What is One Teen Story? Well, it is the new brainchild of One Story, which is the literary short story magazine that publishes original stories every three weeks from new authors and seasoned authors. Authors like Lauren van den Berg and Wicked’s author Gregory Maguire have published short stories in One Story.
One Teen Story just published its inaugural issue, titled “So Much For Artemis” by Patrick Ryan.
One Teen Story aims to popularize the short story format for teen readers and young adult authors. According to the website, “One Teen Story will be a subscription only publication—think of it as a story of the month club. One Teen Story will be available in a printed-zine-like format, but also digitally, so readers can access the magazine on their e-book readers, iPads and cell phones. Digital subscriptions will become available in September 2012. Charter print subscriptions are available now for just $18.00!”
So, each month when I receive my newest story, I will be doing a review of these stories.
According to the author’s biography on the back page, Patrick Ryan’s story “So Much For Artemis” was included in the Best American Short Stories of 2006.
For those unfamiliar with the short story medium, the idea is to create a singular world that exists in and of itself and characters that can stand alone without extensive character development and back story.
“So Much For Artemis” is told in third person limited point of view, the focus on Frankie. Frankie is a seven-year-old living in the hay day of NASA space exploration. It goes along with the small town lifestyle of Frankie’s family and their neighbors. Not only does Frankie and Jennifer’s games reflect the turmoil in the era, but the problems that the families endure throughout the story.
I have to say that I was expecting the narrator to read a little bit older, but even having a seven-year-old focus doesn’t take away from this well written narrative. Short stories are hard to rate, and especially in a focus that I wasn’t expecting…I am going to be honest…at the beginning I didn’t think I would connect with the characters or the story. But I did.
4 Bards.
Moving! 