I read this when I was a teenager and enjoyed it, so now as an adult who has read other stuff by her, I went back to read it again.

It's definitely a book for teenagers, but it's written in Francesca Lia Block's signature simple poetic style, and with her signature interplay between tragedy and magic, which I kind of adore. I enjoyed it all over again! (Even though I didn't identify with it like I did when I was 16.) ( )

Many characters, settings, and themes from these stories were upgraded and used in "I Was A Teenage Fairy." I would recommend this to someone who wanted an introduction to FLB's work--it all shows clearly how poetically she can write, and that her audience is the disaffected, misfit, teen doubting their sexuality and gender, who is being abused by one or more adults. And fuck, it is all -outdated- thirty years later. This book had a lasting impact on me as a tween. I opened the e-book and quickly realized I wouldn't have the sense of fascination again.

"Tweetie Sweet Pea" I never understood what the story was about or what it was supposed to mean, when I read this book often as a tween. As an adult, I still don't get it, still find it unsettling, and still can't figure out why.
"Blue" This story, I remembered clearly as I read it as an adult, and finally understood what was "wrong" with La's mom, and what she figured out how to do. As a kid, I only grasped she'd died by slitting her wrists in the bathtub because she was sad. Allow me to wave hello to the early incarnations of Mab and Barbie from "I was a Teenage Fairy." And--when La was describing the music box, the way the descriptive paragraph was set up, I was hoping to imagine "Masquerade" from "Phantom of the Opera" playing in my mind. My brain instead provided me with the first three piano notes of "Something to Sing About" from BTVS, and the first three sung words of the song: "Life's a show". I was so surprised by my mind that I cackled. I didn't mean to, and hit the wrong button on the e-book, completely losing my place. It felt like a punishment, as it took me a bit to find my original spot. The story's still really freakin' sad.

"Dragons in Manhattan" Ooh, this was my favorite short story out of the whole collection when I was a tween. As an adult: so many things in here, if they were shown realistically, would cause the plot to fall apart like a house of cards. Especially viewed through a 2019 lens--(shakes head) This--just wouldn't happen. The treatment of transgender people and mention of sex reassignment surgery--so, so outdated. It doesn't take just one surgery to go from full MTF. It takes between eight and fourteen. Facial feminisation is a detailed process. The story still had beautiful lyricism to it, though.
"Girl Goddess #9" I was always both swept away and creeped out by this story as a tween. As an adult, I was...disillusioned. It's two girls meeting their celebrity crush and his girlfriend, and discovering their sexualities. It seemed so grand to me as a teen.
"Rave" I don't remember reading this at all until now. Sad and beautiful.
"The Canyon" I wasn't affected by this, damn it. Ugh. At twelve, I was entranced. Now, I understand it more clearly. I had hoped it would still be fascinating.

"Pixie and Pony" I was a few pages into this story when I remembered it. More specifically, how it broke my heart over and over for a few years. My heart didn't break this time, but I needed to set the book aside for a bit.
"Winnie and Cubby" I didn't remember this one at first. I remembered some it vaguely and then definitely parts of it. In re Cubby: Allow me to wave hello to an early incarnation of Todd from "I was a Teenage Fairy", or possibly Matt too. Cubby's dad is a horrible person. Otherwise, the emotions this story are meant to evoke weren't there for me. I really liked how FLB wrote it, though.
"Orpheus" I read the story, but felt like I was missing something. ( )

Gorgeous. Edgy, preternaturally aware adolescents stalk these pages like tigers. These short stories are as full as many novels. Where was Block when I was 14? Oh, right. Wikipedia says she was busy being 16. Better to have found her late than never to have found her at all. She's a champion of love, a cheerleader for the ballsy chicks who wear big clunky shoes with wispy skirts, an advocate for the odd and the broken. ( )

I love short stories, and this collection was stellar! ( )

I loved this book. It's a great introduction to FLB's work. I think it has the best qualities of her writing. I thought it was a lesson in compassion, forgiveness, and acceptance. The world could use more of it. ( )