A Path to the World

August 15, 2022
A gathering of reflections, meant to inspire and challenge teen readers, by a broad range of authors who address how the choices you make affect your humanity. Editor Carlson-Hijuelos has selected short pieces by 30 contributors, including Joseph Bruchac, Pat Conroy, Gary Soto, Alexandra Stoddard, George Washington, Mario Cuomo, Anna Quindlen, and Timothy Egan. The introductory author's note details Carlson-Hijuelos' goals in selecting writings that speak to the challenges of being human given life's uncertainties. Most of the brief entries are a couple of pages in length, but some are as short as a single paragraph. In some, identity--race, gender, culture, sexuality--is present as a subject for reflection. Even for an anthology, where variability in quality is to be expected, there is remarkable inconsistency here; some of the writing is strong and correlates closely with the stated themes, while other works are weaker, and their inclusion is puzzling. (The majority of entries are excerpts from previously published works.) This collection also includes very few authors who write for young adults or whose names will be instantly recognizable to teen readers, which may lessen the appeal for its intended audience, particularly given the array of similar works available. A weak offering whose readership is unclear. (contributor bios, editor's note) (Anthology. 12-18)

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October 1, 2022

Gr 9 Up-A collection of essays, this work is meant to inspire young people to find themselves. Different topics, such as names or cooking are covered, but all relate to identity and what makes one unique. The collection contains writing by 30 authors with many backgrounds, from writers to chefs to teens. Different cultures are represented. Some of the essays are new, but some are reprinted. While one would expect to see variety in a collection of essays, there are some extreme differences in this one. Most of the essays are a couple of pages in length, but some are even shorter. The essays also vary in quality; there are standouts, but others might leave readers confused. VERDICT This will be a hard book to convince teens to check out, as there are few names that they will recognize, and notably, few current young adult authors. Overall, this is not a necessary purchase for libraries.-Michelle Lettus

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October 24, 2022
Carlson-Hijuelos (Voices in First Person) ambitiously brings together 30 creators—including poet Jacinto Jesús Cardona, humanitarian Kamaal Majeed, and philosopher Alexandra Stoddard, among others—to detail their experiences navigating the “difficult choices along life’s way” in this succinct grouping of essays. Joseph Bruchac’s “Notes from a Translator’s Son” opens the book with the author reflecting on his Abenaki heritage; he admits to having “a face I did not used to love,” but now claims “you’re ugly and I like you.” In “Practicing Medicine Can Be Grimm Work,” pediatric professor Valerie Gribben suggests that “both fairy tales and medical charts chronicle the bizarre, the unfair, the tragic,” and posits that “fairy tales teach us to show kindness wherever we can,” lending credence to Gribben’s belief that both physical and mental healing begin with compassion. The contributors—whose lived experiences vary across ethnicity, gender, occupation, and sexuality—discuss themes of financial precarity, race, prejudice, and privilege, providing myriad personal perspectives. While the essays are often too short to impart ample advice, these intriguing and offbeat stories sufficiently blend serious and spirited observations about the world. Ages 14–up.