A needed collection, both for those in rural areas who feel underrepresented in fiction and those outside rural areas, who are not seeing depictions of rural life beyond cornfields and red state voters.

Rural Voices :15 Authors Challenge Assumptions About Small-Town America is an eye opening and interesting mix of stories about small towns in America and challenging the misconceptions and assumptions people have.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

RURAL VOICES is a YA anthology of stories that encapture so many of the stereotypes of small-town life. I can see younger readers identifying with many of the stories and finding themselves among the text. I enjoyed the variety of media used- poetry, graphics, and personal essays. Not coming from a rural environment myself, I still identified with many of the stories. This would be an ideal purchase for a school library and a public libraries as well. It demonstrates that not only are stereotypes not always true, but we all are more alike than we think.

This is a beautiful anthology of texts exploring the stereotypes surrounding rural communities and the vast backgrounds of individuals who call small towns, countrysides, and a variety of quiet spaces their home. As a girl who grew up in a small rural town, I find my voice heard through so many experiences shared here. Perhaps some of the most poignant collections are the poetry/prose woven throughout the book. There are strong-willed characters, overarching themes, and the need for beautiful words to be heard throughout these pieces. This would be an ideal acquisition for higher level 8-12 grade classrooms looking to incorporate narrative structures with a punch, or looking for stories influenced by author's experiences. Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.