Eighth Grade Writers: Stories of Friendship, Passage, and Discovery by Eighth Grade Writers (American Teen Writer Series) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1886427089 ISBN 13: 9781886427082

Publisher: Merlyn's Pen Inc, 1996

Synopsis

Selected by the New York Public Library as a Book for the Teen Age in 1997. Features 12 stories including a mock-heroic tale of disgusting but funny initiation rites endured by kids seeking admittance to a secret boys' club, a gentle and funny story of adolescent guys on the prowl, happily willing to embarrass each other in order to impress a girl and a story of family love that draws the reader into the everyday life of a slave mother and her child in the pre-Civil War South. Stories are indexed by genre--by topic, and for use as writing models.

About this title

From the Publisher:

Since 1985 Merlyn's Pen has published writing by students in grades 6-12. The American Teen Writer Series brings together the best of Merlyn's Pen for the first young adult fiction series written entirely by young adults. Books in the series gather writings on major topics in teen life--growing up, peer pressure, relationships, fitting in (or not fitting in) at school--plus the big themes that jump the lines between age groups: love, war, heroism, the outsider, and finding the self. American Teen Writer collections feature stories in every style and genre, from fantasy, suspense, and adventure tales to science fiction, humor, and realistic fiction.

From the Inside Flap:

Young adult literature. What does it mean to you?

Classic titles like Lord of the Flies or Of Mice and Men--books written by adults, for adult readers, that also are studied extensively in high schools?

Books written for teenagers by adult writers admired by teens--like Gary Paulsen, Norma Klein, Paul Zindel?

Shelves and shelves of popular paperbacks about perfect, untroubled, blemish-free kids?

Titles like I Was a Teenage Vampire? Lunch Hour of the Living Dead?

The term "young adult literature" is used to describe a range of exciting literature, but it has never accounted for the stories, poetry, and nonfiction actually written by young adults. African American literature is written by African Americans. Native American stories are penned by Native Americans. The Women's Literature aisle is stocked with books by women. Where are the young adult authors in young adult literature?

Teen authors tell their own stories in Merlyn's Pen: The National Magazine of Student Writing. Back in 1985 the magazine began giving young writers a place for their most compelling work. Seeds were planted. Now, the American Teen Writer Series brings us the bountiful, rich fruit of their labors.

Older readers might be tempted to speak of these authors as potential writers, the great talents of tomorrow. We say: Don't. Their talent is alive and present. Their work is here and now.

About this edition

• Publisher: Merlyn's Pen Inc
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 1886427089
• ISBN 13: 9781886427082
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144
• Editor: Lord Christine