Fresh Ink: An Anthology

Fresh Ink: A We Need Diverse Books Anthology (2018) is a collection of stories that focuses on marginalized people whose ethnicities, sexualities, and gender identities fall outside straight cisgender portrayals in literature throughout history. In the Foreword, the editor, Lamar Giles, explains how he always loved literature yet struggled to see himself in the stories he read. This collection features 13 writers who explore unique perspectives, reflecting diverse characters and themes.

This guide refers to the Crown Books version of the text published in 2018.

Content Warning: These stories depict instances of racism and hate crimes, bullying, drug use, gun violence, sexual harassment, abuse, anti-gay bias, bias against transgender people, and suicidal ideation.

Plot Summaries

“Eraser Tattoo” by Jason Reynolds portrays a young couple of color, Shay and Dante, in Brooklyn, New York. Shay’s family is forced out of their apartment due to gentrification. Dante has loved Shay since they were five years old and struggles emotionally over her having to move away. As Shay gives Dante an “eraser tattoo” of her initials on his arm, the two reminisce about the past and their relationship but are regularly interrupted by the white family moving in.

“Meet Cute” by Malinda Lo is set at the Denver Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention and follows two girls, Nic and Tamia, dressed as gender- and race-flipped characters from their favorite TV and film franchises.