A Book Review: Kelly Link's Pretty Monsters

I follow the yahoo groups list for Small Beer Press, home of Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet and the stories of Kelly Link (and several other things that look really cool, but I have yet to adequately explore). A few weeks ago they asked if anyone wanted to review Link's new short story collection for teens. I wrote back, using several exclamation points, that, yes, I did. So they sent me an advance reader's copy (my very first), I read, I enjoyed, and now, I will review:


Kelly Link writes strange stories. They take all the things you know about genres and twist them up until they become nearly unrecognizable, and suddenly real. Fantastic things: a dead girl’s hair with a mind of its own, a country contained within a handbag, thick, viscous magic, beautiful aliens, a secret television show called The Library—seem plausible, tangible. This is not in a far away land a long time ago. It’s magic, plain and simple, and it’s happening right here, right now.

This latest collection, Pretty Monsters, is geared toward teens, and populated by young protagonists, each with their own collection of confusions about identity and relationships. These are woven with skillful curiosity into narratives of the strange, where in addition to the challenges of growing up, there are ghosts to catch, monsters to flee from, and wizards who want their dinner. But, whatever the characters encounter, an intimate knowledge of emotion takes the forefront.

Though the apt juxtaposition of the teenage years with fantasy and horror is not an innovation, Link keeps it fresh each time. Strange can be humorous, scary, sweet, intense or all of these at once, just like being a teenager. Word play and the quotable turn of phrase are frequent features. You’ll want to stop and read every few sentences again, aloud.

Some of the stories take place in our own world, or nearly enough. In those with settings that are different, world building is subtly interspersed so as not to interrupt the flow of the story. The reader catches on little by little, trying to solve the riddle of the place.

If there is fault to be found, it may be that some stories end abruptly or split off into unexpected directions. For those who find this disorienting, I offer a thought from Jeremy Mars, protagonist of the story titled Magic for Beginners:

Jeremy supposes that [the ever-changing casting in his favorite show, The Library] could be perpetually confusing, but instead it makes your brain catch on fire. It’s magical.

My gray matter is certainly singed. A highly recommended collection for anyone, teen or adult, with a taste for the strange.