines on the margins and in the intersections. To respect yourself, to love yourself, should not have to be a radical decision. And yet it remains as challenging for an American girl to make today as it was in 1927 on the steps of the Supreme Court. It’s a decision that must be faced when you’re balancing on the tightrope of neurodivergence, finding your way as a second-generation immigrant, or facing down American racism even while loving America. And it’s the only decision when you’ve weighed society’s expectations and found them wanting. In The Radical Element, twelve of the most talented writers working in young adult literature today tell the stories of girls of all colors and creeds standing up for themselves and their beliefs — whether that means secretly learning Hebrew in early Savannah, using the family magic to pass as white in 1920s Hollywood, or singing in a feminist punk band in 1980s Boston. And they’re asking you to join them.

My Thoughts: This anthology is a must-read. While this is a collection of fictional stories set during various times in history, I am pretty sure there were women like this at each of those times. And I would have loved to be them or their friend,at the least! The collection represents diverse characters (across race, age, places, time periods) and includes author’s notes at the end with details on real events surrounding the fictional stories.

I had not read any of these authors but now plan to check out other books by them. Here are a couple of comments about a few and my rating of each of them.

Daughter of the Book – by Dahlia Adler – 5 ★s – This gave me a glimpse into Jewish history and their life of over a century ago; loved this story for the bravery that Rebekah shows and for the insight into a part of history that I did not know before through this work of fiction; and just wished it was a little longer.

You’re a Stranger Here – by Mackenzie Lee – 3 ★s

The Magician – by Erin Bowman – 3.5 ★s – while this seemed like a been there, done that type of story with the girl dressed as a boy, I did learn a spot of history and was impressed that the author chose to have the girl work as a stevedore

Lady Firebrand – by Megan Shepherd – 4 ★s – you can be that masked hero no matter what – even if you are wheelchair bound or a free colored person at a time when women and the colored were without power

Step Right Up – by Jessica Spotswood – 3.5 ★s – the circus! What’s not to love about it?

Glamour -by Anna-Marie McLemore – 5 ★s – magical reality has its own beauty and that beauty shines through here. I could picture that favorite magnolia tree that Grace loves under the Easter full moon as I read the words describing it.

Better For All the World – by Marieke Nijkamp – 4.5 ★s

When the Moonlight Isn’t Enough – by Dhonielle Clayton – 4.5 ★s – beautiful writing like poetry and an urge to break free of years of monotony, of doing something different to help a cause greater than the self – all of that meant I loved this read.

The Belle of the Ball – by Sarvenaz Tash – 5 ★s – humor was what shined through the words of this story more than anything else; and it stuck a chord in me considering the main character wanted to be a writer.

Land of the Sweet, Home of the Brave – by Stacey Lee – 4.5 ★s –

The Birth of Susi Go-Go – by Meg Medina – 3.5 ★s

Take Me With You – by Sara Farizan – 4.5 ★s – With a band name like Ovarian Cysters that the main character is invited to join by breaking free of the norm, what’s not to like?!

All the stories left me hanging and hoping that I will be able to read more of what happened to these strong and radical elements; maybe there are novels in the making? And I do think that is always an indication of a good short – on the one hand, there is so much told in the matter of a few pages; and on the other, the reader is left wanting more.

disclaimer: thanks to NetGalley for the eArc of the book. My review here reflects my honest opinions of the book

I didn't love this anthology as much as the first one (A Tyranny of Petticoats), but it was still quite enjoyable.

My favorite stories were:
- Lady Firebrand (diabled protagonist, total badass civil war heros, and spies)
- Glamour (I was a bit confused by this one but I just adore Anna-Marie McLemore and Magical Realism and this was fascinating on so many levels).
- Better for All the World (another diability rep, this time psychological, and a very interesting court case all mixed up in a love story).
- When the Moonlight Isn't Enough (maybe my favorite of the whole lot, because, again, I adore magical realism, and I just found the protagonist to be so heroic and amazing).
- The Belle of the Ball (Who would ever say women aren't funny? Um... what? Women are freaking hilarious and brilliant and this story is proof).


Good solid anthology.

“Daughter of the Book” by Dahlia Adler

As a big fan of Dahlia’s, I was thrilled to see the anthology beginning off with what I knew would be a strong story, and Dahlia didn’t disappoint. “Daughter of the Book” tells the story of Rebekah, a young girl who loves her community and her family, but who desperately wants to learn more about Judaism, which at the time is not allowed for girls. She fights for her right to learn, maintaining that people will value their religion and heritage more if they are educated about it. Like Rebekah herself, the story is quiet but fierce and strong. “Daughter of the Book” opens the anthology on a strong note, focusing on a young woman who very much embodies the spirit of the anthology and serves as an inspiration for modern women to attempt to tear down those walls of tradition and patriarchy. ★★★★

“You’re a Stranger Here” by Mackenzi Lee

Though a touch on the dry side, Lee’s “You’re a Stranger Here” provides a window into an aspect of history with which I’m almost entirely unfamiliar: the early years of the Mormon religion. The heroine, Vilatte (who makes me wants some coffee ironically), followed her mother from England, unsure if she believes but wanting to believe as fervently as her mother does. She’s an interesting albeit distant heroine, without strong opinions of her own. I find her sort of fascinating because I think more people in history are like her than ever appear in novels, but I don’t feel any connection to her or her struggle, mostly because her struggles on behalf of the Mormon faith she seems to do by rote rather than any actual passion. Good history, so-so story. ★★★½

“The Magician” by Erin Bowman

Bowman’s truly hit her stride with westerns. Both Vengeance Road and Redemption Rails are great, fast-paced reads with boss heroines. “The Magician” follows in that tread, but it’s a quieter tale. Ray, adopted as a lost and hungry child by Mrs. Lowry and with her name taken from a piece of newspaper she carried, pretends to be a boy, so that she can work and live safely in Yuma. She dreams of heading to California, and she’s trying to save up enough money with her work as a stevedore. “The Magician” focuses on her big ambitions and the magic she relies on in the face of the incredible odds and danger she faces daily. ★★★★

“Lady Firebrand” by Megan Shepherd

I’ve only read one Megan Shepherd book, and I really wasn’t that impressed, but apparently the time has come for me to give her books another try, because this short story rocked my socks. Of the stories thus far, this one’s by far the most fun; they’ve all been good, but a bit more staid where this one’s straight up enjoyment. The concept of a white girl in a wheelchair and her friend/free black woman servant working as the vigilante Lord Firebrand to help the Union is totally amazing. I wish this one were a full book tbh, but it does work as a short story. There’s even a smidge of romance, though obviously I’d have liked more because hello I’m me. ★★★★½

“Step Right Up” by Jessica Spotswood

Before this story, I’d never read Jessica Spotswood, but clearly I should based on the quality of this story. Or, wait, did she have a story in the first anthology? “Step Right Up” is about a young girl who dreams of running away to the circus, to escape a family that doesn’t understand her to the unusual but kind, accepting bosoms of her friends in the circus that passes annually through Tulsa. Fairly simple but well-executed with some Anne of Green Gables vibes in the walking a roof and big dreams. Spotswood covers the circus without exoticizing and highlighting the freedoms it could offer in a time that was greatly restrictive, particularly of young women. ★★★★

“Glamour” by Anna-Marie McLemore

My first experience with McLemore proved to be too dark and sad for me, but “Glamour” hit right in that place where it’s sad but also beautiful and with a little bit of hope. I was definitely thrown off by the magical realism, despite McLemore being known for writing that genre, because the collection has been solely historical thus far. It works though. “Glamour” tells of Graciela who dreams of a career in Hollywood but who will have to very literally give up herself and her identity to have a chance of getting there. Her romance with a transgender boy is very sweet, and I wish I got to know more about what will happen to these two. ★★★★

“Better for All the World” by Marieke Nijkamp

Though I liked Nijkamp’s debut, it pales in comparison to the powerful voice and emotions that this short story wrought in me. “Better for All the World” is one of those elusive stories very much driven by a message that doesn’t feel preachy at all. Carrie’s narrative voice is lovely, and I would read a whole book about her journey to become a lawyer and fight for the rights of atypical people like herself. I want to know more about how her relationship with Alexander Holmes would evolve over time, and I also really love Carrie’s aunt. ★★★★★

“When the Moon Isn’t Enough” by Dhonielle Clayton

Another magical realism offering about a young (or so she seems anyway) black girl during World War II. Her family knows the secret of capturing and consuming the moon’s light, granting them life without aging. Emma’s been 16 for…a while. Fearing what could happen if this magic fell into the wrong hands, her family moves to avoid wars, but they’re tired of doing so and hopeful that WWII won’t come to the contiguous 48 states. Emma’s longing for something more after 191 years is understandable, but she didn’t fully come to life for me; perhaps because of her circumstances, there’s a distance to her narration. The history, however, and the tension of being black in America during the fervor of WWII is fantastic. ★★★½

“The Belle of the Ball” by Sarvenaz Tash

Tash’s story of an aspiring female comedy writer feeling stifled by her mother’s debutante dreams and expectations is another highlight of this collection. Rosemary has been writing little sketches for an actress friend, but her real dream is to be a writer for a television show, like I Love Lucy, one of her favorites. She doesn’t want what her mother wants for her; instead, she wants a career and the cute boy next door, Tomás. I love YA about characters with less common dreams, like being the writer behind the comedic lines, not a comedian on a stage or an actress. One of the cutest stories in the collection and quite inspiring, especially combined with Tash’s note at the end. ★★★★★

“Land of the Sweet, Home of the Brave” by Stacey Lee

Lana Lau is Japanese, Chinese, Hawaiian, Californian, and American. Despite skepticism, she enrolls in a contest to be the model for a sugar company, the same one her mother toils for every day. The money would mean opportunity, maybe college. She doesn’t think an Asian face could possibly win, but she decides to try. This story is lovely, funny, and sharp. Lana’s wit and refusal to be cowed by cruelty won me over, and, though it’s a microcosm of a journey unfinished, I really felt her character arc. ★★★★★

“The Birth of Susi Go-Go” by Meg Medina

Caught between her Cuban family and American culture, Susana watches and admires her slightly-older neighbor of the gorgeous go-go boots. This story doesn’t have quite as much plot as the other ones do, but I did enjoy Susana’s voice and feel her struggle in trying to figure out who she is or really understand what the truth is between her parents’ point of view and America’s. ★★★½

“Take Me with You” by Sara Farizan

The anthology closes with another strong story, one that dovetails beautifully with Medina’s. Soheila’s a refugee from Iran, staying with her uncle and controlling aunt until the war ends and it’s safe to return. She makes a cool American friend and finds solace and inspiration in American music. I haven’t read Farizan since her debut novel, but I’m thinking I should. ★★★★

The Radical Element may just be my favorite anthology ever. There wasn’t a bad story in the bunch. I love the diversity in the characters, the subject matter, and the authors. A Tyranny of Petticoats was good, but The Radical Element is outstanding across the board.

I think this anthology is sorely lacking in indigenous characters, intersectionality, and queer MCs. It makes me sad, because you can't honestly tell me there's no historical badass queer native americans?

That being said, I still enjoyed many of these stories. My favorites being from Mackenzi Lee and Dahlia Adler.

While I did not enjoy this as much as A Tyranny of Petticoats (but come on, that's pretty hard to beat), The Radical Element was very fun.

As I always say when reviewing an anthology, it's difficult for me to review this because it's a collection of stories: there were hits and misses. I think the theme underlying throughout of radical women throughout American history was very interesting, but it was not as strong and consistent as the theme was in this books predecessor (Tyranny).

Some of my favorite stories in this anthology were:
Lady Firebrand by Megan Shepherd
Glamour by Anna-Marie McLemore
Better For All The World by Marieke Nijkamp
When the Moonlight Isn't Enough by Dhonielle Clayton
The Belle of the Ball by Sarvenaz Tash

I was very pleased to be introduced to many new authors who I had never heard of, in addition to some popular favorites. I will definitely be checking out some of these writers other works :-)

***I received an e-ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Overall rating for the collection: 4 stars! See individual story ratings at my goodreads review. This is a very strong collection of short stories that span different time periods and include diverse characters. Great addition to any Young Adult collection.

Loved some of the stories, liked others. This is just how it goes with anthologies. Please don't make that a deterrent from reading and buying this book because while I might have liked some, others might LOVE them, and vise versa.