Amazon | Bookshop.org | StoryGraph | Goodreads

This page contains affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase a book, I may receive a commission of 4-10% at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

I won't shut up about this anthology of short stories. The Black Girl Survives in This One edited by Sir J. Fennell and Desiree S. Evans was so damn good. Every story delivered, and they spanned the entire genre. There were werewolves, zombies, ghostly theaters, cult-like mlms, Children of the Corn vibes, hauntings, possessions, cosmic soul sucking—I mean everything.

The generational trauma bleeds out through curses, hauntings, cults, even a Black girls' hiking club. These stories contribute to the body of pop culture media tackling the unique and complex relationship of the modern Black experience in a hostile country and society that often refuses to acknowledge these realities. Like Get Out, Sinners, Us, and Lovecraft Country, this anthology contributes to the discussion of racism and misogynoir through the horror genre, putting flesh on the bones of racism—and sometimes peeling that flesh off. It takes an often white lens and applies the Black experience, imbuing the genre with real, everyday horrors.

Because it's young adult, there's little gore, but that doesn't diminish the creepy-crawly, spine-tingling thrill of it all. Even knowing the Black girl survives, I was still holding my breath and rooting for them. And just because they survive doesn't mean they come out unscathed or untraumatized.

There's something for everyone in this anthology, and there wasn't a single story that dragged it down. This is a testament to the editors. Selecting short stories and then organizing them to keep the pacing tight and the reader engaged despite the broad range of sub-genres is a true talent. I tip my hat to Saraciea J. Fennell and Desiree S. Evans for a chef's kiss experience.

/rae/