Teen Ink Friends & Family: Friends and Family

With the holidays right around the corner, you might think to yourself "What can I get my teenage (son/daughter/nephew/goddaughter/employee or whatever the case may be)?" The answer is Teen Ink: Friends and Family.This is the third in the Teen Ink series of books, each written entirely by teens. Unlike the first two (Teen Ink: Our Voices, Our Visions and Teen Ink: More Voices, More Visions) which dealt with broader themes, Teen Ink: Friends and Family, focuses on teen-generated poems and stories about the people who are most important in their lives. Scenes shift from moving portraits of best friends to lighthearted romps through childhood to gripping stories about family challenges overcome. I laugh with the writers, I cry with them, and, most importantly, I understand where they are coming from as I reflect on my own teenage years. I only wish that I had Teen Ink in high school -- I could have taken comfort in knowing that I wasn't the only one who faced these challenges and felt the way I did.Since teens themselves generate these works, they are honest, real and they resonate with teenage readers in a way that no other written work can. John and Stephanie Meyer, in their introduction, write about the Teen Ink effort to encourage teenagers to think for themselves and allow their voices to be heard. It is an important job, and Teen Ink: Friends and Family is a compelling result. Buy it for yourself, and the teens you love.