The 15 inclusive stories in this YA anthology range in genre from the romantic to the horrific and have one thing in common: all the characters are driven by a game or competition. “Let it Spin,” by Sona Charaipotra, turns spin the bottle into a competition that ruins a friendship. “The Liberty Homes,” by Katie Cotugno, is a haunting tale about a group of friends playing Manhunt while things disappear around them. “Mystery Hunt,” by Gloria Chao, is a linguistic scavenger hunt with romantic tension.
Several stories include diverse representation. Amanda Joy’s “Hell Week” is set at cheer camp, where one cheerleader is afraid of coming out to her parents. In “One of the Good Ones,” by Isaac Fitzsimons, a gay, Black football player struggles to explain his feelings about the police to his white brother. These stories have heart—a competitive heart—and collectively remind readers that, just like in life, how you play the game matters. Brittney Morris’s Slay (2019), about a virtual reality gaming community, is the perfect complement to this anthology.
