This was a good read for the young adult population. It focused on many important areas that teenagers today face. I also found it helpful, as an adult, to read to help understand what is going on in the rural areas for teens today.

I love anthologies so much because I get to experience new authors and revisit faves and this one delivered in spades. I was unfamiliar with so many authors, and a little unsure of the theme but I had a great time with so many stories.

Favorite Stories:
The Hole of Dark Kill Hollow: Rob Costello
Fish and Fences: Veeda Bybee
The Cabin: Nasugtaq Rainey Hopson
Black Nail Polish: Shae Garys
Home Waites: Estelle Laure

Least Favorite Stories:
Praise the Lord and Pass the Little Debbies: David Maginnis Gill
Secret Menu: Veeda Bybee

I really enjoyed the experience of reading these stories. There were different mediums used and genres explored which kept me engaged. I preferred some more than others but that's always going to happen. I feel like this anthology truly succeeded in its goal of highlighting different rural experiences i also appreciated the author bios and 'mission statements' at the end. If you enjoy anthologies, I'd highly recommend!

A YA anthology of 12 short stories, 2 stories in verse, and 2 comics that explores the diversity of rural America. Great #ownvoices representation all around, including disability, sexuality, and race/ethnicity. I think it's an important challenge to the prevailing stereotypes of rural communities, without painting an overly rosy picture either. There were a couple stories that didn't vibe with me and brought down my average rating to 3 stars, but overall I really enjoyed this collection!

Full review of individual stories at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3120788419

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I have lived in a tiny rural town all my life, so I was excited to read this one. I really enjoyed most of the stories included, and each story brought lots of diversity to the table, which was refreshing. Many teens will definitely see themselves reflected within this book. My favorite piece by far was by Ashley Hope Perez - so beautiful and haunting. This is petty, but I do wish they had included a piece from someone from Iowa, Minnesota, or Wisconsin. I am an Iowan, and I didn’t feel like most of the pieces reflected my experience in a rural area, though the one about pig-showing definitely rang true to Iowa! 4.5 stars!

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

This was a really nice collection of short stories. With every anthology, there will always be stories you are more inclined to enjoy and others that rub you the wrong way. This was no different. I think there is a lot to be learned from this about how we define ourselves based on the environment we are born in and how it defines us whether we are happy where we are or want to escape. Come hell or high water, we are irrefutably shaped by the people and places we grow up with.
I really enjoyed the diversity within the stories and though there were some stories and certain lines that caught me absolutely out of nowhere (a certain line about something a grandfather did for example or how a pig that has been a trusted friend will end the day be being...bacon) and still haunt me, I still think that this was a really good introduction to how identity can be shaped and influenced by places.
Would recommend this especially for newbies to anthologies because the writing of these was accessible and immersive!

This was a fun read!! I loved the characters and the plot was a lot of fun too!! I thought the writing was easy to read and I will be recommending this to my friends!

I would like to thank NetGalley, the editor and the various authors for providing me with this ARC.

Rural Voices is a wonderful anthology of short stories about rural America. I didn't find one short story dull. The authors did a good job in trying to shatter the misconceptions and stereotyping the people and families from small towns all over the US. From fantasy to LGBTQ+ to broken familes, these stories got it all.

I would like to read more diverse anthologies. I would recommend this to everyone.

I had the luxury of growing up on the border of suburban and rural. We had county fairs and time told by crop rotation and country roads that can only be driven at insanely fast speeds. But I also was only 15 minutes from a town of 40,000 and had a high school class on 1300 kids. This book is both a taste of nostalgia and incredibly important in an era where we tend to paint rural living with large monochromatic brushstrokes. The diversity of experiences in these stories helps bring to light a very underconsidered stereotype and one that is incredibly harmful if we want to bridge gaps between our two political parties. In order to impact the often painfully archaic damage done by "old town values", it is paramount that we stop viewing those who believe these things as yokels and idiots. What will change views and acceptance over time is a willingness to have difficult discussions, not drive further rifts. I don't agree with a lot of conservative beliefs, especially in terms of human rights, but we can't make progress by denying them the respect of being treated as humans as well. This book humanizes rural living but also gives in roads for meaningful discourse.

I have mixed feelings about this book. With probably all anthologies, there will always be stories that you like and stories that you don't like. In this case, I the stories that I didn't like are actually overwhelming my thoughts right now. I have done the math though and figured out that my individual ratings would come up to 3 Stars overall.

I have to be honest, I expexted a lot of stories like the first one. Kids who are smart and capable. I wasn't ready for sexual abuse or farming (even though for the last one I really should have been, that's my bad). So I think a lot of my thoughts on these stories come from a very personal place. E.g. I can identify and emphasise with the chronically ill kid and the kid with mental health issues and even with the queer kids due to my diverse friend group. I cannot emphasise with farming. Or rather... with the animal portion of it because I think it should stop. I think we're "intelligent" enough as a species to not eat dead animals or take their milk that's intended for their children.

So bare that in mind when reading my reviews.

I did love the variety of stories and the diversity in them. As someone from a country where especial cultural diversity is not that prominent, I love reading these stories and celebrating cultures I do not know as much about as I do my own. For that I thank you.

The (unhealthy) Breakfast Club by Monica Roe (4 Stars)
I loved this story. There was a lot of different rep in here, including BIPOC and disabled rep and I was living for it. The story of these kids being thrown together just to car share before they find out that somehow they have actually gotten to be friends over time absolutely gives me some fantastic Breakfast Club vibes.
The Hole of Dark Kill Hollow by Rob Costello (4 Stars)
Loved this little mystery/fantasy adventure. I had a great time reading about this story. The gay rep was fantastic and the thought process and dialogue that goes on between these boys – these best friends – as they try and figure out what the worst thing was that could be taken from them was powerful and absolutely fantastic.
CW: homophobic language, death by cancer (off page)
A Border Kid comes of Age by David Bowles (2,5 Stars)
I am not really one for stories in verse but I did like the story that was told within this. I realise that this is a personal preference and I like the writing style. If it had been a normal story I am sure I would’ve rated it higher.
Fish and Fences by Veeda Bybee (4 stars)
This was nice. I liked reading it and I especially loved the bit where everyone did things they actually didn’t want to do because they thought they would spare the other party uncomfortable feelings. It goes to show that honesty is always the best way after all (even though I am totally guilty of doing things like these as well)
Close Enough by Nora Shalaway Carpenter ( 4 Stars)
I really liked this one! It was incredibly cute and charming and whimsical and I was entertained all the way through.
Whiskey and Champagne by S A Cosby (4 Stars)
This story was lovely. It was super clever and the passages about the differences between rich and poor (as in the rich don’t have to deal with bad luck) were so great. This was a great time.
What Home Is by Ashley Hope Pérez (1,5 stars)
This started out cute and very quickly made me very uncomfortable. Again, it’s kind of told in a lyrical style which is why I couldn’t get into it that much and in this case I am super glad. I could have used a bunch of trigger warnings for this one and would have just skipped it then…
CW: child abuse (sexual), suicide attempt
Island Rodeo Queen by Yamile Saied Méndez (3 Stars)
This was very cute. I don’t love stories with horses because I keep feeling sorry for them to have to perform like that but I did like the story about the main protagonist trying to fit in and just making her dream happen.
Grandpa by Randy Duburke (2,5 Stars)
I thought this was a great story. I wish the art would have been completed (I think there is one missing?) in this one.
Best in Show by Tirzah Price (1 Star)
Sorry, no, absolutely not. But Bacon? Nope. Eek. Nope nah. I cant. Listen, people can come for me for this but this reviewer is a very passionate vegan because freaking life. This story literally was about the cutest pig who was feeling hot and had character traits and I know that people off handedly kill animals but I do honestly not understand people who are capable of doing so. Living, breathing, feeling beings. “But Bacon”.
Not. Here for it. Whatsoever. This made me so angry and sad because I know that a lot of people think that way and – I am waiting for an incoming shitstorm – but I feel like this absolute inability to feel compassion for another being and murder other beings for food when these days we do not need meat to survive (or dairy) is where humanity’s issues start.

Praise the Lord and pass the little Debbies by David Maginnis Gill (3 Stars)
Well. This was certainly something. This hurt, this made me uncomfortable… I feel so sorry for Coby. I was angry at his parents and at the whole institution that is the church… reading stories like this I am really glad I’m not religious.
The Cabin by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson (n/a)
Skipped this because it said “Furtrapper” in the author’s note. I’ve read about enough animal cruelty up until now I am not going to do this to myself…
Black Nail Polish by Shae Carys (3,5 Stars)
Loved how the author dealt with chronic illness and pain. The rep was fantastic, especially the part where Mads feels the need to reinvent herself and to feel in control at least a little. The friend dynamic between her and Lauren being a bit weird in the aftermath of the diagnosis also feels very on point, though I was a bit taken aback by the idea that Mads felt like a bad friend. She could have used a friend to figure this all out with her and Lauran could have been there for her more imo.
Secret Menu by Veeda Bybee (2 Stars)
This was very cute though I felt it was incredibly basic as well (story wise, I am not here to judge the drawings as they are not finished in this ARC edition)
Pull up a Seat around the Stove by Joseph Bruchac (2 Stars)
I thought this was a quite nice look into themes of heritage. Sadly for some reason, I didn’t really connect to this story (maybe because of the poetry?)
Home Waits by Estelle Laure (3,5 Stars)
I thought this was nicely done and I liked this as a last story. The notion that you don’t have to “escape” your rural home town if you feel comfortable and good in it was lovely and I really enjoyed this. Especially the usage of the three ghosts that don’t go away and lead to a mental breakdown.

A mixed bag of short stories and poems with the purpose of sharing stories from the rural parts of America, trying to show them in a different light. Beyond rednecks. Beyond the opioid crisis. Beyond Trumplandia. Instead it's a world of people trying to rise above their humble beginnings - combatting prejudice, racism and in some cases their own families to improve their lot in life.
While it makes a stance of trying to go beyond the cliches, there are still some themes that creep in unnecessarily, including an incest reference that I found particularly jarring in the context.
For whatever reason, I did think this was going to be factual rather than fictitious, but that didn't detract from the subject matter in the end. These are well-crafted characters who are eminently relatable. The stories bridge the gap between urban and rural, bring voice to the unseen, and in the process showing how alike everyone is ultimately - same hopes, same fears, same issues, same emotions, just a different location. All in all, a collection that's well worth exploring.

This collection of essays was sort of hit-or-miss for me. There were some essays that were wonderful and some that were just okay.

This collection of Small-Town America short stories hit the mark in terms of confronting many of the prejudices/expectations that are widely held about rural communities. I am guilty of many of these assumptions and was glad for the chance to have them called out.
Like almost all of the collections I’ve read, there were great stories, pretty good ones and some I found meh. What sets this book apart, though, is that all of the stories are written by different authors with unique small-town stories to tell, and I loved that each new story was a chance to learn about an unfamiliar place.
A few stories stood out - The (Unhealthy) Breakfast Club, Black Nail Polish, and in particular, Praise the Lord and Pass the Little Debbies. I would love to read a whole novel about Coby. #davidmacinnisgill
Thanks to #netgalley and #candlewickpress for this ARC of #RuralVoicesYAAnthology

Rural Voices for me is overall a good anthology. Each story brings something new to the table and there was a great variety of them. It’s just that there were only a few stories I had strong (positive) feelings about.

The (Unhealthy) Breakfast Club / Monica Roe / 3 stars

Like with many stories in this anthology, the opener is one that I liked, but I don’t really have much to say about it. It’s got well-rounded characters who are established well enough in the short time you get with them, and it’s definitely one that I would want to see a full novel out of.

The Hole of Dark Kill Hollow / Rob Costello / 3.5 stars

This is about the only not-entirely-contemporary story of them, about a wormhole-type-thing that you jump into and it’ll grant your wish but also take something from you. I loved that idea, and the way Rob Costello built up the tension of will these characters jump was so good. Again, one I could see wanting a novel from.

A Border Kid Comes of Age / David Bowles / 3 stars

In general, I struggle with stories told in verse, because the poetry is always more simplistic than I would pick to read poetry for the sake of poetry. It’s like that here, but it is also very evocative, and I did like the changing style with each section.

Fish and Fences / Veeda Bybee / 4 stars

This one has to be my favourite of the whole anthology. It’s a pretty simple story, but the whole trope of person A thinks person B hates them, but person B also thinks person A hates them, when neither of them hate the other anyway? It’s so good, and it’s so excellent here I just wanted a full-length novel out of it all.

Close Enough / Nora Shalaway Carpenter / 2.5 stars

I guess this was the first story that kind of let me down. It really just felt like a lecture on rural stereotypes more than anything. Which would have been fine if it were slightly better integrated into the narrative. Or if anything really happened besides said lecture. The potential romance was cute though.

Whiskey and Champagne / S. A. Cosby / 2.5 stars

Another one I don’t have particular feelings about really. The writing was good though, and it’s definitely made me interested to pick up S. A. Cosby’s upcoming thriller.

What Home Is / Ashley Hope Pérez / 2 stars

Again with the poetry, and the same reasons as the earlier one why it didn’t really work for me. Only this one felt kind of bland on top of all that.

Island Rodeo Queen / Yamile Saied Méndez / 3 stars

Yet again, I don’t have many feelings about this one. It was cute and the writing was good, and I do think it’s the kind of concept that I would pick a full-length book up based on. I mean, rodeo queen contest and the mc is determined to win? It’s definitely one that I’d say might work better as a book than a short story.

Grandpa / Randy Duburke / n/a

I didn’t rate this one because it’s an unfinished comic (the art, that is), but I liked what I saw of it at least.

Best in Show / Tirzah Price / 3 stars

Honestly, this f/f story was the reason I wanted to read this anthology at all (I am a simple reader at heart). And it was definitely cute, easily one I could see wanting a whole book of. But it was also not much more than that.

Praise the Lord and Pass the Little Debbies / David Maginnis Gill / 2 stars

This one was just strange to be honest, and I really don’t know how I feel about it, beyond slightly odd. It’s about a kid who goes to Sunday school, his dog gets run over by the school bus and then the driver (who is also somehow involved in the school) gives him a new puppy. Except the puppy is dying. So, like I said, strange.

The Cabin / Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson / 3 stars

This was a really creepy little short story, about a girl who is trapping in the woods when a creature approaches her cabin. Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson is so good at building that tension with the creature trying to get in. I think the only thing I’d say is that it felt as if it would benefit from being longer, but again, one I’d read a novel version of, for sure.

Black Nail Polish / Shae Carys / 3 stars

Back to having not so much to say now. This one was about a girl who gets diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. It was good, definitely, and I could easily see it as a longer story (and perhaps I would have liked it more if it had been longer, I don’t know).

Secret Menu / Veeda Bybee / n/a

Again, art not complete, so I didn’t rate, but it seems cute.

Pull Up a Seat Around the Stove / Joseph Bruchac / 4 stars

I initially thought this was another fiction story, to be honest, but it’s not. It’s nonfiction, sort of autobiographical but not a whole-life kind of autobiography. And, I don’t know, maybe I’m in the mood for nonfiction more than fiction at the moment, but this was probably my second favourite piece in the whole anthology.

Home Waits / Estelle Laure / 3 stars

Well. I liked it. I just, again, do not have much else to add to that.

This book was very good! Rural Voices had a variety of different stories, and each was way different than the last. I really enjoyed all the different types of writing from each author. I also enjoyed how there was pictures in some of the stores. I enjoyed how most of the stories had the main character, and sometimes others, growing and accepting different things about themselves. Some of the stories were a little more boring than others, but that is probably just a personal preference. This book was a very interesting way to showcase different stereotypes and how they affect people’s lives. This book was a fairly quick read and it was very enjoyable.

I inhaled Rural Voices in an afternoon. It isn't often that I enjoy every story in a collection, but it happened with this one. I appreciate that the characters are from a variety of races, cultures, and ethnicities and that their stories take place all over the country, and that no matter how different their rural location is from the one my students and I live in, there are truths to which we can connect. Multiple genres are represented here, from graphic novels to romance to a supernatural tale. I teach 6, 7, 8, and 10 ELA and there is something in this collection for each of the grades.

Across all of the stories, stereotypes are challenged and questions are raised about how rural teens see themselves and how that vision is impacted by the often derogatory comments and jokes made about rural spaces. I also appreciate the "About the Authors" section, where there is not only the usual biography, but a personal note from each author that dips briefly into their experiences in rural spaces and how they are shaped by those experiences. Along with seeing/learning about others, kids need to see themselves--their strengths, challenges, values--in literature, and Rural Voices will help my students do both.

Although the stories focus on rural areas, the characters in the stories have diversified backgrounds. Most of them have their fears of how others view them, but the ending usually is a good one when they stand for themselves to clarify the misperceptions against them. Besides fighting the stereotypes, they have to confront their assumptions about others and be proud of where they come from.

This book consists of short stories, poems, and even comics. I feel this book has served its purpose for the people who either grows up or lives in rural areas to tell their stories in various ways. I feel grateful that I was given the opportunity to read such a masterpiece, and most importantly, I got to know all the amazing places mentioned in this book. The stories are beautifully written, and I hope all the contributors will continue to produce such brilliant work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for providing me with a free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed reading all of these stories! I loved traveling all over and seeing different views of places and how it affects you as a person and shaping you into the person you become. I loved the story in Alaska and seeing that area and life through their eyes.

I look forward to getting the real book in my hands because some of the ARC I had seemed to not be complete.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Thank you so much to net galley for sending me a copy of this book. I was so excited to read it and I ended up being a little disappointed. But I would recommend this book.

A great anthology of what it means to live in a rural community. I loved the different perspectives in each story and there's a story here for every type of reader.