The Collectors: Stories

Plot Summary

The editor, A.S. King, gathered nine other of her favorite young adult authors and asked them to write a short story about collections and why people have them. The result is this eclectic anthology of tales in styles ranging from a television script to a graphic novel. The genres also span from contemporary realistic fiction to sci-fi superhero epics with a few experimental and conceptual pieces thrown in. This anthology has become what it set out to explore: a collection worthy of study, examination, and enjoyment.

Critical Evaluation

The Collectors was the first short story anthology that I’ve read that was curated by a topic, as opposed to a genre, or being written by the same author. Having a theme running throughout each of the stories made for a fun exercise for the reader as well as for the writers themselves, as we develop a sense of what it means to collect something and what the process of collecting reflects about us. Having a central theme also made it easier to read the stories I didn’t connect to as well; it made it worth reading those entries to at least see what the collection was that was highlighted, if nothing else. That said, I enjoyed a majority of the stories immensely. The two that will stick with me for a long time are “Take It from Me” by David Levithan and “Sweet Everlasting” by M. T. Anderson. 

“Take It from Me” follows a non-binary teen who falls in love with another non-binary teen. Already, that is more representation than I ever expected from a story! But the protagonist is also someone whose collection is made of stolen pieces from other people’s collections. That all changes when they meet K, fall in love, and for the first time question if they should steal something to add to their collection. The internal dilemma questioned whether personal fulfillment was worth sacrificing a relationship, as well as what it means to grow up and leave old hobbies and old friends behind. It is a particularly poignant piece for a teen going off to college or anyone making a big move or life change. The concept of leaving pieces of myself behind and leaving people behind to be forgotten with time has always haunted me, and this story colors that fear and makes it tangible in a beautiful way. 

“Sweet Everlasting” is a terrifying horror-fairy tale where a demon, Flaelphagor, traps a person for eternity in a moment that they think, “I wish this moment could last forever.” The person stays in the exact physical motion of what they are doing, including the sounds and feelings around them, unable to move but still conscious and able to think for eternity. The concept itself sends chills across my body. But it is a great way to show the importance of change and decay, and that the best things should be the things that don’t last. Anderson’s story teaches that lesson in a visceral way that will haunt me into the future. 

I could say more about each of these stories. This is truly a grand collection that’s worth taking a peek at, if not to be made as an addition to a collection of your own. 

Creative Use for a Library Program 

I recently learned that there are Disney pin swaps for people who collect Disney pins. This is a community that I never knew existed, and it has opened a huge world of collecting and collectors. In the vein of The Collectors, it would be fun to host a program where people can share and swap items for their collections at the library. Whether it is Magic cards, Disney pins, puzzles, books, or something else, it would be great for there to be a program where people can share and exchange their items of interest with each other. 

Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation

Within this collection, there are various parts that could be challenged. There are queer characters, acts of violence, and crimes committed by teens. I’ve covered these types of challenges to some extent in previous posts, but I’ve yet to read a story where the protagonists are committing the crime. In “Ring of Fire,” there’s accidental arson, and in “Pool Bandits,” there’s trespassing and destruction of property. Neither of these is a great crime, and the stories aren’t presented as “how-tos” for them. They also show the physical, economic, and social consequences of these actions. But they also show the thrills that come with breaking the rules. Regardless, these are actions that teens have done and will do, and none are especially egregious or dangerous.

Reason for Inclusion

The Collectors is a fun anthology by some of this generation’s greatest young adult authors. There are authors that I’ve wanted to read some of their works before, and now that I’ve had a taste, I’m desperate to get more! While I didn’t love all of the stories, the ones I loved left a lasting impression. This book would be great for readers with shorter attention spans, those who love short stories, and especially for those who have their own prized collections.