A Thousand Beginnings and Endings

 1.      BIBLIOGRAPHY

Oh, Ellen & Chapman, Elise. 2018. A thousand beginnings and endings. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. ISBN: 9780062671158

2.      PLOT SUMMARY

This anthology is filled with retold stories from authors that represent various Asian cultures. The stories include a wide-range of characters and settings including a mountain spirit, an exorcist that makes meals for ghosts, an android father, a love triangle that involves a mysterious guy, sisters trying to escape to freedom, a video game, a dancer that was taken from home, revenge, siblings bickering, epic battles, vampires, young love during times of war, love between humans and the supernatural, and so much more! The different backgrounds include: Filipino, Chinese, Hmong, Punjabi, Vietnamese, Korean, South Asian, Gujarati, and Japanese. The use of language and the references made really make the connection authentic and real.

3.      CRITICAL ANALYSIS

There were a wide range of characters in these stories. Most of them were filled with complicated emotions and they grow throughout the course of their stories. The mountain spirit experiences deep heartache and the readers learns to be a bit more critical, Olivia keeps her mom’s legacy alive and learns the importance of sacrifice and loving other’s, Yer realized what love was and the truth of what it means to be human, Tam and Cam learn what freedom really is, Loss is explored, along with what love actually means. The settings are so unique. They range from futuristic and virtual, to ancient and remote. The stories are reimagined in such unique ways. The settings are usually interesting to dive into. Good triumphing over evil was prevalent, but there were also themes of overcoming loss, forgiveness, true love, heroism, and friendship. The plots are fast moving and easy to follow. They are told in relatively short stories, so a lot needs to take place in a short amount of time. The cultures in each story are represented in a beautiful and authentic way. Language is used from the cultures and authentic tales serve as the backbone.

4.      REVIEW EXCERPTS

Starred review in Kirkus Reviews: “The editors and authors have pulled together to create an incredible anthology that will keep readers on the edges of their seats, wanting more. A marvelous anthology of retold Asian myths and legends tying the traditional and modern together and accessible to all teens of all backgrounds.”

Reviewed in Booklist: “It’s a wonderful concept, and the styles and subjects are as diverse as the countries and cultures represented, ranging from traditional period settings to imaginative science fiction.”

Reviewed in Horn Book Magazine: “All of the stories achieve emotional depth and connection while showcasing each storyteller’s unique literary voice.”

Reviewed in School Library Journal: “Fifteen well-known young adult authors retell myths and legends from a variety of Asian countries and regions. Ghosts, androids, demons, and avatars make an appearance in this anthology. Each story is followed by a short essay in which the authors discuss the origins of their retold myths. This collection fills a gap in modern retellings of fairy tales and myths by presenting non-European myths.”

Reviewed in Publishers Weekly Annex: “Each story is followed by a missive from its author, sharing inspiration and background on creative choices and changes. Thoughtfully compiled and written, this compendium is a must-read.”

 

5.      CONNECTIONS

*Invite students to create their own retellings of fables or folktales that they know.

*Encourage students to find their favorite author and explore some of the other titles they’ve written.

*Other anthologies and story connections:

Perkins, Stephanie. My true love gave to me: Twelve holiday stories. ISBN: 9781250059314

Smith, Eric. Welcome home: an anthology on love and adoption. ISBN: 9781635830040

Spotswood, Jessica. A tyranny of petticoats: 15 stories of belles, bank robbers & other badass girls. ISBN: 9781536200256