Reading Diary: Reclaim the Stars, ed. by Zoraida Córdova

Here is a synopsis from Córdova's website:

From stories that take you to the stars, to stories that span into other times and realms, to stories set in the magical now, Reclaim the Stars takes the Latin American diaspora to places fantastical and out of this world.


Follow princesses warring in space, haunting ghost stories in Argentina, mermaids off the coast of the Caribbean, swamps that whisper secrets, and many more realms explored and unexplored; this stunning collection of seventeen short stories breaks borders and realms to prove that stories are truly universal.


Reclaim the Stars features both bestselling and acclaimed authors as well as two new voices in the genres: Vita Ayala, David Bowles, J.C. Cervantes, Zoraida Córdova, Sara Faring, Romina Garber, Isabel Ibañez, Anna-Marie McLemore, Yamile Saied Méndez, Nina Moreno, Circe Moskowitz, Maya Motayne, Linda Raquel Nieves Pérez, Daniel José Older, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro and Lilliam Rivera.

Like many short story collections, this one was hit and miss. I bought it when I thought I would have more time and freedom to expand my curriculum, but I had to focus on survival this year. At any rate, the collection is divided into three sections. The first section (To the Stars) contains science fiction stories, and it was, I felt, the weakest section. Stories often felt like fanfic of unfamiliar texts. One story was promising -- a girl alone in the Bronx after a plague encounters an alien robot, but right when things really get interesting, the story ends. The other two sections feel like they should be one because the stories felt stylistically similar in that they have some kind of magic, although the second section (The Magical Now) is more magical realism/blurred genres and the third section (Other Times, Other Realms) has more straight-up fantasy.

My favorite stories were "River People" by Yamile Saied Méndez (I have gotten to include some of her other stories in my curriculum this year, thank you, CommonLit!), "Tame the Wicked Night" by Zoraida Córdova, "Eterno" by JC Cervantes, and "Rogue Enchantments" by Isabel Ibañez. I'm sad that I didn't get to include any of the stories in my curriculum, but I'm glad I read them. I gave the book to my coworker so I don't have to find room for it in my suitcases. 😅