by Alicia Rudnicki, Library Mix

I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets: Six Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure, edited by Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith, HarperTeen, 2009, ISBN 978-0-06-172684-2
Available at Powell's Books

Ask young adult, better known as YA, librarians about what memoirs teens like and they may draw a blank. However, ask teachers  about the subject and they will say  that students certainly like to tell their own life stories.

Smith Magazine
After creating the popular Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure, the editors of Smith Magazine decided to challenge teens to write their own life stories in six words.

What resulted is a book that Smith bills as having “600 authors.” It is a useful teaching tool for encouraging concise, colorful writing.

Lives in brief
The broad range of subjects in I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets includes frustrations with family, disappointment with achievements, identity and sexuality. Here are some examples:

• Jocelyn wrote that she was, “Defined by numbers: age, weight, SATs.”

• Writing a romance for our digital times, Chris recalled, “Met online; love before first sight.”

• Creating a metaphor for the struggle of her life, Amanda said, “I’m army boots. Ready for battle.”

• The reader can’t help but want to send a hug to Traci, who wrote, “Ripped open, sewn back up, healing.”

• Clever Nic commented, “I’m just a simple human. Being.”

• And Martha offered a caution to all who love print a bit too much: “Spent more time reading than living.”

A rare read
I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets is one of those rare books that reluctant readers are guaranteed to crack open during reading and writing classes.

 Here are six final words to consider: I found it at the library.

by Alicia Rudnicki, Library Mix

Teens who enjoy sharing their opinions about good books they have read, often can publish their views on public library websites. Many libraries nationwide now have teen blog pages where you can share your opinions.

Some libraries help edit the reviews before they are posted. Others post them exactly the way you write them.

When vampires dry up
Do you love all the vampire, werewolf, and zombie tales crowding library shelves these days or are you beginning to feel like “been there; done that” and want something new? Publishers are busy asking themselves what will happen when Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight fades.

 By offering your opinions on what’s hot and what stinks, you help to determine what gets published. Maybe you have discovered the next big publishing phenomenon. Will it be the futuristic teen gladiators of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins?

Teen blogs around the nation
If your local library doesn’t have a teen blog, maybe you can help it start one. Here are some examples to check out.

Teen Books & More
Carnegie Public Library, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Teen Book Blog
Cheshire Public Library, Cheshire, Connecticut

Book Reviews for Teens
Chicago Public Library, Chicago, Illinois

Evolver Teen Picks
Denver Public Library, Denver, Colorado

Read It! For Teens by Teens
Jefferson County Public Library, Colorado

For Teens Blog
Mead Public Library, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Your Reviews
Multnomah County Library, Portland, Oregon

Novi Teens Read
Novi Public Library, Novi, Michigan

Teenspace
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

So read on, write on, and let publishers know what you like!