Lianne
Written on Jul 16, 2015
Brave New Girls was an interesting collection that definitely showcases young heroines who are smart and brave, standing up against corporations and constructing suits and programmes along the way. I was hoping for more characters specialising outside of engineering (but still in the sciences) but given the focus of the anthology and where the revenues are going, it’s just a minor thing I noticed. The point is these female protagonists are true to who they are, know what they can do, know what they want, and don’t allow other people to push them down or dampen their ambitions. The possibilities of what these characters can achieve is endless, and it’s an encouraging thought.
Having said that, like any anthology there are going to be hits and misses depending on what kind of stories you’re into. My favourite stories from this collection, or the ones that stood out, were Kimberly G. Giarratano’s “Graveyard Shift”, Lisa Toohey’s “Lyra”, Davien Thomas’ “Robot Repair Girl”, and Leandra Wallace’s “The Mad Scientist’s Daughter.” YA elements like romances and love triangles are on the down low in these stories, focusing instead on the main character, her friendships, her family, and perhaps a mere whiff of a love interest.
Overall I’m glad to have read Brave New Girls. The aim of this collection is fantastic and indeed the stories showcased in it is as the book blurb says. Readers of YA, science fiction, and books featuring great female characters will want to check out this book.