The Blue Jean Collection

Joan Buchanan is a writer, storyteller and instructor and author of
Taking Care of My Cold.

The Blue Jean Collection grew out of Thistledown Press’s 1991
young-adult short-story competition. In his introduction, editor Peter
Carver accurately notes that “the short stories in this collection
display the versatility of styles and voices in short fiction.” These
well-written stories deal with strong emotions and relevant issues.

Many of the stories concern the loss of a loved one—parent,
grandparent, even spouse. One such piece is R.P. MacIntyre’s “The
Rink,” a story with a fine setup and an unexpected and satisfying
payoff that had me close to tears. A powerful, tight story by 1992
Governor General’s Literary Award winner Julie Johnston also deals
with death. Sharon Gibson Palermo won the competition with an evocative,
well-paced account of the Halifax explosion seen from an injured
girl’s point of view. Runner-up Linda Holeman uses a fresh,
descriptive style in “Saying Goodbye.” In Ann Walsh’s “All Is
Calm,” the reader learns about the frustrations and joys of helping a
grandmother with Alzheimer’s. One is pulled in immediately by the
narrator’s clear voice and the believable first-person point of view.

Science fiction fans will appreciate Jean Rand MacEwen’s “Water,”
a provocative tale about a woman who won’t give up her child and who
pleads for an extra water ration in an overheated world destroyed by
global warming. Those favoring fantasy should like Jennifer Taylor’s
“The Pattern of Magic,” which tackles the age-old plot of a student
contest in an interesting way, and Eileen Kernaghan’s “Tulpa,”
which, in a classic style, features a young monk seeking his true path.

Lois Simmie’s funny, irreverent tale of “Hair” woes, Joanne
Findon’s strong-voiced “Being Bracknell,” and Budge Wilson’s
subtle beach-body saga “Was It Fun on the Beach Today?” share the
theme of boy/girl relationships. Although well written, “Missing”
(Judith Wright) and “Targets” (Judith Freeman) lack accessible and
satisfying endings.

I have scant criticism of this collection and recommend it for
libraries, schools, and homes.