Boundless edited by Ismée Williams and Rebecca Balcárel: Review

“No matter where I was, I always felt like I was wearing someone else’s clothes,” says Frankie, the protagonist in ‘Thicker Than Water’. This line contains many of the feelings encapsulated in Boundless, a short story anthology focused on characters who are biracial and multicultural. The 20 stories explore the unique struggles that impact teenagers who belong to families with different racial or ethnic backgrounds. These protagonists may not look like their parents, or may not speak the same language as them. Their family gatherings can be strained as the differences between cultures try to coexist. Their classmates may not look past one part of their identity, unseeing or dismissive of other experiences. They face microaggressions and snippy comments because they cannot be categorised easily into one box, and often they feel at odds trying to work out where they belong.

Despite the unique struggles these protagonists face, the anthology is laced with hope, resilience and love. The stories dissect what it means to truly belong, and how that feeling of belonging can be found even in less conventional ways. These characters contain cultural multitudes and form precious bonds with their friends, families and communities as they explore their own identities. The remarkable strength of these characters is highlighted in every story. ‘Mariachis vs. Bluegrass’, ‘Michelle and Yvette in Kaiserslautern’, ‘Confession’ and ‘Searching’ are particular standouts for me, but all 20 stories are filled with heart, charm and hope. Boundless is a wonderful celebration of multicultural voices.

Aoife Sheehan