Cover Image: The Black Girl Survives in This One

The Black Girl Survives in This One

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Member Reviews

This is such a solid YA horror anthology! As with most short story collections, there are some hits and misses but overall, there were very few that didn't hit for me, and none that were under 3 stars. I liked the way most of these stories played with classic tropes and I love the idea of a whole series of stories where the Black girls do in fact survive.

I particularly enjoyed the MLM cult take in Brittney Morris's Queeniums for Greenium! and the generational trauma take of Charlotte Nicole Davis's Foxhunt. Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite's Black Girl Nature Group also had an interesting take on racism in the outdoors. I also really liked Black Pride by Justina Ireland and Cemetery Dance Party by Saraciea J. Fennell.

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Anthologies are hit or miss for me and I'm so happy to say this was a hit! While I enjoyed some stories more than others, there isn't a single "bad" story in this. There's obviously a Black MC in each story and throughout the anthology we see queer rep, autistic rep, fat rep, and disabled rep.

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I am not a horror fan, but I'm trying to branch out. I love the work of some of the authors in this anthology, so it seemed like a good entry into a genre I don't normally explore. Also, the title's premise definitely helped me feel better going in. Dude, so good. This was a whole "only listen during the day" type of book. From the first story, just super creepy vibes done incredibly well. I can happily recommend this to horror lovers as well as those like myself who are trying to broaden their horizons a bit. Not a single weak link in the entire anthology.

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I am a huge fan of the horror genre for books as well as movie media. It is so refreshing to see Black authors fill a gapping hole that was created by Hollywood in the 60s and has continued to persist even now.

The Black girl survives is my first anthology and I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the format of 1 chapter per story, it felt very quick and easy to read while still flowing well.

I would recommend this to anyone who is already a horror fan and anyone who is interested in reading within the genre, these stories are not scary just more shocking and “gasp worthy” so still safe for younger teens as well.

*I received this audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio free for review, all words and opinions are my own.*

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The Black Girl Survives in This One is a great YA horror anthology. I find it hard to give a rating to anthologies due to the nature of their formatting, but this work is definitely one that I would recommend. There were a few hits but all in all, I enjoyed all of them. I loved the foreword as well.
If you or someone you know is in the market for a diverse YA read and/or want to shop around for new authors you haven't read from before, this is a promising one.

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Every chapter/story was completely different from each other which I enjoyed. The authors did a great job in capturing the identity and personality of the main character which was always a brave, black girl, in it. There were chapters that I wished were longer because the storyline was so good. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this anthology.

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I loved this anthology! It was full of strong young Black women surviving some really twisted circumstances. Usually when reviewing anthologies, I include my favorite stories, but I thought all of the ones in this book were great! I'll definitely be recommending this to teens at my library.

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The concept behind this book was piqued my interest: authors of colour writing about girls and women of colour who all survive and are "the final girl". As other reviewers have mentioned, the fact that the reader knows the main character in each story will survive takes some of the suspense away, but that is made up for by following along with how they survive.

Most of the stories were a little too supernatural for my liking but, putting that aside, the standout stories to me were "Harvesters", "Welcome to the Cosmos" and, to a lesser extent, "The Black Strings". The story that has stayed with me the longest was "TMI", although I was left wanting more in general and wanting more answers specifically.

In my opinion, none of the stories were strong enough to use in our high school curriculum, but it will definitely be on our purchase list for our library. The narrator did a great job :-)

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Thank you Netgalley for this ALC! I thought the narration was great. I'm not the biggest horror fan but this anthology was great. The short stories were engaging and entertaining!

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I absolutely had a great time listening to this anthology!! The stories were well written, the narrator did a good job of keeping me engaged in each story and I was able to eat this one up lol!

There are few times times that I like to buy the physical copy of a book for my bookshelf, and this is one of those times. I'll be running out to buy one and highly recommend this book.

Great read for thriller readers and would be a great read during spooky season AKA October!

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This is one of my new favorite anthologies. This was amazing! I adored this! Each story was such a good time and so well written.

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The Black Girl Survives in This One is a series of short stories by a number of notable YA authors. Each story culminates with the girls living to see another day. Each story is written within a back drop of unique settings: a southern gothic story, voodoo inspired familiar , horror nerd savior, and several monsters and/or werewolves. While some of the stories seemed rushed with missing pieces I wish would have had more, most were written in a manner that was quick to read/listen and enjoyable. The narrator was great and her use of inflection kept my attention throughout the novel, but a variety of narrators would have been a better choice. I'm also shocked that a number of authors did not contribute, namely, Tiffany Jackson, Lamar Giles and Jumata Emill to name a few.

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Thank you NetGalkey and publisher for this audio!

WOW!! What a great anthology! I enjoyed all of the stories! The narrator did great to make me feel like I was part of the story. So good.

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A gripping anthology featuring fifteen unique and captivating short stories celebrating the strength and resilience of Black girls in horror. All who survive in these stories. Narrated by Shayna Small, the audiobook brings these tales to life with intensity and skill. This anthology is a must-listen for fans of empowering storytelling and chilling thrills.

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5 stars. The Black Girl Survives in This One by Various - I usually give anthologies 3 stars because some stories I'll love, but most I find to be just okay or don't like them at all. This book? I liked every last damn story. Such a strong yet entertaining book.

This audiobook is narrated by Shayna Small.

•Thank you to @macmillan.audio

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A solid collection of horror short stories from a much needed voice in the genre. My only reason for not rating this higher is that I wanted most of the stories to be longer. The variety of horror was vast and there is something for everyone. I liked the narrator a lot but it was difficult for me when going from one story to the next having the same narrator, like my brain couldn't switch that quick. All in all, I would definitely recommend this.

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Oh my goodness! This was so good. I think I love short story collections. A haunted theater, creepy swamps, dangerous portals, MLMs that are like cults, violent forests and people in them, and cemeteries! So many settings that I love.
I wanted more from “Local Color” by Eden Royce. There is so much more that could be told about Veronne and her grandpa.
The one that held my heart was “Black Strings” by Vincent Tirado. It had the heart that I expect in his work. He knows how to make me care about the characters.
My favorite story is “Black Pride” by Justina Ireland. It has stuck with me! I can’t stop thinking about that one, but what else do I expect from the excellence that is Justina Ireland.
My favorite character is Flex in “Foxhunt” by Charlotte Nicole Davis. I could read so many more pages and stories with her!
If you like horror, creepy settings, or surprise twists, you have to pick this one up!

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Black Girl Magic Meets Horror: Exploring the Heroines of "The Black Girl Survives in This One"
For far too long, horror movies and novels have relegated Black girls to the sidelines – the token best friend or the first victim to fall. But a new wave of storytelling is here, and "The Black Girl Survives in This One" is its battle cry! This horror anthology, edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell, flips the script by placing Black girls at the center of chilling narratives.

A Universe of Black Girl Power:

"The Black Girl Survives in This One" isn't just one story, it's a kaleidoscope of terrifying delights featuring fifteen tales penned by a stellar lineup of Black authors. We meet characters like:

The Tech Wiz: A brilliant coder uses her skills to outsmart a vengeful spirit trapped in a virtual reality game.
The Heir to Hoodoo: A young woman wrestles with her family's legacy of magic to combat a haunting in her new home.
The Everyday Hero: An ordinary girl on a camping trip discovers a hidden strength to face down a monstrous threat.
The beauty of this anthology lies in its diversity. These Black girls come from all walks of life, with unique personalities and backgrounds. But they all share one thing: the unwavering courage to confront the darkness.

More Than Just Scares:

While "The Black Girl Survives in This One" will definitely send shivers down your spine, it's more than just a collection of scary stories. These narratives explore themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the importance of Black sisterhood.

A Must-Read for Horror Fans:

Whether you're a seasoned horror enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, "The Black Girl Survives in This One" is a must-read. It shatters stereotypes, celebrates Black excellence, and delivers heart-pounding chills you won't forget. So grab your copy, turn on the nightlight (just in case!), and get ready to be empowered and terrified in equal measure.

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When I originally requested this audio ARC, I have no idea that it was a series of short stories instead of a full story. I was a little unsure if I would be able to get into it as I usually don't pick up short stories if I can help it.

But I really did enjoy the stories especially the fact that they included not only strong black women but that they were also smart. It was really refreshing to listen to each of these stories and know that they would survive instead of being one of the first few characters to get offed. There were some stories that I enjoyed a little more than others and it was always said for the story to end and I needed to then get used to the new characters.

This was a 4 star for me. Thank you again NetGalley for letting me listen to this ARC

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I saw a lot about this book over social media and based on the premise, I was very excited to support this book. A collection of short horror stories written by black authors and featuring black female characters is something that is drastically missing in the book world. It was an easy read, nothing too horrifying or gory. Listening to the audio version, I felt that either multiple narrators should have been used or more distinct breaks between stories. Maybe using music to signify a new story beginning. The problem with using one narrator, is that each story flowed together and if the listener is multitasking it may be harder to catch when one story ends, and another begins. Overall, the book entertained well enough. I would give it 3 stars.

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