I thought the stories were depressing. ( )

Short story collection by Aidan Chambers: mostly humorous conversations, a ghost story, and the title tale is a shy boy's encounter with a neighbor's niece that goes horribly wrong. Quick reads, none as particularly memorable as his books. For Aidan Chambers fans or quick discussions on "flash fiction"--prose less than 1,000 words on any subject, in any format, as long as it is self-contained. ( )

When I cracked open THE KISSING GAME by Aidan Chambers, it wasn’t long before I was engrossed. It’s a collection of the award-winning author’s short fiction, and each and every story packs a punch, with pieces ranging from drabbles and flash fiction to stories of typical length. From the “The Kissing Game,” about a boy getting to know his new neighbor, both of them dealing with issues of the past, to “The Tower,” which brings a little magic realism to a camping trip, the characters are vivid and real and brought to life with such carefully chosen language. One of my favorites in the collection was “Sanctuary,” in which an agoraphobic teen on his way to a college interview meets an immigrant girl who turns out to be in a lot of trouble — and none of it of her own making. The story is fast-paced, gripping, and succinct.

THE KISSING GAME is, in short, amazing. And I’d love to see this book in the hands of both casual readers and English class students. It’s definitely a highly literary work, but it’s also extremely accessible. Reluctant readers will enjoy the low-pressure nature of reading short fiction, and writing teachers will find amazing examples to use in their curricula. Not to mention the fact that THE KISSING GAME is rife with humor, pain, adventure, and, well, story. ( )

Reviewed by Monica Sheffo for TeensReadToo.com

THE KISSING GAME consists of 16 short stories, all centered around love and relationships.

In one story, a girl attempts to break out of the shadow of her sister, only to find that the key to self-worth lies within. In another, a boy believes that he has rescued a girl from a fiery tower, and then discovers that the same event occurred 100 years ago.

Aidan Chambers proves himself to be a master storyteller in this collection of provocative tales dealing with matters of the heart. Each story has its own distinct flavor, and with sixteen in all, every reader will be left feeling satisfied. ( )