I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure (Paperback)

~ Larry Smith (Author), Rachel Fershleiser (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up—Almost 800 authors, ranging in age from 13 to 19, contributed to this thought-provoking collection of individual memoirs. Based on the interest resulting from the publication of Not Quite What I Was Planning (HarperCollins, 2008), the editors of SMITH Magazine decided to challenge teens to write the story of their lives in a few brief words. The result is a compelling compendium that will provoke laughter—"Mom just revoked my creative license"; sadness—"Grandma is dying while I'm out shopping"; and empathy and thought—"In the nest, twigs are sharp." Less than a dozen of the selections, most of which are not as good as those by "obscure" authors, are written by famous teens. The short length, relevant topics, and authentic emotions will ensure that this book will appeal to a wide variety of teens, including reluctant readers. English teachers, theater teachers, and student book-club sponsors will revel in the instructional possibilities that could spring from this anthology. It may require some initial hand selling, but ultimately this book will find broad appeal in most collections.—Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD
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Product Description

One life. Six words. What's yours?

True tales of love, loss, good friends, and bad hair days filled Not Quite What I Was Planning, the New York Times bestselling first book in the Six-Word Memoir series—and an international phenomenon. Some of the most compelling were by teens, so now SMITH Magazine has compiled a book written entirely by these bold, brash truth-tellers. From cancer to creativity, prom dates to promiscuity, and breaking hearts to breaking laws, the memoirs in this collection reveal that often the youngest writers have the most fascinating stories to tell.

Met online; love before first sight.

Hair's pink to piss you off.

I fulfilled my awkwardness quota today.

I'm seventeen, engaged, and not pregnant.

My mom had my boyfriend deported.

Late for school every single day.

According to Facebook, we broke up.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061726842
• ISBN-13: 978-0061726842
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,264 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't Keep This Book to Myself, October 30, 2009

By	Brittany Moore "BrittLit" (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

This book is filled by six word quotes about 600 different teens.

This was a fast and fun little book. At times making you laugh and other times making your eyes well up. Who knew that 6 words could say so much.


Some of my favorites:

"Laughed at all the wrong moments." -Kierra B.

"I never got my Hogwarts letter." -Deanna H.

"The Beatles really said it all." -Mary Kate C.

"Holden caught me in the rye." -Brittany F.

"I lost more than my innocence." -Angela G.

I don't know if I would recommend you buying it, unless you really want a book with fun quotes. Convince your library to buy a couple copies and then check it out. This book is a good choice.

5.0 out of 5 stars I could not put it down, October 24, 2009

By	The Compulsive Reader (Big Rapids, MI, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I can't Keep My Own Secrets is the latest Six-Word Memoir book (which began with Not Quite What I Was Planning), written entirely by teens, famous and obscure.

If you've never picked up one of these books, they're really quite simple: the book is filled with "memoirs" that consist on only six words that range from sad to funny to heartbreaking and everything in between. This collection especially captures so many emotions, making you laugh and think and want to cry, all in the space of one page. Some memorable ones:

"Found out I had cancer. Damn."

"Hair's pink to piss you off."

"I resent people who ignore grammar." (I LOVE this one!)

"I never got my Hogwarts letter."

.....And so many more!

It's really easy to just flip through this book quickly and read all of the entries, but the best part is that there are so many of them, you can keep coming back to them every once in a while and feel like you're reading them for the first time. I'm just in awe of the talent and intelligence some of these teens possess, and it is always so much fun going through the memoirs. It's a book that will make you laugh, challenge some of your beliefs, and make you think, six words at a time.

And P.S., I actually have an entry in this as well (though I don't think mine is anywhere nearly as good as most of the ones in this book), which has its own little story behind it, but I won't tell you where it's at, you'll have to buy the book and see if you can't find it yourself!

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can't keep myown secrets..., September 22, 2009

By	Veronica Dedow "Lover of great books, music, ... (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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It's just what I expected. Just like the previous ones. And it left me wanting more.