Teen Scene Tuesday: The Best Books of 2011

As the year winds down, we're seeing a variety of "Best of..." lists. Of course, since I'm an aspiring author, I always tend to look at the "Best of..." lists that highlight all things books--especially YA. As a matter of fact, you can check out a variety of 2011 Best Book Lists by going here.

So with all of these opinions, I figure why not ask teens about the best books they've read in 2011--you know, since they're our target audience at all. With help from my cuz, Quita, here are the titles that were mentioned (in alphabetical order):

1. 11/22/63 by Stephen King

2. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren

3. Blueford series by various authors

4. Claidi Journals by Tanith Lee

5. The Crucible by Arthur Miller

6. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

7. Demon Seed by Dean Koontz

8. Divergent by Veronica Roth

9. Evermore by Alyson Noel

10. The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman

11. Last Sacrifice: A Vampire Academy Novel by Richelle Mead

12. Medieval Tales and Stories Edited and Translated by Stanley Applebaum

13. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

14. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

15. The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Two major things I noticed while reviewing this list:

1. Not all of these titles were published in 2011, and



2. Not all of these titles can be considered YA (major props to the teen who loves Medieval Tales)

So what does this information tells us about today's teen? Hey, I only gathered the data--but I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. :)

Teen Scene Tuesday: No Way to PDA in YA?

So, something scary has happened. No, it has nothing to do with my health or my writing or my day job. No, this is far, far creepier. You see, my 16-year-old niece may have a boyfriend.

As you can tell, this terrifies me. I can totally see why she has a boyfriend. She's one of the funniest, most intelligent people I've ever met--and I don't just say that because we're blood-related (though that does give me bragging rights). But I can still remember dressing her up in silly clothes when she was a baby, and hear her whining about how much she wants "juice-sh" (she always had to make that extra sound at the end).

I trust my niece to make wise decisions about her "love life"--and her mom has done a fantastic job with raising her. But still, just the thought of some punk getting all touchy-feely with her makes me sick to my stomach.

Yes, this is coming from the woman who gets disappointed when she has a chapter in which her characters DON'T make out. From the same woman who snapped at someone in her critique group when they complained that I should not make my teen characters have sex.

So even though I don't have kids of my own, I can now understand where some of these parents are coming from. I just finished my NaNo novel, and when two of my characters got a little too close for comfort, it started feeling a little...strange to me.

Have I lost my edge now that my niece is dating? To all my writers that are parents out there, how do you feel about love scenes in YA novels? Also, has having your own kids affected the way you write now? I'd also love to read thoughts from people who don't have kids yet like me.

Teen Scene - Movie Madness

If you didn't know, the newest installment in the Twilight saga hit the big screen this past week.  Which, I'm not sure anyone could miss the furor it caused.  My Facebook feed was nothing but people checking in from the theaters.

So, I thought to celebrate this teenage phenomenon, I'd share some funnies I found thanks to Youtube.  Enjoy.  :)




And this one, well, isn't Twilight, but it's FREAKING AWESOME! lol
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Teen Scene Tuesday: NaNo and Lit Mags!

Happy Tuesday, everyone! A couple of things to discuss this week for our Teen Scene Tuesday.

First, unless you've been sleeping or living under a rock for the past two weeks, you should know that it's National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo as it's also affectionately called. Basically, the goal is to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November. There isn't any age discrimination for NaNo, so teens can join in on the anguish...err, I mean excitement, too!

That's right--though we've reached the halfway point, if teens still want to sign up for NaNo, they have excellent Resources for Young Writers. Us old-timers can help out, too, by funding one of the classrooms that are participating. Click here for more details.

On another note, two weeks ago, my awesome cousin, Quita, guest-posted about how to start a teen lit mag. And this week she's willing to share her high school's VERY FIRST ISSUE! *tosses confetti*

Just click here to check out the very first issue of The Duke Diaries--a literary magazine featuring the writing of high school students.

Teens that enjoy writing really motivate me to push forward with my own writing. Not loving my NaNo novel at the moment, but I KNOW I'm going to finish it. What about you all? How are you doing in your writing?

Teen Scene Tuesday: Creating a Teen Lit Mag!

Happy Tuesday! And for those crazy like me...Happy 1st Day of NaNoWriMo! In honor of the start of this writing-heavy month, my cousin, Quita, is guest blogging today about her high school's literary magazine.

Quita isn't just awesome because she's my cousin (even though that does up her Awesome Factor), but also because she balances teaching young adults while writing for them. She blogs with me over at Y(A)? Cuz We Write!

Creating A High School Literary Magazine in Six Easy Steps

1.) Get the word out! Most kids don’t know what a “literary magazine” is. So, you need to explain it. Set up a table to advertise. Put books they know and love across the table, along with pens and notebooks. The students will eventually get that the magazine is to showcase writers and readers.

2.) Set up a steady meeting date and time. Keep it simple: the first and third Thursday of every month until 3:30 PM is one example. You can meet as often or as little as you want, but if you want to be organized, keep it the same.

3.) Assign positions. Once kids show up to the specified meeting, give them a specific job. Book Reviewer, Writer, Co-editor, Illustrator, Interview, Web site/Facebook moderator, etc. This way everyone feels like they have something to do and they don’t just sit around and stare at the walls during the meeting.

4.) Make sure to choose responsible co-editors! If you can, have more than one co-editor, just in case one of them gets sick or can’t complete an assignment on time. Also choose ALL jobs with care. You don’t want the person who is in charge of the website and Facebook to be the kind of person who types with one finger…

5.) Create themes and release dates for your issues. This is needed if you want to have an organized, well ran magazine for teenagers. They need to have something to give their writing more focus. Also due dates will help students to remember to get their writing done. We all know how busy teens are with social matters. :)

6.) FINALLY—put the word out! The magazine will lie in an abyss of mystery if no one knows about it. Create commercials, advertise with posters, and write a blurb for your school’s morning announcements. That way people will know when and where they can get your magazine (and if you are selling it—make sure you advertise for how much). Also, put the word out to other writers in the school. They should be able to submit their work even if they are not a club member.

Have fun and happy literary magazin-ing!

Sometimes I Fail, so You get a Recommendation!

So, obviously I fail today.  Because it's 1pm and I'm just now realizing I was in charge of the Teen Scene post today.  Sorry, guys!  I'll blame it on the sick kid I'm home with.  ;)

In spite of my obvious lack of teen topic, I thought I'd share a book I read with you guys.  It's an ARC from Simon Pulse, the novel will be released January 3, 2012.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO SURVIVE THE APOCALYPSE

By Lucas Klauss

Phillip's sophomore year is off to a rough start. One of his best friends ditches him for a group of douchebags. His track coach singles him out for personalized, torturous training sessions. And his dad decides to clean out all of the emergency supplies from the basement, even though the world could end in disaster at any moment...and even though those supplies are all Phillip has left of his dead mom. Not that he wants to talk about that. 

But then Phillip meets Rebekah. Not only is she unconventionally hot and smart, but she has seriously great boobs. And she might like him back. 

As Phillip gets closer to Rebekah, he tries harder and harder to turn himself into the kind of person he thinks she wants him to be. But the question is, can he become that person? And does he really want to?

Something I haven't seen a lot of (meaning not much at all) in YA books is religion being discussed.  Which, I understand why.  That's a really hot-button topic that not many people want to touch.  Which is why I'm doubly impressed by Mr. Klauss.

First of all, the writing in this book is awesome.  I laughed out loud, I cringed, I got teary-eyed  -- everything I expect when I'm in the hands of a good book. 

Now, this story has a lot of religious discussion in it.  A. Lot.  BUT here's catch, Klauss handles every aspect of Phillip's exploration into the realms of religion with the utmost respect.  He argues both sides of the coin and holds true to the principle that overall, people are just trying to do what's right no matter what path they choose.

I highly recommend you pick this book up once it hits shelves for a funny, deep story of a teenager's struggle with life, religion, friends, and finding his place in the world.

Teen Scene Tuesday: That's What I Want!

Today on the blog, we have a guest post from Ica, a junior in a small high school in Virginia. She says that she is very imaginative and that's why she loves reading. However, there are more things she'd like to see in novels...and she's happy to share them with us!

What We Need More of in YA Novels

1. More Main Characters (or Multiple Points of View)

The main character is normally one specific person, but adding more than one would bring more depth to the story as well as characters.

2. Females Who Aren't Concerned About Cliques or Fitting In

Normally the female is biased about how she always has to be popular, whereas if she wasn't tied to any specific "clique," the plot to the story wouldn't be as predictable.

3. Highlighting the "Minority" Groups at School

Where are the stories about the band geeks? Students that volunteer? What about those that love computers? They deserve story-lines, too!

4. Geek is Chic

It's seen as uncool to be smart. Why is that? We need more "nerdy" protagonists! :)

5. No More Fickle Boys

There are so many times where I don't understand the choices that some of the guy characters make. It's like they have to be "bad" for the sake of being "bad." Make sure the reasons behind their actions make sense to the story--that way we can relate to them.

Whoa, great points, Ica! I'm glad to see that in my last YA novel, my main character was a "nerdy" boy who played in his school's jazz band. Looks like I'm doing something right. :) What are your thoughts about what Ica wants?

The Teen Brain

During my usual internet browsing this week I came across an interesting article on the National Geographic website.  It's called Beautiful Brains and was written by David Dobbs.

The whole basis of the article is: Why do teens act the way they do?

I think that's a darn good question.


Well, Dobbs gives us an explanation, which I think makes a huge difference when we're writing about teens.  It really explains the difference in perception!

A test was done by Beatriz Luna on a range of students from 10 to 20 years old, which involved a video game type setting where the instructions were simple: don't look at the blinking light.

What Luna found most interesting, however, was not [the] scores. It was the brain scans she took while people took the test. Compared with adults, teens tended to make less use of brain regions that monitor performance, spot errors, plan, and stay focused—areas the adults seemed to bring online automatically.

 Interesting, right?

These studies help explain why teens behave with such vexing inconsistency: beguiling at breakfast, disgusting at dinner; masterful on Monday, sleepwalking on Saturday. Along with lacking experience generally, they're still learning to use their brain's new networks. Stress, fatigue, or challenges can cause a misfire.

 Then Dobbs suggests perhaps it's actually more than just the brain's growth that causes the sometimes outrageous actions of teens.

As B. J. Casey, a neuroscientist at Weill Cornell Medical College who has spent nearly a decade applying brain and genetic studies to our understanding of adolescence, puts it, "We're so used to seeing adolescence as a problem. But the more we learn about what really makes this period unique, the more adolescence starts to seem like a highly functional, even adaptive period. It's exactly what you'd need to do the things you have to do then."

So, in essence, there's nothing lacking in the still-developing teen brain.  In fact, Dobbs suggests perception could be the issue.

As Laurence Steinberg, a developmental psychologist specializing in adolescence at Temple University, points out, even 14- to 17-year-olds—the biggest risk takers—use the same basic cognitive strategies that adults do, and they usually reason their way through problems just as well as adults. Contrary to popular belief, they also fully recognize they're mortal. And, like adults, says Steinberg, "teens actually overestimate risk."


So if teens think as well as adults do and recognize risk just as well, why do they take more chances? Here, as elsewhere, the problem lies less in what teens lack compared with adults than in what they have more of. Teens take more risks not because they don't understand the dangers but because they weigh risk versus reward differently: In situations where risk can get them something they want, they value the reward more heavily than adults do.

 I don't know about you guys, but that makes perfect sense to me.  As an adult, impressing my friend by driving too fast or pulling a crazy stunt doesn't hold the same reward as it does to a teen.  Even if the fact that it is rewarding to a teen is cringe-worthy.

What do you guys think?  Does this give you a better idea for writing a teenage protagonist?  A little deeper understanding of your own kids?  ;) 

If you'd like to read the full article, go HERE.

Teen Scene Tuesday: First Day of School!

Hello everyone! I know that school has already started for many students across America, but for me, the first day of school has always been today--the day after Labor Day. As a student, this day usually brought me a mixture of joy and terror: joy because I couldn't wait to reconnect with my friends and see what the year had to offer, and terror because...well, I didn't know what the year had to offer.

Now, as a middle school counselor, the first day is usually filled with students crowding my office because: A. they're afraid of attending a new school, B. they don't know where their class is located, or C. they absotively, posilutely hate their schedules--which brings me to today's post.

You see, I understand the importance of having the four core classes: math, English, science and social studies. But, as a student, there were a few classes I would've LOVED to see included in my curriculum:

Social Skills 101. Not that I was awkward. Okay, not that I was that awkward, but I really could've used a class that told me if a guy liked me just because he saved a seat for me. Or that sticking up for the "weird" kid in class wouldn't necessarily make me the next target. Or that it was okay to speak up. Period. If my peers didn't like me, oh well. I wouldn't see 98% of them after graduation anyway.

Intermediate Fashion Skills. No, running shoes does not look cute with everything. It just doesn't.

Honors Don't Worry, Be Happy. Okay, so I'm not prepared for one measly quiz. It's just that. One measly quiz. I don't have to cry and beg my mom to drive to the school after hours and see if a janitor will let her grab my textbook out of my locker (which she STILL won't let me live down).

Flirting For Dummies. Um, telling a guy that your friend thinks he's cute when it's you is a bad, I repeat, BAD idea. And will result with you watching 90210 at home while he and your friend do everything Brenda and Dylan did...and possibly more.

Advanced Placement Self-Esteem. Yeah, my head was big, and I had thunder thighs, and my lips were way too thin--but no one else looked like me. And they still don't. So there.

And there you have it--these are the elective courses I would've taken. What about you all? Any classes that you would've loved to see on your schedule?

Teen Scene -- The Older Crowd

So, I know Pam and I usually feature teens who are in high school, but today I've got a new sort of teen for you: The College Student.

The College Student works at my day job part time -- she sits in my office when she's there.  *evil grin*  So, naturally I've pinned her down to talk about books.  Because that's what I do.  To everyone.

The last two books she has read were:

James Patterson's MIRACLE ON THE 17th GREEN

"Travis McKinley is an ordinary man living an ordinary life - he has a job that he despises, a marriage that has lost its passion, children from whom he feels disconnected, and at age fifty, a sense that he has accomplished nothing of consequence with his life. But on Christmas Day, he goes out to play a round of golf, and for the first time, he finds himself in the "zone." "

Nicholas Sparks's THE LAST SONG

"Seventeen year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father… until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie’s father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms – first love, the love between parents and children – that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts… and heal them."

And according to The College Student, it's really hard to find books she wants to read.  Not because there's nothing out there, but because she doesn't know where to go look.

This is where I realized how much a New Adult section could influence younger readers like her who don't see themselves as teenagers anymore.  Until that time comes though, I promised to bring her a healthy dose of YA books with older protagonists. 

What do you all think of this?  How do you feel about a New Adult taking hold of the industry?  I know there isn't much market for it right now, but in my opinion it could be the next Big Thing.

Teen Guest Post: The Dos and Don'ts of Back to School!

Yay! I'm excited because today we have a special treat for you all--teen Raven Ashley is doing a guest post. Raven is a rising senior who aspires one day to be an author. You can follow her blog here and on Twitter here. Now, without further ado...

So it's that time of year again. You know...the one where we have to spend five days a week listening to teachers go on and on about stuff we're not going to remember in say....ten years?

As much as it pains me to say the "S" word, it's time for us to go back to school. I know it hurts but...I'm here to help.

I don't claim to be an expert on surviving first days but this is my senior year so I do have a little bit of experience. Here is a list of DOs and DON'Ts that will be sure to help you get ready to go back to...well you know...

1.) DON'T let any sparkly vampires climb in through your window. I know it worked for Bella Swan but...seriously who can get a good night's rest when they have a sparkly creature of the night watching their every move. This leads me to number two on my list:

2.) DO go to bed early. As much fun as it is to stay up all night talking to friends you're going to regret not getting all the sleep you can get.

3.) DON'T pull a Parker Fadley (Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers). She couldn't find her dress shoes and she went to school with a mustard stain on her skirt.

4.) DO get ready the night before. From experience, going to school on the first day isn't fun if you have stains on your clothes from breakfast. So double-check your clothes, make sure you know where your shoes are and have your book bag ready BEFORE you wake up the next day. Trust me...if you do all the important stuff early, waking up in the morning won't be so bad.

5.) I know some people worry about carbs and...if you're anything like Regina George...then ignore this but breakfast is important. So make sure you have a good one either at home or at school (though school breakfast is usually crappy).

Okay...so this year is a little different for me. Not only is it my last year of high school, but it's going to be my first year at a different school and I am SO scared. I feel like a freshman! This brings me to my next bit of advice:

6.) DON'T be afraid to be afraid, especially if you're a freshman. People will tell you that you have nothing to worry about...but high school is pretty scary at first. When I started at my school I didn't know anyone, and being the geek that I am...I really didn't fit in. But that's okay because there will be other people who feel that way. Don't spend the first couple of weeks hiding behind a book like I did. Be yourself and go talk to people. It sounds hard but you never know, right?

One thing I've learned about first days is that there is no right or wrong way to go about them.

On my first day of middle school, I fell flat on my face...but that's a story for another time. The point is you're bound to have a Humpty Dumpty moment. Nobody is perfect. But really...that's okay. Sometimes those things are completely unavoidable. Just promise that you won't let your first day define the rest of your school year.

I still have a week and left of summer, so to those of you who are going back now...remember to be prepared and as crazy as this sounds...have fun. : )

You rock, Raven! Thanks so much...and good luck at your new school!

Teen Scene Back to School

I don't know about the rest of the country, but here in Florida we're gearing up to head back to school next week.  There's a buzz in the air, an anticipation to return to those gossip-filled halls so thick you can almost taste it.  While parents run frenzied through the big box stores with mile-long supply lists to fill, the teens are hitting the malls in search of that perfect back to school wardrobe.

This past week I got to have this experience with my brother -- and fashion is oh so important.  You've got to get it right from the start or you're doomed.  At least, that's what he says.  ;)  So what are the kids wearing this year?  I'll tell you one thing, high school style sure has changed since I was there...


There seems to be a throwback trend yet again this year, but this one is a little on the softer side:

Lots of polka dots and plaids:

According to Elle, it's all about the tights and the floral prints:

 And, guys, these aren't the Nikes of our childhood:

Also, apart from what the Old Navy ads are spewing, skinny jeans still seem to be the "in" jean for the fall, and the more distressed, the better.

The point here, guys?  Pay attention to what you're dressing your characters in.  Trendy isn't what it used to be, and it is ever changing. 

Teen Scene -- The Mom Factor

If you've ever visited my blog or caught my tweets, you probably know I'm a mom.

I just recently finished a round of revisions on my manuscript, and some things my main character says and does to her mom made me pause and cringe.  The thought of my own child saying or doing those things to me some day in the future almost made me hit the delete key.

But I didn't.  Because that's a part of life. 

I also have a teenage brother, and I can tell you from first hand exposure that sometimes (some, not all, of course) teens are downright evil.  (Well, sometimes all of us are.)  They'll say things to their parents to be intentionally hurtful.  They'll do whatever they can to push that big red button on the end of their parent's nerves only because they can.

And the thing is, no matter how much I don't want to admit it as a parent, it's how teenagers are.  Even if I want to create a parent/teen relationship that's super close and friendly, there are still going to be those moments. 

Trust me, as a mom I'd much rather have perfect parent-child relationships in my books.  I mean, that's exactly what I want for me and my kid, so it's what I skew toward.  But let's face it, it wouldn't be realistic.  Teens fight with their parents, so don't let the Mommy Factor blind you of that.

Any other moms (or dads!) out there dealing with this?  What do you do to make sure you're being authentic instead of projecting your wishes in your writing?

Trendy Teens

Over the weekend I found myself perusing a couple of teen magazines online.  You know the type -- secrets of back to school style, perfect prom updos, and everything you need to know about nail polish.

I came across an article for a trend I've actually started to notice more and more where I live:  Rainbow Hair!

As the article in Teen Vogue said, "This fall's brightly-colored clothes aren't the only vibrant hues ruling the runway. Models in this seasons' hottest shows stepped out with lovely locks streaked in every color of the rainbow. Designers like Prabal Gurung and Tracy Reese gave their models enviable dimension by adding hot pink, rich purple, and neon green-dyed stripes to their strands."

Read More http://www.teenvogue.com/beauty/fall-hair-makeup-2011/runway-beauty-trend-colored-hair#ixzz1SW3nKuJE

From the images on Teen Vogue's site, it seems that the color choices range everywhere from in-your-face

to the more subtle.

I'll admit -- even my own sister has become a part of this trend.  Have any of you hopped on board?  I wonder what I'd look like with pink streaks...  ;)

Teen Scene Tuesday: At the Mall!

Last week, I had the pleasure of joining my niece, Tee Tee, at the mall (do you remember her? She gave our first teen interview--check it out here!). You see, Tee Tee just turned 16, and all she wanted to do for her birthday was to go shopping with her friends.

My cousin, Quita, and I decided to drop by and join them so that she could choose her own birthday presents from us. After almost an hour of watching Tee Tee and her friends giggle with each other, share inside jokes, and sing lyrics to songs I've never heard of, I started to feel...old.

But there's a bright side: as a YA writer, I had a better understanding of just where teens shop at today. Here's a brief recap of my excursion:

1. Urban Exchange: This is where my boo boo got her eyebrow pierced. Yes--her EYEBROW!! Did I mention that I felt old? Nothing shady going on here, though--her mom actually took her to get the piercing done, and she looks really adorable. But "back in the day," what I thought was edgy was getting two piercings in one ear.

2. deb: Tee Tee and her crew probably spent the most time in this store, and I have to admit. I swooned over some of the dresses. But the lengths of the skirts in there? Good grief! It took everything in me to not pull down a hem whenever Tee Tee held a skirt up against her. Needless to say, I got a lot of strange looks.

3. Wet Seal: This is the store that Tee Tee wanted Quita and me to buy her clothes. She said it's one of the best. Stores. Ever. In fact, as soon as we walked in, she picked out her outfits in about five minutes flat. It takes me about five times that long to settle on a pair of shades. But I guess when you're 16 and a size 3, you pretty much know everything will look cute on you.

So, that was my adventure at the mall. I couldn't believe that Tee Tee and her friends sailed right past Old Navy and Forever 21--which were my go-to stores at their age. What about you all? Are you a fan of the above-mentioned stores? Any interesting habits you've noticed from teens at the mall?

Teen Scene Tuesday -- Summertime

I don't know about everyone, but down here in the warmth of the Florida sun, life tends to revolve around summertime.  Especially if you're a teen.  It's funny to watch my brother and his friends go off and do the same things my friends and I did when we were their age.

Here are a few things typical of a teenage summer:  (Around here anyway.  I know not everyone can hop over to the beach every afternoon.)


1) The Beach!  We used to spend nearly every summer weekend laying out on the soft, sandy beaches.  An alternate would certainly be the pool.

2) The River!  Ever hopped in a boat and jetted up the river to a hidden dock so you could swim in the cool water?  It gets really adventurous when the first snake is spotted.  Then if you're canoeing, going back upstream is the biggest adventure of all.  And full of giggles as you vow to never make the mistake again, knowing you'll be back in a couple weeks.  ;)

3) The Movies!  I don't know what it is about summertime that sends teens flooding to the movie theaters, but my brother and a pack of his friends are forever seeing the next big show.

4) The Mall!  Teens love to shop.  Clothes, shoes, each other...you know.  That's what the mall is all about.

5) Work!  Most teens I know have a summer job.  They do have to be able to finance all of these shopping trips, ya know. 

There's nothing quite comparable to sitting back and thinking about what summertime was like when I was a teen.  Fourth of July really brought it back to mind, so that's why I'm sharing.  As I played with my four-year-old yesterday I remembered all those past celebrations spent at the river with a pack of friends and a cold cherry coke.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!  Do you have any other typical summer activities you did as a teen?

Teen Scene Tuesday: Teen Authors

While interviewing teens for this very blog, I noticed that many of them had something in common: they're writers.

This shouldn't be too surprising. The publishing world has seen its fair share of young, talented writers--most notably Kody Keplinger and Hannah Moskowitz. I'm hoping that this love will spread to academic programs--I would be THRILLED to see more creative writing programs in schools.

However, if you stay in a small district like mine, teens may not have these outlets. I decided to hunt the interwebz for sites where teen writers can "mingle" with other writers, and maybe even hone their craft:

Shelfari: I first learned about this site from this teen interview. Not only does this site list the New York Times Bestseller lists, but also allows users to make book recommendations and join book clubs. The most interesting part, though, is that members can even "pretend" to be characters from their favorite books--or maybe even from their own stories. Talk about getting the creative juices flowing.

Inkpop: When my students found out I wrote YA, they immediately wanted my thoughts on their own writing--and many of them submitted stories to this site. This is a cool place to find critique partners, share your writing with others, and even meet other writers. I've already bookmarked this website. :)

Teen Ink: The tag line says: "Magazine, website, & books written by teens since 1989." Are you kidding me? Was I living under a rock when I was a teen?? Regardless, this site kicks you-know-what. Not only does this site feature poetry, fiction and nonfiction written by teens, but it's also a cool place to swing by for reviews and celebrity interviews.

Write On!: This is a new site founded by Miss Snark's First Victim, the Authoress herself. This is basically an online community where teen writers can connect with other writers and book lovers. Not only is there a blog where teens can learn more about writing skills, such as discovering the inciting incident or differentiating between POVs--but it also includes a forum where editors pop in monthly to answer questions. I must say, this place is not only SAFE for teens--but it's one of the COOLEST sites I've ever seen. I can't wait to share it with my students when they return in the fall.

So, I know I didn't list every possible resource out there, but these were the most popular. I would love for you to include additional links below if you know of any. :)

Teen Scene on Romance

If you were privy to my Facebook feed, you'd know I see a lot of teen drama go down via the internet.  It can be so interesting (and seriously funny to me, though I know it's not to them) to watch the exchanges fire back and forth.

One thing in particular I've noticed about teenage girls:  It's all about the romance.

The progression every few months goes like this:

Teen 1:  "I'm fine on my own, don't need a man to make me happy!  Life is goooood!"
Teen 2 response:  "I'm so happy for you, you go girl!  You don't need anyone."
Teen 3 response:  "That's right, girl, we don't need nobody."

A month or so later:

Teen 1:  "He makes me so happy, I've never felt so good.  I don't know how I'd live without him!  <3 [boy's initials]
Teen 2 response:  "Awww, that's so sweet.  You'll be together forever!"
Teen 1 response:  "I feel so lucky to have found him at such a young age!  <3 [boy's initials]
Teen 3 response:  "I'm so happy for you!"

Another month or so later:

Teen 1:  Song lyrics to the effect of, "My broken heart will never beat again.  I'll never be happy again.  The skies will always be BLACK. </3"
Teen 2 response:  "You're too good for him.  He doesn't deserve you!"
Teen 3 response:  "Let's kick his ass!"


Rinse and repeat.

My point?  When teens are in the moment, everything is very much exaggerated.  All the emotions run through them at a much faster and more fierce level than they do an adult.  So when you're writing romance scenes for teenagers, you have to keep that in mind.  Remember that they live fully in the moment, without much thought to what could happen tomorrow.  (I'll put a disclaimer here that nothing is true for everyone, this is just an observance I've made on teens via Facebook.)

Have any of you seen exchanges like this go down via social networking?  It makes me chuckle and shake my head, but then it also sends me running back to my WIP to dig a little deeper into that endless depth of emotion teen girls seem to have.

YA Saves II: Teens Speak Out!

Okay, so by now, that Wall Street Journal article bashing YA books is old news, right? And on Paper Hangover last week, the lovely Holly Dodson polled some of our co-bloggers on how YA books changed our lives. I decided to carry this a bit further and ask some of my students and former students about this issue.

When asked about which YA/childrens book has changed their lives, or even helped them out, here were some commonly mentioned titles:

Firegirl by Tony Abbott

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Beastly by Alex Finn

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

However, the most praised YA book by most teens that I've spoken to is Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I shared with Holly last week about how this novel really resonated with one of my male students. A few more teens wanted to share their thoughts on it:

"This book opened my eyes because you never really know what a person is going through. It made me realize that what I say or do can really affect others' lives"--Jenny, Age 14

"After reading this book, I realized the smallest things we say might have a huge effect on people. I found myself watching what I said a lot more carefully, and I had a close regard for others' feelings.

On the flip side, there are books like Twilight. I've read the books, but that doesn't mean I'm going out and looking for a vampire or werewolf."--Kaitlyn, Age 15

There you have it. No matter how dark a book may be, it more than likely has helped at least one teen out there. And, what do you know, teens are even smart enough to not be influenced by certain subject matters. They'll leave the glittering vamps to Stephenie Meyer. :)

Do you know of any teens that has been truly helped by a YA book?

Teen Scene Tuesday -- YA Saves

There's no doubt most of you have heard about the Wall Street Journal's article on YA fiction.  It set Twitter ablaze with reactions over the weekend with the #YASaves hashtag.  If you haven't read it, head HERE.

I'll say my first reaction to this was a gut-wrenching sadness.  I think it's really sad that someone would judge an entire group of literary works in this way, even though I realize it happens all the time. 

One thing Ms. Gurdon said in the article that really made me shake my head was:

"If books show us the world, teen fiction can be like a hall of fun-house mirrors, constantly reflecting back hideously distorted portrayals of what life is."

Thing is, life is not perfect.  Bad things happen to good people every single day.  Horrible things!  Have you seen the news lately?  I realize not every teen goes through dark experiences like some (note: not all) YA books are based on.  But there are plenty of teens that do.  Plenty of them need to be able to find these issue-based books to help them.  Teens are also going to have a different view of the world than a grown woman.  Everything is more vivid, more dramatic, more full of emotion.  It's how teens work.  I can understand a parent protecting a sensitive reader, and I absolutely support that, but I do not support the thought that YA fiction is inappropriate just because it's dark.

I know for me, as a teen, YA fiction helped me understand myself.  It helped me work through grief.  These books helped me cope with losing not one, but two siblings.  Because of these books, I was able to work through depression and my parent's divorce.  I can honestly say that YA books saved me.

Anyway, enough ranting about things you've no doubt thought yourself already.  I asked the Paper Hangover crew to share their feelings on the matter.  Here's what they have to say:

Pam says, "As a school counselor, I've definitely seen first-hand how YA books save many of my students. For example, a few years ago, one of my students shared with both his parents and me that he was quite suicidal. We discussed Thirteen Reasons Why so much that he decided to read it for himself. He said that book basically changed his life, and now he's flourishing at his new school. :)"

Michael says, "Real life is so much worse than books will ever be, mostly because life is real. You can't close the book on your life and set it on the shelf, or return it to the store where you purchased it. It's yours forever. No refunds. In real life, Tinkerbell doesn't wake up no matter how hard you clap. Some people go through life never experiencing its harsh realities first-hand, while others are bludgeoned with bad occurrences every single day. There's an author and a reader for all those stories. They should be told."  See his full blog on the matter here.

Adrienne says, "I read Flowers in the Attic at 12, and for some strange reason I didn't go on to 'sleep' with my brother or plot to kill my mother.  I read Carrie at 13, and low and behold didn't go ballistic at my Prom or whatever it was I had.  I read Sidney Sheldon for years and I am not secret undercover agent or a diamond thief.  And as for Jackie Collins before 15....I am quite the normal person.

I wish there were books for girls who were overly tall, skinny and a sports jock, someone who had a single mother who was never home due to 'survival of fittest.'  If I had those books I would never have felt alone or 'different.' I would have grown up more confident knowing it wasn't just me, 'cause that's how teens feel.  Shedding light on the miserable or the depraved in a book helps teens to:

A. Cope with their lives
B. Know that the world outside their front door is not as it seems
and C. Know they are not alone.

I think we need to give teens more credit, society has changed so much, why haven't these people who are complaining about certain books. Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll, it happens, whether you read a book or not, get over it!"

Hannah says, "99.999% of the YA books out there are also hopeful. That hope is there even if only as a sliver. The darkness is "too visible", okay. But that's not just in books; look around you, turn on the news--the things teenagers are reading about? They're happening—to other teenagers, to their friends, to their families. Where else are they going to hear that they're not alone? There are kids who choose life everyday because they feel less alone, because reading about it made them feel stronger. Are they not worth it?"  Read the rest of Hannah's post here.

How about the rest of you?  We'd love for you to share your reactions, or your own story of how YA has saved you.