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Books Recommended
by Teens
Books Recommended
by MSW
More about MSW
Writing Ideas
Submit Your Writing
Send suggestions
or just say, "Hi!"
Conferences Etc.
for Teens
(These may have deadlines, so don't wait)
More sites for Teens
Web Site for teens interested in writing fantasy and science fiction:
Need research? Try the
New York Times page for Learning
A Page about
Books and Writing
For Teens
& Information about Publishing and Conferences
What's New:
A New Contest for School Writing Teams
Writing Exercises
Updated March 27, 2008
Reviewed by Samiel Cameron
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Welcome to my page about books and writing for Teens!
I'm always looking for suggestions--
please write to me at meredithsuewillis@gmail.com
I'm looking for teens to review books for this site. If you have a book to review, or a suggestion for a book to review, please click here and send your email.
Latest Review
Magazines and Other Places that publish teens
Writing Ideas.
Books Recommended by Teens
Books Recommended by MSW
Send suggestions or just say, "Hi!"
To learn more about Meredith Sue Willis and her books, visit her biography page or her book page.
Playing Around -- A site with software for making your own comix.
I have a thing about parrots and parakeets. Even if you don't, here's a site about th
e strange and wonderful monk parrots of Brooklyn, New York: green parrots that live in big flocks in the city all year 'round. You can go on parrot spotting tours. Or, if you live in New Jersey, there's a different flock in Edgewater, N.J.
I saw one on my bird feeder once.
Do you have a younger sib? I have a page for them too: Kids!
This web site is always being revised-- please send suggestions and ideas for books to MeredithSueWillis@gmail.com or click on the feed-back page.
Books Recommended by Teens
Samiel Cameron of South Orange, New Jersey recommends these books:
.... is indeed one of the most remarkable autobiographies of our time. This fictionalized account of Claude Brown's childhood as a hard, streetwise criminal trying to survive the toughest streets of Harlem has been heralded as the definitive account of everyday life for the first generation of African Americans raised in the ghettos of the 1940s and 1950s. When the book was first published in 1965, it was praised for its realistic portrayal of Harlem — the children, young people, hardworking parents; the hustlers, drug dealers, prostitutes, and numbers runners; the police; the violence, sex, and humor. The book continues to be a hit generations later, not only because of its fierce and dignified anger, not only because the struggles of urban youth are as deeply felt today as they were in Brown's time, but also because the book is affirmative and inspiring. Here is the story about the one who "made it," the boy who kept landing on his feet and became a man.
Running with Scissors
The story of running with scissors is a memoir about Augusten Burroughs. While most memoirs invoke an annoyance for the self-pitying victim, Scissors does anything but. The book describes Burrough’s rocky childhood in the 1970'sw Massachusetts. His Bipolar mother identifies with suicidal poets such, as Anne Sexton; his professor father drinks instead of dealing with the family’s issues, and the psychiatrist who treats him seems to have more problems than the entire family combined.Two things make Burrough’s book so compelling: his wit and his personal depiction of the wild going ons in this strange family. Through the eyes of an observant teenager, Burroughs captures the 70's spirit of questioning every institution and tradition from mental monogamy to traditional education. Although he conveys the pain of this period, Burrouogh doesn’t ladle on the disapproval of the neo-conservatives, and instead captures this strange time in America—from the corny TV shows to the obsession with talk therapy. As funny as this book is, Burroughs memoir is shocking and disturbing because its all real. I highly recommend this book!!!
The Da Vinci Code
It is a considerable acheivement of Dan Brown to have written a thriller that is both fascinating and fun. The Da Vinci Code takes us in hot pursuit of nothing less than the Holy Grail, which turns out not to be the legendary cup of Christ, but a trove of documents proving dramatic facts about Jesus that the Catholic Church has been suppressing for nearly two millennia. After Brown’s hero, Robert Langdon, a Harvard professor of religion symbology delivers a lecture in Paris, police summon him to the Lourve, where the renowned curator Jacques Sauniere has been murdered. The dead man left behind an enigmatic message that mentions Langdon’s name. The scholar soon realizes he is about to be charged with the crime, and accompanied by Sauniere’s
granddaughter Sophie, he flees.The novel alternates between conventional chase scenes and scholarly digressions. Brown keeps the book fast paced, the puzzles leading to the Grail exceedingly clever, and there are a flurry of surprises and betrayals before the mystery is finally solved. Whatever the reader makes of the religious theories put forth, Brown has a great deal of interest to say about the early days of Christianity. How much of this is fact and how much is fiction??? Read the book and make up your own mind.
Samiel M.S. Cameron is a senior at Columbia High School, Maplewood, New Jersey. Her articles, essays and original poetry have been published in several community newspapers and statewide teen periodicals. Samiel's essay
"Colorism" won her the annual 2006 Silver Award for Literary from the NAACP - N.J. ACT-SO.. Samiel was recommended by South Orange Rotary as one of 21 students to travel to Japan as a student ambassador in the Summer 2005. Samiel aspires to become a journalist.
Christine M. from New Jersey says:
I read a whole lot. My mom yells at my sister to read more, and then my mom yells at me for reading too much. I like a lot of fantasy. I really like historical fiction with swords, arrows, and chivalry instead of now-a-days guns and problems. I really like Harry Potter, and let's face it, who doesn't? I really really like Lord of the Rings. Phanthom of the Opera is a good book, and so is Timeline. Twilight is a really good chick book, and the Inkheart series I am a little old for, but the sequel just came out, and it was wonderful. I really like a lot of books!
Christine is a tenth grader in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Nathan Weinberger from Brookline, Massachusetts suggests :
1. Any of the multiple series set in the Forgotten Realms universe by R.A. Salvatore. He has written seven or eight different series following pretty much the same group of characters. The series do go in a certain order, but you can get away with reading them out of order. All of the characters seem like real people and I would read the books even if they didn’t have a plot because the characters are so well written.
2. The Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind. They are set in a really interesting world with magic and swordfights. Really interesting characters and plots.
3. The Swong and Sword series by Elaine Cunningham. Also set in the Forgotten Realms universe, they follow a half-elf and her dandy companion on all sorts of adventures. They are funny and great.
4. Spearwielders Tale by R.A. Salvatore. A trilogy about a man who is kidnapped and taken to the magical land of Faerie just because he is the perfect size to fit into a dead heroes armor. These books are hilarious and also really well written.
5. Evermeet: Isle of Elves by Elaine Cunningham. The Forgotten Realms has a series of stand alone novels that take place in one of the main cities in the Forgotten Realms universe. This is a complete history of Evermeet starting with the Elvin gods and the creation of the elves.
6. The City of Splendors by Ed Greenwood and Elaine Cunningham. Another in the Cities series. This one takes place in Waterdeep and follows many different characters for about a year.
7. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. This book is 1500 pages long so it shouldn’t be stepped into lightly. I am only half way through it but so far it is really great.
Nathan Weinberger is an eleventh grader at Brookline High School in Brookline, Massachusetts. Along with reading, he enjoys dance including hip hop, street jazz, and tap.
Books Recommended by MSW
(including books I wrote)
Ice
This novel by Edward Myers is about two teenagers and a car accident. It was a Silver Award Winner in the Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Awards. You can read a sample chapter here from this unusual Young Adult novel about a boy who was driving--on the night his girl friend was killed.
The City Built of Starships
Here is Meredith Sue Willis's young adult science fiction novel. The City Built of Starships is a science fiction novel set on a planet with two suns. A young native has to go on a quest from the desert to the city. Click on the image to learn more.
My 100 Million Dollar Secret
My 100 Million Dollar Secret is by David Weinberger, a well known journalist and blogger . This is about a boy whose father is a newspaper man on a crusade against the Lottery. Then the boy wins -- a tremendous amount of money! So the story is about how to hide something from your parents without lying, and also about how to spend and give away lots and lots of money. It has just a hint of love interest; it has an evil capitalist who runs the rival town newspaper. There are some mean girls who get a mild comeuppance, a little sister who picks up lice at school every year, and lots more. Even adults who’ve read it were enthusiastic. You can read this one for free! Go to http://www.my100milliondollarsecret.com/
Blazing Pencils
Meredith Sue Willis's how-to-write book is Blazing Pencils, a book of writing ideas for teens and college students. It gives ideas for writing fiction and nonfiction. If you want more information about the book, click on the image.
Writing Exercises
Here are a just a few exercises to get you going on some writing.
For the latest in writing exercises, take a look at my Writing Exercises page for adults. I update that often. For Poetry Writing Exercises, try Teachers & Writers' Writenet.com virtual poetry workshop.
Exercise #6
The chimpanzee is looking into your face. What is she trying to say? What is your response?
Exercise #8
Take these lines from a well-known novel and continue them however you want:
She had found a jewel down inside herself and she had wanted to walk where people could see her and gleam it around.....
After you've written, if you really want to, click here to learn the source.
Exercise #14
Write down an actual overheard telephone conversation - it might be someone in your family or a stranger on the train on his cell phone. I once overheard a man talking passionately with what seemed to be his girl friend - and then calling his wife to tell her what time he'd be home! After you've written the observed half of the conversation, write again, making up what the second person said.
Exercise #16
Write a word portrait of one of your great grandparents. All the better if you know only one tiny fact: that she lived in Scott County, Tennessee or that he came to the U.S. rather than be conscripted into the Czar's army. Perhaps this word portrait should be a short poem or the beginning of a short story.
Exercise #34
I am too short to see the top of the table. I stand on my tip toes. I see.....
Exercise #39
A character (or you) looks into someone else's refrigerator. What can you learn about the other person by observing the contents of the refrigerator? What can you learn about your own feelings toward the owner of the refrigerator?
Exercise #56
A person is eating a meal which could be a quick snack on the street or a special holiday meal with the family, or a sandwich after a first date or even a meal of unfamiliar and perhaps unappealing foods. Focus on the senses, especially touch, smell, and taste, and what the person is thinking about as he or she eats.
Exercise #69
Put a conure parrot in a story or poem. Perhaps someone goes into the apartment of a friend who owns a conure, or goes into a pet store-- or perhaps the person dreams of parrots. Or, write a prose or poetry "Ode to a Conure." An ode is a poem that praises something.
Exercise #90
Here's a challenge. Take the following four lines and do anything you want to with them. Add material before them, add how things are said, turn them into a monologue instead of a dialogue-- do absolutely anything you want, just so you embed these words in what you write. This is especially challenging if you try to put the words into a novel or story you are already working on.
It's been a long time.
Yes.
Is this it?
I guess it is.
Exercise #104
This exercise is a picture prompt. Either
(a) continue the story from"The plane went streaking over the fields. Suddenly.... " or
(b) put this particular yellow propeller plane into a piece you're already writing.
By the way, since precision is almost always a good thing in writing, can you name the kind of plane this is? See below.
Submit your writing:
(SASE = Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope)
826 NYC Review. New York City only! This magazine is special for students up to age 18 but only from the five boroughs of New York. To submit, mail your work to: The 826 NYC Review, 372 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215. Their website is http://www.826nyc.org/ . When you get there, click on "Writing Gallery."
Bookworm Magazine , by and for kids, accepts work from people up to age 16. It was started by high school student Sophie McKibben when she was 11 and wanted wanted to give kids a place to have their writing and art published and shared. Since then, Bookworm has published kids from all over the United States, as well as from a number of foreign countries. If you have something you'd like to submit to Bookworm, you can send it by email to: bookworm.mag@gmail.com or by regular mail to: Bookworm Magazine, P.O. Box 167,Ripton, VT 05766.
Creative Kids. P.O. Box 6448, Mobile, AL 36660. For up to age 15. Accepts a wide variety of writing and artwork.
Green Sky, Blue Grass is an annual national arts magazine for and by high school students. Send up to 5 poems, 2 short stories/essays , or 5 photogrpahs/sketches/paintings with an SASE to Green Sky, Blue Grass, Palmer Trinity School, English Department, 7900 SW 176th St., Palmetto Bay, FL 33157.
Hanging Loose publishes all ages but especially encourages high school age writers to submit. Send all work to High School Editor, Hanging Loose, 231 Wyckoff Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217. Please also send a note identifying yourself as a high school age writer, and telling your age. Be sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient return postage. Send 3 to 6 poems, or 1 to 3 short stories, or an equivalent combination of poetry and prose.
The Mad Hatter is a mostly poetry publication for "precollege" students. Send work, school or home-school affiliation, and SASE to The Mad Hatter, Journal of Student Creativity, 320 South Seminary Street, Madisonville, KY 42431 . For more information, go to their Website at http://www.hopkins.k12.ky.us/gifted/mad_hatter.htm .
Merlyn's Pen-- is interested in fiction by young people. Issues are free, but only accepts submissions part of the time.
National Council of Teachers of English. 1111 Kenyon Rd., Urbana, IL 61801. If you are not already aware of the 8th grade and 11th grade writing competitions sponsored by NCTE, write them and find out.
New Moon This is a magazine for girls eight to twelve. Actually, it's a whole web site with a magazine. Click on "submissions." Watch for their new web zine coming in March 2008.
Read. Xerox Education Publications, 245 Long Hill Rd., Middletown, Grades 7 through 9. Runs students' jokes and poems often. Has a special feature for student writing each year.
Scholastic, 50 West 44th St., New York, NY 10036. Scholastic publishes Scholastic Scope and Scholastic Voice magazines for students. Both accept student writing. They also sponsor the annual Scholastic Writing Awards Program for grades 7, 8, and 9.
Seventeen is shard to get into. It's at 850 3rd Ave., New York, NY 10022. For girls 12 through 18. Try the "Free-for-AII" column.
Teen Ink for people 13 to 19. Lots of good articles and fiction and poetry written by teens. Click on "How to Submit"-- Submitting is free, but you have to pay for a subscription.
Also, take a look at The Tracking Way.
The Weekly Reader now has a special site for teens--including student writing! They also recently launched a blog and are in the process of creating a large online collection of student writing.
Upwords Poetry! takes poetry submissions and also has a lot of resources and information for teen writers.
You might also take a look at Writing.com which is a place to store writing and explore different genres
Winter-Spring 2008
I put information about contests and conferences here when someone tells me about them. Please let me know if you hear of any at MeredithSueWillis@gmail.com.
Word Thursdays...
is having its 12th Annual Competion for High School students. This is for teams from New York State High School students, so get a teacher or other adult to contact Bertha Rogers - 607-829-5055 or wordthur@stny.rr.com for more information. It takes place on Friday, May 9, 2008 at the Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta. Individual students from any school in New York State as well as school teams are invited to compete for prizes that celebrate excellence in writing and presentation. Those prizes include US Savings Bonds, sets of Bright Hill Press books, and readings at Word Thursdays in Treadwell; the winning team will take home a traveling trophy, and a permanent banner in school colors, inscribed with the names of team members and their coach, who will be named Poetry Coach of the Year. Awards will be given by Dr. Marie Wiles, Superintendent, ONC BOCES, and Bertha Rogers, founding director of Bright Hill Press/Word Thursdays. Teams must include no fewer than five students and no more than 10 students and must be sponsored by a school; there is a nominal fee for each student, which includes catered lunch
It's over for 2007, but watch for the 2008
November Is National Novel Writing Month--
They have an adult and a youth version at Nanowrimo
More sites for Teens
Web Site for teens interested in writing fantasy and science fiction: http://www.davidbarrkirtley.com/teenwriter/
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/writingkid.htm
http://www.youngimmigrants.com/
Here's something different: a website where the profile and information is supposed to be made up! Take a look at http://www.redcarpetsuperstar.com
Don't forget to send feedback!
And...
Thank You for Visiting!
Meredith Sue Willis
The plane is called a Piper Cub
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