I picked this one up (More accurately, I thought about picking it up and when I went to the local indie store to get a book for a friend — which I had to special order — I impulsively asked them to special order this one too, just because, and then I had to drive back across town to get them, but I’m not complaining, really, it’s just that this was a really long explanation and “picked this one up” was much more succinct.) in my post-Saffron Kitchen funk. I figured that a bunch of funny, interesting, cute essays about first kisses would be just the think to catapult me out of said funk. Well, as it turned out, I managed to crawl out of my hole before the book came in, but I enjoyed reading it anyway.

A collection of first kiss stories (mostly true) from YA authors (and Jon Scieszka, is he really a YA author? I’ve only known him as a picture book guy…) it’s a fun little book. As with all collections, there’s a little bit in there for everyone (which makes it uneven, but that’s not really a problem): graphic art essays (comic strips?), poetry, a play, a haiku and the Hale’s (probably quickly becoming famous; it’s the one everyone I’ve read has pointed out) she-said, he-said. There were several that I really liked: Shannon and Dean Hale’s version (especially Dean’s version; he’s a very funny writer) of their first kiss; Jon Scieszka capturing 7th grade boys perfectly; Amy Kim Ganter’s comic about her third first kiss with who was eventually her husband (it was very sweet); Cecil Castellucci’s reflections of her afternoons with the “bad boy” in school (until her friend found out…). Hands down favorite for sheer grossness (it was so gross it was funny!) was Justine Larbalestier’s “Pashin'”, a tale of her friend’s first kiss. I’ll make you read it for yourself.

I liked how it mostly captured the anxiety and awkwardness of a first kiss. They’re not always swelling music and foot pops and love-at-first-sight. I liked the honesty about it — from Nikki Grimes’ “Breathless”: “His hot tongue startled me, torching its way in where it wasn’t needed. (Didn’t I already have a tongue of my own?”) — it was nice to read about kisses that weren’t overly sentimental. It got me to thinking about some of my first kisses (won’t bore you…), and Hubby (who picked it up and read some of them, too) reminisced about ours.

So, even though I didn’t need to to pop out of my funk, I’m glad I read it. It made me smile. And everyone can use a smile. And a kiss.