Paper Lanterns is a new literary journal, founded in 2020 by Grace Kelley, Ruth Ennis and Amy O’Sullivan, to be published four times a year. Acting as a platform to promote the voices of young people in Ireland and across the world, this journal provides new and exciting content for a teen and young adult audience. It is also perfect for enthusiasts of teen and YA literature; from teachers and librarians, to parents and youth workers.This is a YA journal for writers, artists, dreamers, and doers. This is a space for the underrepresented voices and a platform for publishing and promoting young writers and artists so they are seen and heard.We also make space for those who were once young adults to submit their work! Those who proudly and loudly represent young voices in today’s world.
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(Paper Lanterns) by Rebecca Johnson and cover design by Eleanor Braydon |
Yet another stellar issue from Paper Lanterns! If you were to check my previews reviews, it'd be easily apparent that I am a big fan of all things Paper Lanterns and would've been just fine were they to keep putting out work that reached the same level they had in the past; chuffed to say that it seems like the team behind the journal weren't content to do that, but had to go out and outdo themselves once again with this new issue and I admire them even more so for it. Much like our Irish icon and legend Oscar Wilde, I, too, am a slave to aesthetics and visuals, so to say the way the team elevated those in particular issue spoke directly to my soul would be an understatement. I think a common theme among us booklovers is that while we're well aware it is the content that matters most at the end of the day, we also tend to be attracted to all things bright and shiny, so it is delightful to see the team behind the journal constantly elevating that visual aspect (and, HELLO, that cover!!).
If there's one thing the journal aims for, that is variety - from form to tone to imagery; I'd like to imagine there is a little something in this to speak to anyone and everyone who picks it up, which is just what you'd want from a journal. As always, Paper Lantners delivers both food for thought and medicine for the soul.
While I am not a connoisseuse of poetry by any means, I do like to read as much and as broadly as I can in order to figure out just what my cup of poetic tea is, so I always enjoy seeing what Paper Lanterns has in store in that department. Each of the poets featured in this issue (special shout out to friend of the blog Laura, poet extraordinaire) has such a different voice and style that each poem felt a little like unwrapping a present underneath the Christmas tree not knowing what you'll get but being delighted with the surprise. There was something very evocative about each piece, whether it be thematically (hello identity and emotional crises my old friends) or in terms of imagery. Each poem seemed to come alive right off the page as though through a dream, each and every one tenderly whispered right into your ear and headed straight for your soul. Also have to commend the poets for some of these titles, which are about as iconic as the poems themselves (special shoutout here to Moon - struck , A Gift for the Poet Who Fears the River of the Mind, Daytime Distress and love in a time where love is dead).
As always, I am in awe at the depth of feeling the writers featured can display in such short pieces and I'd love to read anything any of them come out with later, to be honest. This applies to both the aforementioned poetry and to the flash fiction/ short stories. I find short fiction to be so hit or miss because it's simply so difficult to connect with readers within such short a space, but the contributors to this issue prove me once again that it is possible. Extra special shout out to other friend of the blog Jenny Duffy's nonfiction Out on the Shelf piece, which is a fascinating look at queer rep in Irish YA, something I cannot get enough of. Also must note that I could read Deirdre Sullivan's answers to any question at all and be enthralled, so this particularly issue really appealed to me as a person.
If you are in the position to do so, I would highly highly recommend picking up this issue, having a look at the previous ones and keeping an eye on the journal's social media, as I strongly consider Paper Lanterns to be a fascinating initiative in the YA space.
You can find also find the lovely folks over at Paper Lanterns over here:
I'm always interested when they manage to outdo their previous work 👀 Paper Lanterns sounds amazing and I'm always intrigued by short stories that are good!
ReplyDeleteBecky | Uptown Oracle