All the Love Under the Vast Sky, Kip Wilson
All the Love Under the Vast Sky, Kip Wilson
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All the Love Under the Vast Sky

Author: Kip Wilson, Alexandra Alessandri, David Bowles, Melanie Crowder, Margarita Engle, Eric Gansworth, Robin Gow, Mariama Lockington, Laura Ruby, Padma Venkatraman, Jasmine Warga, Charles Waters, Kip Wilson

Narrator: Full Cast

Unabridged: 5 hr 24 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/14/2025

Synopsis

Twelve short stories in verse by bestselling and award-winning authors that explore the highs and lows of love – romantic, platonic, familial, and self-love.

Love can be many things – all-consuming, fleeting, vengeful, selfless, toxic, uplifting, and always, a core part of the teen experience that leaves an indelible mark. This enchanting, genre-crossing anthology delivers something for every reader with unique characters, global settings, and a dazzling mixture of myth, historical, speculative, and contemporary fiction.

With the turn of a page, get swept away by unexpected love blooming between two princes from enemy Mesoamerican nations in the 15th century, who'd rather make music rather than war; cheer for a timid bearded lady who was shunned by her family and runs away to find belonging and safety at the circus during the 1800s experience the heartbreak of saying goodbye to a beloved pet; breathlessly watch a myth unfold as a siren bound to the water falls in love with a winged forest spirit, their love seemingly impossible from the start. Root for a girl who emerges from grief and battles with chronic pain to discover how to love herself and life again. 

Love is complicated, and this anthology embraces the messiness and the joy of all kinds of love. Contributors include:

Alexandra AlessandriDavid BowlesMelanie CrowderMargarita EngleEric GansworthRobin GowMariama J. LockingtonLaura RubyPadma VenkatramanJasmine WargaCharles WatersKip Wilson

About The Author

KIP WILSON is the critically acclaimed author of the YA verse novels White Rose, The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin, and One Last Shot. Awards for her books include the Malka Penn Award and the Julia Ward Howe Award, and her books have been named a Massachusetts Book Honor title, an Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Finalist, and a Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist. Kip holds a PhD in German literature and is an enthusiastic high school library worker.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Courtney on April 23, 2025

3.5 💫 Collections typically fall in middle territory for me because I always love some and feel meh about others. Overall this was entertaining to move through, it was a diverse collection and great to have for in between reads. There is truly some beautiful writing in this one. I would not recommend......more

Goodreads review by Amanda on January 07, 2025

This collection did what it set out to do and then some! I loved the diversity of the stories and that the stories were about all different ways people can love and be loved. My favorite stories were All for Annie, We are the Briar, The Bridegroom’s Oak, Rock Steady, The Water Clock, Kaleidoscope, a......more

Goodreads review by cara! on January 11, 2025

3.5 stars rounded down to 3 Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC! I don’t read poetry often, so I was a bit hesitant to pick up this collection. Some of these were amazing, and others I struggled to get through. I probably won’t be reading from some of these authors ag......more

Goodreads review by kim baccellia on April 20, 2025

Engaging collection of diverse short stories told in free verse. I'm a huge fan of Kip Wilson, the editor of this captivating anthology. The theme is love, and each author does a great job showing their take with stories with strong, diverse protagonists. Love isn't just romantic, but is shown in di......more

Goodreads review by Meredith on January 28, 2025

A nice anthology of verse stories that explores the theme of love from varying angles. Romantic love is examined, of course, but there are also stories about found family, the loss of a pet, friendship and other aspects of love. Favorite stories include: Love Bomb. A young woman struggles to help her......more

Quotes

Praise for All the Love Under the Vast Sky:

“In an appealing and innovative collection, Wilson…brings together a dozen authors…, each creating a different short story in verse around the overarching theme of love…The poets each bring their unique storytelling style—with stories ranging from fantasy to contemporary and historical fiction. Poetic language builds each story [and] each entry stands strongly on its own, while the collection creates a compelling picture of the many dimensions of love.”—The Horn Book Magazine

“In this collection of stories by 12 powerhouse authors, a variety of teen experiences are explored and captured in a neat novel-in-verse format. Great for readers interested in bite-size bits of love and an admiration for the many ways it transpires.”—Booklist

“[T]his sweeping collection of short stories in verse is wonderfully varied and unique…[It] explores … manifestations of love …platonically between friends, in the form of communication struggles and successes with parents, love for animals, romantic connections, and, importantly, love for oneself. Each author’s interpretation of the concept of love is creative and well crafted. An all star list of poets including David Bowles, Margarita Engle, and Padma Venkatraman tackle the subject in forms that are flowing and expansive, short and staccato, and everything in between. Quick, big hearted, and well curated, this is an anthology of stories about love, but not love stories.”—School Library Journal

“A celebration of love through 12 unique stories in verse. Beloved and award-winning young adult authors explore different forms of love across time and a variety of places. The evocative writing in different verse forms connects the narratives in this timely, relatable collection with a diverse cast of characters. The variety of themes and points of view offers something for every reader. Love wins in this enjoyable, well-executed anthology.”—Kirkus

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