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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.

Six-Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure tells nearly 1,000 six-word life stories by and for teens in America and beyond—”We’re the family you gossip about.” “Bulimia was only cramping my style.” “My dad has more MySpace friends.”

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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