Karen Coats (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, January 2009 (Vol. 62, No. 5))
Five long short stories by popular authors Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier, Gabrielle Zevin, and Laurie Faria Stolarz constitute this companion volume to Cabot’s Prom Nights from Hell (BCCB 7/07). All feature heterosexual relationships; four focus on relationships where one partner isn’t quite human—one’s a ghost, another fey, one is a character from a book come to life, and the last is a selkie. Westerfeld’s offering is more futuristic sci-fi than fantasy, with teens from the future trying out long-extinct things from the past, like colds, parasites, sleep, and unregulated hormones, for a class aimed to teach them how much better the world is now that such inconveniences are eradicated. Unlike the prom collection, these stories are consistently original, taking their subject matter in directions that are unexpected and reimagining romance in provocative ways. Yet they still remain in the teenverse of familiar story endings—wistful loss, happily ever after, mental illness—and employ old motifs, though updated and reimagined (the selkie entrapment resolves with contemporary compromises that don’t entail sacrifice). Although the title might suggest some nicely edgy therapy for a bitter breakup, none of the romances really end up in hell or anywhere near it; instead, still-hopeful romantics bored with real relationships will find here some imaginative possibilities for curling up with on a date-free Valentine’s Day Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2008, HarperTeen, 263p., $16.99. Grades 7-10.

Mary Ann Darby (VOYA, April 2009 (Vol. 32, No. 1))
Five popular young adult authors spin love-with-a-supernatural-twist stories in this collection. In Sleeping with the Spirit, Laurie Faria Stolarz's protagonist Brenda is sleeping poorly and waking up with bruises as though she has been struggling with someone. The "someone" turns out to be Travis, a restless teen ghost whose spirit cannot find peace without Brenda's help. Scott Westerfeld's Stupid Perfect World is firmly in the science fiction mode where future teens sample historic weaknesses--Kieran explores the need for sleep and its accompanying dreams, while Maria tries on hormonal imbalance. In Justine Larbalestier's entry, Lammas Tale, love between a human female and fairy male twists with complications. Gabrielle Zevin's heroine Paige falls for a ghost in Fan Fictions. Or is she simply reading a book? Or is she in the book? The last story by Melissa Marr, Love Struck, finds Alana the target of not one but two selchies, one whose love challenges her stubborn determination to remain free of emotional entanglements. Teen readers who have already sampled these popular authors will welcome their new albeit brief contributions to this collection, and those who have worn out their copies of Stephenie Meyer’s books can curl up with different twists on unnatural love here. Teen love would seem to be tough enough without other worldly elements complicating it even more, but clearly teen readers enjoy this angle. If so, this anthology will be another welcome entry in the category of supernatural love interests. VOYA CODES: 3Q 4P J S (Readable without serious defects; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2008, HarperTeen, 272p., $16.99 and $9.99 Trade pb. Ages 12 to 18.

Amelia Evard, Teen Reviewer (VOYA, April 2009 (Vol. 32, No. 1))
I was initially hesitant to read this book. I wasn't sure what to expect from a collection of SF love stories. These intriguing stories were quick reads, and none was very captivating. Only a few of them left me wishing they continued. Most of the stories were weird, and not the type of thing that appeals to me. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P J S (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2008, HarperTeen, 272p., $16.99 and $9.99 Trade pb. Ages 12 to 18.