Teen Ink: Our Voices, Our Visions [Paperback]

Stephanie H. Meyer (Author), John Meyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000 | Series: Teen Ink

Written entirely by teens, TeenInk uniquely captures the essence of what it means to be a teenager. This collection of prose and poetry represents the honest, forthright and compelling moments that define their lives.

Pieces for this book were chosen from a base of more than 300,000 submissions to TeenInk magazine. In addition, more than 3,800 students in 42 states helped evaluate the final selections for the book.

The power of TeenInk lies in its writers-all teenagers themselves. Their insightful accounts deal with real issues that will resonate with their peers. Their voices reverberate with the emotional highs and lows of the teenage years. These young authors produce fresh, creative, honest, and always compelling words that make TeenInk the standard for teen expression.

Every teen reader will see themselves and their worlds reflected here. In addition, parents, grandparents, teachers, and other caring adults will relish these unique and inspired pieces.

As the voice of teens, the book focuses on their issues: Friends (relationships and trying situations); Families (love and conflicts); Fitting In (peer pressure and prejudice); Challenges (facing obstacles); Loss (of family and friends); Memories (reflecting earlier times); Love (dealing with relationships); Heroes (parents, teachers, mentors); and Creativity (fiction and poetry).

Subsequent books in this extraordinary series will focus on individual topics and explore in even greater depth the extraordinary heart-felt feelings and opinions of today's teens. The next book is scheduled for Spring 2001 release.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-In 1989, the Young Authors Foundation began publishing teenagers' work in The 21st Century, now called TeenInk magazine. The foundation continues to provide a forum for adolescent voices and visions. According to the editors, this book "represents some of the best stories, poems, essays and artwork we've published over the last decade." The pieces are divided into categories such as friends, love, family, etc. Unfortunately, the articles disproportionately focus on death, loss, and disappointment. Although the voices here are honest, they are also disheartened. The writing is definitely at a teenage level with little sophistication in style or vocabulary. Poor grammar and cohesion mar some entries. Labeling these as the "best" raises expectations that there should be outstanding material here when much of it is uninspiring and resigned. Black-and-white photos and artwork by teens illustrate the book.-Joanne K. Cecere, Highland High School, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

TeenInk book is the product of more than 300,000 student submissions sent to TeenInk magazine during the past eleven years. This nonprofit monthly publication is read by 3.5 million teens in thousands of schools nationwide. Since its inception, TeenInk (formerly The 21st Century) has published more than 25,000 students. All the pieces in this book are drawn from this wellspring of prose, poetry, art and photography. John Meyer, publisher of TeenInk magazine, holds an MBA and has published two successful business magazines. The Meyers have two children. All royalties from the TeenInk books will go to The Young Authors Foundation, Inc. (publisher of TeenInk magazine) to expand reading, writing and publishing opportunities for young adults nationwide

TeenInk book is the product of more than 300,000 student submissions sent to TeenInk magazine during the past eleven years. This nonprofit monthly publication is read by 3.5 million teens in thousands of schools nationwide. Since its inception, TeenInk (formerly The 21st Century) has published more than 25,000 students. All the pieces in this book are drawn from this wellspring of prose, poetry, art and photography. Stephanie Meyer, editor of the book and magazine, holds masters' degrees in education and social work and has dedicated her life to the welfare of youth. The Meyers have two children. All royalties from the TeenInk books will go to The Young Authors Foundation, Inc. (publisher of TeenInk magazine) to expand reading, writing and publishing opportunities for young adults nationwide

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: HCI Teens (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558748164
• ISBN-13: 978-1558748163
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #989,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An impressive collection of teen writing, September 13, 2000

By 

Evi (New Hampshire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teen Ink: Our Voices, Our Visions (Paperback)

When I finally got my copy of TeenInk: our voices, our visions I sat down on the couch and dove in to this compilation of nonfiction, poetry and fiction. I didn't get up again until I read the last page. Wow! Every story rang true; this is an unprecedented collection of teen voices. With chapters on friends, fitting in, love, challenges, family, heroes, loss and memories, the book touches every aspect of teen life. IT'S NOT GOOPY! Some stories are very touching, even emotional, but nothing is sugar-coated. This is mature, intelligent writing from young people who have both a firm grasp on life and are, sometimes, just hanging on.

Buy it, read it, read it again... My Christmas shopping will be easy this year.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling true stories by teens for teens, September 29, 2000

By 

Sara Hunter "sarahunter" (South Natick, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teen Ink: Our Voices, Our Visions (Paperback)

This absorbing collection of teenage tales is gripping and emotional.
There's no adult filter to distance the reader from writers who have
experienced pain, loss, love, and all the challenges of contemporary
teenage experience. Teens will read the book cover-to-cover at one
sitting because they won't be able to put it down. I recommend it to
parents and teachers as a mightily effective way to recapture a vision
of the world from a teen perspective. The visceral moments are
sometimes scary, often sad, and always revealing.The one hundred
selections culled from hundreds of thousands of submissions to TeenInk
magazine during the last decade are powerful and well written. This
book will make me a better parent.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teen Ink: Our Voices, Our Visions, August 21, 2001

By 

Amy (Boston, Ma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teen Ink: Our Voices, Our Visions (Paperback)

This book has some amazing and inspiring stories, all written by teenagers. There are some moments to which everybody can relate, like a first crush or the death of a family member; Other stories are unique and exciting (one teen writes about being held captive at gunpoint in his family home). The book is easy to read, written by a variety of teens in their natural voices. I think it is wonderful that teenagers have this opportunity to express themselves through writing and artwork. This is a must read for every adolescent, or anybody who needs to be reminded what their teenage years were like.