This second volume in the ongoing Teen Ink series cements what I thought after reading Teen Ink: Our Voices Our Visions -- this franchise is taking teen expression to the next level. The stories, poems, art and photography in Teen Ink 2, drawn from submissions to the Teen Ink monthly magazine, are all moving and very, very real.

But what is most important in this book is that, like the first in the series, Teen Ink 2 gives voices to the millions of teenagers who are thrown aside by all the magazines and T.V. shows that dictate who teenagers are, what they should buy, and who they should be. It's not superficial, not patronizing, and not an adult take on teen life.

Among the many fantastic characteristics about this book is the continuing growth of the nonprofit enterprise: Teenagers who want to write can always submit to the book and magazine (instructions on where to send submissions are included in the book), and many more Teen Ink books seem to be in the works.

Keep up the good work, Teen Ink!

I am 11 years old and love WordsWorth! This book was so funny I was falling head over feet! WordsWorth is a talking dog. He is beggining to get too fat. He is put on a diet by his owners. The diet dogfood tastes like cardboard and aWordsWorth will not eat it. But he has a plan

IN this book jake switches bodies with his sister jessica Jake does this to impress a pen pal from japan. This book asks the intresting question how would you like to be someone else for a day. After reading the book i as a guy want to know how it feels to be a girl for a day

This was a great book. Jake switches bodies with his sister because he wants his pen pal from Japan to notice him. But something goes wrong and they are not able to switch back to their normal bodies. Will Jake be a girl forever, or just for the weekend? Personally I would choose to stay in Jessicas body for the weekend. If you have not read this bok you should.

14 year-old Jake Sherman is in major trouble this time! He has his online pen-pal coming with her father to see him all the way from Japan. Through some E-Mail conversation, he has led her to believe that he is a star athlete, when in real life he's awful. He needs to find a way out of his predicament fast, so he switches bodies with his star athlete sister, Jessica. While being "trapped" in 16 year-old Jessica's body, Jake runs into some odd problems and predicaments, including having to go on a date as Jessica. This book is a great read for all ages. Before you read it though, ask yourself this question. (Actually this question applies to all of the books in Strasser's Body Swapping series.) How would YOU like to be someone else for a day?

This is an exciting book that unfortunately feels formulamatic at times. Maybe that is because it was produced as a serialized novel originally. It can have that "find out what our heros are up to next issue" feel.

Overall it is fast paced, but long. I liked the action sequences and the author's creation of distinct personalities for his heros. While I had to read this over a long period of time, I found I enjoyed it most when I could put in a couple of hours at a time and fully submerge myself in the author's world. I would recommend picking this up for a vacation book or if you know you'll be able to keep at it night after night.

The author uses a convincing historical and period backdrop for his tale. It feels real which aids the story. The romantic nature of his heros leads to a wonderful story of comradship and loyalty, good versus evil, etc. Many things to like, but I did not find it deserves quite as lofty a pedestal as most of these other reviewers do.

For those trying to read The Musketeers Saga:
In the original French, there are only three (3) books - 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3. Ten Years Later. But when translated, most English editions split the behemoth Ten Years Later into a Trilogy (and some four - which make it all the more confusing!).

The reading list should be 1. The Three Musketeers 2. Twenty Years After and 3a. The Vicomte de Bragelonne 3b. Louise de la Valliere and 3c. The Man in the Iron Mask. Five books - that's the total series!

I highly recommend this series from Oxford University Press containing the complete unabridged and annotated versions of all of these books. The notes are located in the back of each book so as not to slow down the flow of the text. Most of the notes give additional info on historic characters and places. And a few point out that Dumas was a better storyteller than historian, as keeping dates seems to be such a nuisance!

The story starts out with a young naive Gascon by the name D'artagnan who goes to seek his fortune with the King's Musketeers. On his journey to Paris he has a tangle with a man named Rochefort whom D'artagnan chases throughout the book, along with his female companion Milady, a woman of pure evil.

He meets the Three Musketeers and they don't get off to such a great beginning as he finds himself preparing to fight a duel with all three of them. Eventually D'artagnan wins over Athos, Porthos, and Aramis and together the four set off on adventures to protect their majesty the queen (Anne of Austria) against the bad intentions of the cardinal.

It's all intigue and romance and swashbuckling! I loved it all, every sentence. And i love how M. Dumas twists history to his own literary devices.

I played hooky to finish reading this book!

I liked How I Changed My Life by Todd Strasser alot. It is about a girl named Bolita Vine (Bo for short) who is a shy kind of student. She isn't very popular and isn't known around school much. She just goes to class and her theatre group. Her theatre group is mainly her life. She spends most of her time sitting on the cat walk above stage. But then one day she decides to change. She changes her self image from the hair she had since she was in 3rd grade to the new high school looking hair-do. people finally start to notice her after she loses a few pounds and changes her self image.She has always had a major crush on the former football captain, Kyle Winthrop. He espically never notices her since he has the great and most perfect and popular Chole for a girlfriend. But when Kyle and Chole's relationship starts to dicentigrate afte Klye's knee injury, they feel like the world is falling apart. It is a very eciting book! It can really boost a teen's self esteem. The only reason I gave this book four stars is because they talk about some mature types of things and they very often use foul language. But if that doesn't bother you, read it!

Have you ever wanted to become someone you weren't to attract someone of the opposite sex. In this story the main character, "Bo Vine",is willing to change her whole life for a guy.

The author, Todd Strasser, has written many great works including Friends to the End, The Wave, and Rock'n'Roll Nights.

Bo Vine decides she has a crush on a football player and thinks the same old Bo just isn't going to be enough for him. So, she changes her hair, buys new clothes, starts to lose weight, and tries out for stage manager of the schools production of Anne Frank when Kyle decides to join. Only there's one problem. Chloe, Kyle's girlfriend who has to be perfect at everything. Bo's friend's say she's going to get herself into troble if she keeps taking chances but Bo just won't see the danger. Read this fantastic book to find out what happens!

Like the famous godfather of teen movies, John Hughes, Todd Strasser has captured what it's like to be a teenager in the 1990s (opposed to the '80s) with problems surrounded by the cliquey teen caste system. In this book, Todd Strasser introduces his first of the Time Zone High trilogy (opposed to John Hughes's Shermer High quartet), with the chubby and drama queen, Bolita "Bo" Vine and the handsome and injured Kyle Winthrop. Bo and Kyle are from opposite ends of the social pool. Bo is a smart, calm misfit who most likely be with the rebels and weirdos, while Kyle is a brave, hunky jock, who's knee is injured, and who is most likely invited to all the good parties by the rich and popualr students.

The action starts there.

The fall play is starting and Bo is, as usual, the stage manager, although she'd rather be center stage. Pretty shadowed, she hides with her Gothy bud and her artist-cute friend on the catwalk in the auditorium. Bo is tired of being the way she is--when she finds out Kyle is what she wants. Kyle is tired of sitting out, watching the games and being his pretty, smart and popular girlfriend, Chloe Frost's little puppet, not doing what he wants. So he does something rebellous--he signs up for the school play.

Bo and Kyle clash a lot while she babysits his half-brother, and they both go swimming--she to work out, him to get away and exercise his legs. When Bo changes her entire look from a drab, sulky look to a pretty, gorgeous look, she tries to win Kyle over, but it's not that easy. Kyle still has major feelings for Chloe, even if she is a real ... and she's always being the lead in the plays. Bo is lovestruck.

This book is a typical, but comedic, story about high school love from different social stratesphere. It cycles the life of two teens, who are different but have the same problems. It's a cross between Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles--but the outcome is not going to be so fair. Read this. It's amazing. It's like the John Hughes movies-turned-books.

Well, not really a review.... But to correct a recent review on Amazon. The movie is now called, "Drive me Crazy" Featuring Melissa Joan Hart(taking over the Silverstone role) The sound track has the title song from Britney Spears (Melissa & the male lead are featured in the video, they are the ones at the raw juice bar & at the DJ's table), it's getting heavy rotation on Mtv's TRL. Movie will be out next Friday(Oct 1st.), with the sound track due out Sept 28th! And also, the ONLY way to get the song(since it's a remix) is from the soundtrack! However there is a import of it, good luck finding it! Also, there is a auction for it here on Amazon.

This is a good John Hughes-ish novel. It's written well, practically perfect in a way that sounds so realistic that it's pretty eerie. Maybe not really eerie, but still. It's about love and make-overs.

In this story of star-crossed lovers, we meet the preppy Nicole who's popular, school-spirited and fashion friendly. Nicole is part of the elite clique at school, where everyone lives in nice houses and their parents are always out. Our other protaganist is the grungey Chase, who's antisocial, idealistic and angsty. Chase is part of a bored group of Ninetendo, computer-chatting buds who seem consist of a designated driver and a geeky idiot. They've been living next-door since they can remember but they aren't friends anymore, of course.

The story doesn't end here.

It all begins when Nicole is waiting for the ever-so popular jock, Brad Selden, to ask her to the prom. She waits by the phone, hints to him and flirts but nothing happens. She feels that all is hopeless until--BAM!--he finds someone else. And it happens to be Chase's ex-girlfriend, Dulcie. Of course, Nicole is thinking "What the H***?" while Chase is confused himself. Then Nicole gets an interesting idea--why doesn't she and Chase go?

Oh about no . . . says Chase. But Nicole gives him a complete American Eagle/Abecrombie make-over that sends Chase's army cargos out in the Dumpster. Soon Chase is a hot preppie, being Nicole's little puppet and soon her "love slave." But what happens when Nicole actually starts to LIKE Chase?

Hmm, the plot thickens. Typical teen story, eh? Well, too bad, because this was an amazing potrayel of modern teenage life filled with friendship, cliques, hopes, failures, and of course, love. Another Todd Strasser novel mixed with John Hughes's ideas.

Thank you Todd, for writing this extremely comical approach to a typical teenage dilemma! I'm surpised that it hasn't had more publicity, i recommend this novel to every teenager who isn't afraid to admit that they would love to be Nicole or Chase secretly. Read this book.

I liked the book.. but not THAT much..I thought the ending would be more exciting..but unfortunately it wasnt, but still it was an OK book..but I wouldnt really recommend it.. It's about a Allegra..she's in love with this guy ,Andros Bliss, and when she heard that it was th elast night on earth she thougth that it was her last chance 2 spend time with him..so she stays with him instead of staying with her best friend , Derman , who just confessed his undying love to her..I felt sorry for him..I would've picked him instead of Andros..anyway..she makes out with the guy on the so-called "last night" so..in the end they say " the next day..(it turned out that it wasnt the ned of the world)..alice came up to her and said" oh..i was really scared,can we talk ,legs?" then allegra says "later" then they say" and she walked up 2 andross" and that was the end..i really got dissappointed..so i wont really recomend this book,.,

I read this book for two reasons. I was previewing it to decide if my 14 yearold cousin would like it and I just thought the idea of apocalyptic youth fiction was interesting. "How I Spent My Last Night On Earth" is like Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle" taking place in a 21st century high school. Instead of ice-9 killing off the world and all its creatures, it was to be a giant meteor.

Allegra or "Legs" reminded me of myself when I was a teenager. Smart, with a slightly bleak view of the world and no social skills. Unfortunately I never had the courage to pursue my own Andros Bliss when I was in high school. If only I had been faced with the end of the world!

Derman Bloom reminded me of my best/boy friend. He is someone that you would pity if only he hadn't done something so awful. And I'm not talking about 'the betrayal' as Legs came to call it. His treatment of Angie was less than respectable. He was taking advantage of a girl who thought she was going to die and who could never be sure if she was liked for herself or how she looked. At least he had the decency to keep her secret.

I found Angie to be one of the more interesting characters, though I couldn't identify with her. A Time Zone High book staring Angie is something I might like to read and give to my Angie-like too beautiful cousin.

All in all, I thought the book was fast paced, funny and enjoyable. Legs' journey of self discovery set admist a humorous backdrop (on the beach with crazy surfers waiting for the end of the world,) was priceless. I only wish the author had developed the friendships between Legs, Derman and Angie more. Then it might have helped readers see why she was so upset. This book made me wish I had a senior skip day myself, with or with out the apocalypse.

Welcome to the world of Time Zone High on the West Coast in an anoynmous town that's created in Todd Strasser's world, similar to John Hughes' Shermer, IL. Todd Strasser captures the Y2K scares in this scientic comedy about the end of the world.

The brainy and brave, Allegra Hanover (a Molly Ringwald-thinking girl of her time)is shocked to find that everyone at her high school is alarmed by the news of an asteriod hitting Earth and killing every human being. She's shocked by it, mildly, but mostly finds the thing unbelievable and nothing fazey. On her road to spending the last day she has one thing on her mind: Andros Bliss, the surfer hunk.

Like Molly Ringwald in Sixteen Candles, Allegra wants the guy she knows can't have--the guy who doesn't even know she exist. Not only that but the book switches from John Hughes to a soap opera when she finds out her sort-of boyfriend might've done it with her bodacious comrad.

This book is excellent. It tells how a great mind thinks about the world's end and how she reacts to love and teenage rebellion. Legs is a really good example of a brainy teen. She's a leader and really into the things around her. A Holden Caulfield for the "Y" Generation, perhaps.

This book is about Jake Sherman. He doesn't want to
go to summer camp but his mom made him go. His friends don't want to go either but Jake's mom told their mom to go too. Jake's sister is very selfish because she took Jake's donuts. Then the bus arrives. Jake's friends' names are Josh and Andy.
While they are going to the camp, Jake sleeps. Then when he wakes up, the cool guys call him Sleeping Beauty. There is a dork named Peter that nobody likes.Jake, Peter, and the three cool guys share the same cabin. Everyone picks on Peter. The cool guys make Jake to pick on Peter too.
He puts a plastic bag on Peter's cup. Then the juice spills on him. He doesn't want to pick on Peter but he does it because he wants to fit in with the cool guys. Then when he sleeps and wakes up, he is on the bus again.He is trapped at camp. Then he knows what to do. He should teach Peter some self-defense
and everything will be back to normal.
He teaches him that. But he gets stuck for six days. Then Peter starts to defend himself. Then when Jake goes to sleep and wakes up, he is at the second day of camp. Everything went back to normal.

By: Grigor Papazyan
Marshall Fundamental/Pasadena

The book I read was Help I'm trapped in First Day of Summer Camp by Todd Strasser. I liked the story because the days keep repeating and each day it was funnier then the previous one. My favorite character was Josh. The story took place at camp and it was interesting because each day something different happened. I would recommend this book to other people because it was both funny and interesting.

My 9 yo boy loves this series so I gave this one a quick read and was very pleased. This particular book explores the problems of kids (boys in particular) as they try to firgure out how to behave when confronted with kids who seem 'cool' but are mean. The first day repeats itself for Jake until he gets it right. The first time he is mean to the oddball so he can be accepted by the 'cool' guys. The 2nd day he ends up starting a fight with the mean kids to defend the 'dork' they are picking on. The third day he gets it right by helping the 'dork' to stand up for himself and get the other kids who are standing by to unite against the two who really are mean, and force them to back off.

The book is written at just the right level for my 4th grader with a bit of humor and belevable dialogue. It amuses him and I am glad he gets an important message without feeling preached to.

I liked this book because it was humorous, suspensful, and exciting.The book is about a nine year old boy named Benjy and his older brother(the narrator)Steven and how they "kidnap" their parents. I don't get why the author called it Kidnap Kids because it relly has nothing to do with kidnapping. Anyway,if you like books that are funny and exciting,you are guaranteed to like the book Kidnap Kids!

This book was the best book I ever read this year. It's so suspenseful that you want to read as much as you can out of it. It's also funny, dangerous, and breathtaking. It's about these kids named Benjy and Steven who never get to see their parents a lot because they're always working. The mom in the story is doing a trial about dangerous people called the Nut Bombers. You never know if they have any crew around, or you don't know what will happen at the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes breathtaking books or a lot of suspence. If you read this book I know you won't be disappointed.

This book was one of the best books I've ever read. If you like excitment, fun, and a little bit of fright, you will love this book too! Two kids are brave enough to kidnap Their parent's want to know why? Well to bad read it yourself. Have you ever been chased all night by guys with weapons? No good because it's not fun. Ask the Mark's. This book is exciting enough for me. What about you?

Taking today's headlines and combining them with fictional faces and more than enough quotes and statistics to terrify his readers, Todd Strasser presents his newest YA novel, Give A Boy A Gun (2000). The novel is a combination of statements given by witnesses to a well thought out gun attack by 2 teens against their peers and teachers at a school dance. The book is similar to Making up Megaboy (Virginia Walter, 1998) in that the story is presented from multiple perspectives versus narrative form. But unlike Megaboy, this book takes you inside the lives of its killers and gives their rationale for their actions as well as their intimate suicide letters. This is an incredibly well researched and thought out book. It will definitely raise the eyebrows of many parents because of its violence level and subject matter. It was written for YA's and will make them think long and hard about gun control, but I feel that librarians and teachers alike would be remiss if they did not read it for themselves. Includes further sources for information. Partial proceeds from the book will go to gun control charities. Highly recommended for older teens and adults. Not for the weak of stomach. A definite best book candidate. Controversy will follow this book wherever it goes.

GIVE A BOY A GUN is an excellent book by TODD STRASSER.
it details two boys lifes who killed students in there school and he really makes you feel like you know the characters.
The story is told in that it all ready happened so it takes you through the students lifes before and after the tragedy happened. None of the statements are told by the main characters themselfs but by people that knew them well.
The author uses imagery and has character developement. the mood is tense and the theme is great. it is a great suspense novel and lets you see the story from different points of veiws.
The main characters are Brendon and Gary they are two kids who are outcasts in there school and one day they decided to do something about it. I would recommend this book to anyone, and thats a Big statement coming from me because i am not a big reader.

... Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser wrote in a way that made the reader feel like they were listening to a detective interviewing witnesses to a crime. This made the book intriguing.
Give a Boy a Gun tells the story of a high school shooting through the voices of the students who witness the crime. Through mock-interviews and suicide notes from the shooters, we learned that the shooters were mistreated by students and teachers.
One of the boys wrote a suicide note to his mom so she wont feel bad. I think that it is really nice of him to say that is not her fault. The other boy wrote to his entire neighborhood and he told them that he hoped that they would feel guilty for treating them bad.
What I found intriguing about Give a Boy a Gun was how teachers would let some students take advantage of other students. For example a teacher told a football player to stop horsing around when he body checked Brendan who is one of the shooters. I think it is important to know the things that happend in schools. There are signs that you will notice when people start feeling depressed like these two boys did. For example the shooters started being by themselves and not talking to others.
Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser does not condone violence. The two messages in this book are teachers and students. Teacher should pay more attention to their students. The other message of this book is that you should treat others how you want to be treated. This message is important to me because I also don't like to get picked on. If you have ever picked on somebody or been picked on at anytime in your life this book will change you...