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.