Truth & Dare - edited by Liz Miles

Truth & Dare – edited by Liz Miles

Pages: 367
Publisher: Running Press Teens
Release Date: 10th May 2011

Do you dare speak the truth?

The truth is, it’s not easy to be you. It’s sometimes as hard to be one of the flock as it is to be the one who stands alone. It sucks to lose the guy you love, and painful to go after the girl you have admired from afar. And it’s hard to admit that you are not always strong. The most difficult and freeing feat of all is daring to see the truth about yourself.

Unapologetic, raw, and sometimes unsettling, this is a collection of 20 voices from bestselling authors known for their honest courageous characters.

Truth & Dare is an anthology of stories from some of the biggest names in YA that made me laugh, stare blankly in shock and pulled at my heart strings. But as there were twenty of them, I’m going to highlight my three favourites.

Sarah Rees Brennan moves away from fantasy for what I think may be the first time in The Young Stalker’s Handbook. This story is pure fun and perhaps the funniest in the collection. Now, if you’ve been a teenage girl, you’ll have done some boy stalking (I hope, or I’m not going to sound great here!), but I bet it’s never been done like this before! Rachel and Sam’s methods, though far from normal, are undeniably effective...

Next we have an authors who always delivers a fun, heart-warming and beautifully written story: Luisa Plaja. Cool Cats and Melted Kisses is one of the more seemingly light-hearted stories of the collection, but underneath lies issues such as parents separating and bullying. But there not in your face, they are the subtle undertones that lie in most teens lives. And then on a less serious note, there’s the gorgeous Andy. He’s the kind of guy that causes jelloid knees and he was perfect for Ellie who I could easily read a whole novel about.

Finally, I want to flag up Jennifer Finley Boylan’s story. For me, Nude Descending a Staircase was the story that had the most effect on me. It’s deeply affecting, shocking and truly scary. I don't even want to give a brief summary of the story as I think that will ruin its impact, just read it. It’s a seriously powerful piece of storytelling.

Some others that I really enjoyed are Courtney Gillette’s Never Have I Ever, Headgear Girl by Heidi R. Kling and Sara Wilkinson’s Pencils.

Truth & Dare is an anthology that is essential reading for every teenager because everyone is going to find something in there for them.

A huge thank you to the awesome Luisa for sending me a copy to review.

Sophie