Teens Writing For Teens: fiction and nonfiction at the Bettendorf Public Library by teen authors
compiled 5-3-05

FICTION

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (age 15)
Demon In My View
YA F ATWA
Seventeen-year-old Jessica Allodola discovers that the vampire world of her fiction is real when she develops relationships with an alluring vampire named Aubrey and the teenage witch who is trying to save Jessica from his clutches. First in a series.

Isabelle Carmody (age 15)
Obernewtyn
YA F CARM
Elspeth is a Misfit, a person with extraordinary mental abilities. She is sent to Obernewtyn, a haven for Misfits. The evil people at Obernewtyn intend to use the Misfits' mental ability to resurrect the forces of the apocalypse.

Freshmen
YA F FRES
A collection of short stories on various topics, all written by American teenage writers in the ninth grade.

S.E. Hinton (age 16)
The Outsiders
YA F HINT
Three brothers struggle to stay together after their parents' death, as they search for an identity among the conflicting values of their adolescent society in which they find themselves "outsiders."

Juniors
YA F JUNI
A collection of short stories on various topics, written by students in the eleventh grade.

Nick McDonell (age 17)
Twelve
YA F MCDO
A chilling portrait of urban adolescence focuses on the life and times of White Mike, a seventeen-year-old prep-school dropout and drug dealer, and his privileged peers, who spend their time partying with sex, drugs, and escalating violence in the pursuit of ever more exotic and dangerous thrills.

Outsiders and Others : stories of outcasts, rebels, and seekers by American teen writers
YA F OUTS
A collection of short stories by teenage writers, exploring the theme of the outsider.

Christopher Paolini (age 15)
Eragon
YA SF PAOL / JSF PAOL
In Alagaesia, a fifteen-year-old boy of unknown lineage called Eragon finds a mysterious stone that weaves his life into an intricate tapestry of destiny, magic, and power, peopled with dragons, elves, and monsters.

Scribe Anthology
YA F SCRIB
An annual collection of student-written poetry, short stories and essays.

Mary Shelley (age 19)
Frankenstein
YA F SHEL
A monster assembled by a scientist from parts of dead bodies develops a mind of his own as he learns to loathe himself and hate his creator.

Sophomores
YA F SOPH
A collection of short stories on various topics, written by students in the tenth grade.

NONFICTION

Dave Lindsay (age 15)
Dave’s Quick ‘N’ Easy Web Pages
YA 005.72 LI
This introduction to designing web pages details the basics of HTML coding. It includes "Web Safety" precautions, as well as "Dave's Advice."

Real Boys’ Voices
305.2309 PO
Young boys speak out about a variety of topics that affect their lives, including drugs, sex, violence, bullying, sports, school, and other related topics.

Ophelia Speaks: Adolescent Girls Write About Their Search for Self
YA 305.235 SH
Adolescent girls write about eating disorders, sexual abuse, siblings, boyfriends, girlfriends, race relations, feminism, and more.

Starting With “I”: Personal Essays by Teenagers
YA 305.235 ST
This compilation of teen essays on today's compelling topics originally appeared in New Youth Connections magazine.

Struggle to be Strong: True Stories by Teens About Overcoming Tough Times
YA 305.235 ST
First-person accounts of teens who overcame major life obstacles with insight, independence, relationships, initiative, creativity, humor, and morality.

Ned Vizzini (age 19)
Teen Angst? Naaah... A Quasi-Autobiography
YA 305.235 VI
Ned Vizzini writes about the weird, funny, and sometimes mortifying moments that made up his teen years.

LeAlan Jones (age 13)
Our America: life and death on the south side of Chicago
306.0977 JO
Two young men raised in the Chicago ghetto tell what life is like for the residents of the city's housing projects.

Mark Pfetzer (age 17)
Within Reach: My Everest Story
YA 796.522 PF
In May 1996, Mark Pfetzer at age 16 was the youngest climber on Mount Everest to reach 26,000 feet, and his gripping autobiography focuses exclusively on his mountain climbing achievements.

Shooting the Rat : stories and poems by outstanding high school writers
YA 810.8092 SH
This anthology from HANGING LOOSE magazine represents some of the best poetry and prose written by high school students from 1994 to 2002.

No More Strangers Now: Young Voices from a New South Africa
YA 968.0049 NO
Through personal narratives and photographs, this remarkable book brings together twelve South African teenagers whose distinct voices illuminate their experiences under apartheid and the happy yet challenging years of freedom since.

Michelle Kwan (age 17)
Heart of a Champion
YA B KWAN
The 1996 World Figure Skating Champion discusses the rigors of competition, the importance of a strong support group, her love of ice skating, and her Olympic dream.