First-Year Orientation

Charming. . . The stories explore the push and pull of moving into a new, more independent life stage with humor and compassion, and they portray a wide range of experiences and identities. . . There’s an effortlessness to the representation, with fully fleshed-out characters grappling with their sense of self that isn’t defined by identity politics. . . . By turns realist and surrealist, funny and tender, these stories have something for any teen starting to think about college and will leave them with the reassurance that there’s plenty of magic ahead.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

These 16 contemporary stories about the first day of college address the unsettling mix of feelings caused by launching into a new life in an unfamiliar place. . . . The stories are cleverly interlinked, with characters making cameos in other stories or experiencing different sides of the same events. . . A strong short story collection focusing on a life-changing transition.
—Kirkus Reviews

This title presents readers with 16 short stories which portray 16 different experiences of the first day at college. . . each vignette has a unique voice. . . . may help serve as a foundation for students to foster a sense of empathy within their current and future social circles. . . . All the stories evoke the humor and/or the raw emotions that totally new environments can bring out in people. The stories are written by a diverse collection of authors and the stories reflect this, representing different groups with voices of authenticity.
—School Library Connection