Blog Tour: Dear Teen Me

I'm so happy to be a part of the blog tour for this book.

I loved reading it. It was both hilarious and heartbreaking.  I loved getting inside information about some of my favorite YA authors. It felt like going through an old yearbook. The pictures were fun to look through - the many decades of fashion and hairstyles. I tore through this book, not wanting it to end. I hope that teens are as impressed and enlightened as I was; it's a perfect book to share about that awkward stage in life. High school doesn't last forever!

I liked the different formats - most of the entries were letters, but some of them were cartoons/graphic novel formats or lists. I wished there was more of the Q&A sections, I loved those! I had such fun reading about authors and their teen years that I was inspired to write my own letter.

Dear Teen Me,
I'm going to let you in on a little secret you won't discover for a few years. It's OK to be both girly AND a feminist. It's not bad. It's not wrong. Plus you'll have way more fun. Also lighten up a little, you're way too serious. You don't have to speak your mind about everything. Everyone isn't always interesting in what you have to say. It's fine if you have your own moral compass, but you don't have to share it with the world or even your three best friends at the moment. Also you might consider sharing your secrets with them. If you don't change your ways, you're going to be friendless senior year and it's going to be miserable.  Date some of those boys who ask you out, it might be fun. Even if you don't fall for them, it would be nice to say yes once in a while. Also, all the fights you have your parents - most of the time they're right.  It will take you YEARS to realize this. I'm not going to tell you anymore secrets from the future because your mistakes/regrets will shape who you are and you're pretty happy now. I don't want to mess with that. But I will say, keep your head in the books. Books will define your life in ways you never thought possible.
Love,
Your Future Self

PS. This is still one of your favorite pictures of your teen years - the one of you and your sister in front of the tree the day you turned sixteen. God, you loved that black dress. It made you feel older.

For more authors and letters, check out DEAR TEEN ME and be sure to check out the other blog tour stops.