NEWEST CRITIQUER

Meet Maya on our TeenSpeak workshop page!

HISTORY OF CRITIQUERS

TEENSPEAK CRITIQUERS are awesome—as anyone may conclude from the profiles below. These vignettes include our teens’ favorite books and other info that will interest adults who are considering TeenSpeak critiques. Enjoy!

Megan H. (12)

Since first grade, I’ve wanted to be an author when I grow up. I love to write anything—especially fantasy. I wrote my sister a whole series about a family of fairies, and I’ve written lots of ideas for stories on magic. I also enjoy writing and have taken part in the Patriots Pen Essay Contest, where I won an award for my essay,  “Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored,” and for several others.  

I absolutely love getting lost in good books. When I open a book, I enjoy being pulled into a different world. This happens in irresistible novels that have characters I can relate to in some way, whether they are boys or girls, animals or people, mythical or realistic. I like stories that put a twist on realistic situations or emotions.

My favorite authors are J.K. Rowling and Christopher Paolini, and I especially enjoy the books Harry Potter, Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr that they have written. I find the Maximum Ride books, by James Patterson, favorites of mine as well. I am captivated by the adventures in these stories—for example, where characters are a “flock” of kids who are genetically engineered and have wings, and struggle through difficulties together.

The characters in these stories fight through battles effortlessly, yet have difficulty with everyday problems, making me and other readers think of problems in our own lives.

  Short Story: Time in a Bubble (excerpt)

...She turned the key in the back of the machine, where you retrieve the coins that people have paid with, and was once again surprised. Read more. »

Maddy (13)

I have been enjoying the varying fruits of reading and writing my entire life. Born and raised in a very literate family, I have learned the ins and outs of writing and am mildly experienced in critique.
 
My favorite books are City of Bones, The Hunger Games, and Tithe. I enjoy reading and writing as much as I enjoy drawing and painting; writing is a unique and beautiful art form.
 
Critiquing is a great exercise for me, as I intend to be a writer myself. I think the most important element in any novel is Voice—how the author tells the story, the first thing that grabs you and gets you reading.

Carrie (15)

In my opinion, the one thing that makes a novel irresistible is an interesting plot, one that moves at a moderately quick pace, keeps the reader interested, but isn’t too confusing as to lose the reader. Also, each character should have a distinctive voice. Even without a name attached to the lines, readers should be able to tell who’s speaking.

One of my all-time favorite books is the classic, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I enjoy the writings of Agatha Christie, especially her mystery novel, Murder on the Orient Express. I also love the author Mildred D. Taylor.

On another note: The Clique series has rather stereotypical girls, especially the four who “rule the school.” I liked the books, but it would’ve been nice to see some quirky qualities in those perfect, popular girls. 

Some of my hobbies are running (I’m on the track team) and playing the flute. I am on the staff of my school newspaper, where I have published my articles. I have also taken many writing classes, such as Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth online course. One of my poems has been published in a book. I love creative writing, and in my free time, enjoy writing realistic-fiction stories.

  Memoir: Walking Out With Opened Eyes
  
This piece is about one of my trips to China with my family. I was 10 years old, and before the trip, I only knew the side of the world that I was exposed to: the beautiful and quite wealthy... 

...As we stepped out of the taxi into the train station in Wuhan, China, I saw a sea of people on the ground. Some were sitting on the cold street; some were lying on torn blankets that were caked with mud. Read more. >>

Megan M. H. (16)

My favorite books are A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess, A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer, and Go Ask Alice by Anonymous. The one thing that makes a book irresistible to me is real-life drama. I am writing my own book about my life story—hoping to publish it, then write more books.

I enjoy reading and critiquing others’ work, or just reading in general. I also have a passion for adventures among hills and beautiful landscapes.

Sarah (16)

I like to read many genres, but my interests are usually more focused on historical fiction, fantasy, or the occasional “coming-of-age” story, such as Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. I am a big fan of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series, and authors Tamara Pierce, Ann Rinaldi, Diana Wynne Jones, Libba Bray, Garth Nix, Scott Westerfeld, Christopher Paolini and Tanuja Desai Hidier, who wrote Born Confused. (Looking over that list, I see I read more fantasy and vampire lit than I realized!)

I’ve also always been a fan of closure. I like to know how every character’s life will progress after the story ends—as, for example, in the seventh Harry Potter book. I don’t like it when the author leaves me hanging on the fate of one or two characters, or is ambiguous.

It’s disappointing if the book doesn’t stick to me afterwards. I like books that cause an intense feeling after I close the last page—even if the feeling is sad or upsetting. So, what makes me feel “good” is that resonating feeling of whatever the author intended... sticking around long after I close the book’s final pages.

Rachel (16)

I have been writing since I was eight years old, driven by my passion for the written word, and an insatiable thirst for reading materials! I have written novels, short stories, and essays, and even cracked at a poem or two, though I am no Poe! I have attended writers conferences a couple of times, and drive my parents crazy writing at all hours of the night!

My passion for dance in all forms shows in my writing, because dance is merely speaking without words. Horses, the most majestic of all of God’s creations, have always inspired me to write as well.

My favorite books include James Patterson’s Maximum Ride Series, Erin Hunter’s Warriors Series, and Christopher Paolini’s Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr. To me, a novel is always irresistible if it pushes the boundaries of mainstream fiction to the breaking point, and dares to delve deeper, push harder, and fight stronger than do any others.

No one wants to read the same old plot: Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy and girl break up. Boy and girl get back together and live happily ever after. But people do want to read that plot if it’s shaken up, different, yet still pertains to real life.
 
I have kept a diary for much of my life, and submitted a few short stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul to be considered for publication. I hope to continue writing for as long as I can type or hold a pencil! My novel is yet unfinished, and needs polishing. I am a perfectionist, though; I could be making Mt. Everest out of an anthill...

Whether I end up on the bestseller lists, or only release my novels to my family, writing is a part of me. Relinquishing writing would be like cutting off an arm, or suddenly going deaf. I could live, but I would never be the same.

  Novel Excerpt: Save Lives

Demetra watched, unable to move for fear, as the terrified Mustang hurtled towards her. The sound of Sandpiper’s pounding hooves, Black Night’s piercing screams, and her father’s hoarse shouts filled her brain. She willed her feet to move, but they would not. She closed her eyes as Sandpiper bore down on her... Read more. »

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