From the editors of the international phenomenon and New York Times bestseller Not Quite What I Was Planning comes a collection of six-word memoirs created by and for teens. From cancer to creativity, prom dates to promiscuity, and breaking hearts to breaking laws, the memoirs in this collection reveal that often the youngest writers have the most fascinating stories to tell. One life. Six words. What's yours?   Grade 7 Up—Almost 800 authors, ranging in age from 13 to 19, contributed to this thought-provoking collection of individual memoirs. Based on the interest resulting from the publication of Not Quite What I Was Planning (HarperCollins, 2008), the editors of SMITH Magazine decided to challenge teens to write the story of their lives in a few brief words. The result is a compelling compendium that will provoke laughter—"Mom just revoked my creative license"; sadness—"Grandma is dying while I'm out shopping"; and empathy and thought—"In the nest, twigs are sharp." Less than a dozen of the selections, most of which are not as good as those by "obscure" authors, are written by famous teens. The short length, relevant topics, and authentic emotions will ensure that this book will appeal to a wide variety of teens, including reluctant readers. English teachers, theater teachers, and student book-club sponsors will revel in the instructional possibilities that could spring from this anthology. It may require some initial hand selling, but ultimately this book will find broad appeal in most collections.— Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Praise for NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING: “Will thrill minimalists and inspire maximalists.” - Vanity Fair “Irresistibly clever.” - Chicago Tribune “These tiny windows into people’s lives are at once addictive and illuminating, challenging and accessible.” - BlackBook One life. Six words. What's yours? True tales of love, loss, good friends, and bad hair days filled Not Quite What I Was Planning , the New York Times bestselling first book in the Six-Word Memoir series—and an international phenomenon. Some of the most compelling were by teens, so now SMITH Magazine has compiled a book written entirely by these bold, brash truth-tellers. From cancer to creativity, prom dates to promiscuity, and breaking hearts to breaking laws, the memoirs in this collection reveal that often the youngest writers have the most fascinating stories to tell. Met online; love before first sight. Hair's pink to piss you off. I fulfilled my awkwardness quota today. I'm seventeen, engaged, and not pregnant. My mom had my boyfriend deported. Late for school every single day. According to Facebook, we broke up. LARRY SMITH is an adjunct associate professor of economics at the University of Waterloo and a recipient of the University of Waterloo’s Distinguished Teacher Award. During his longstanding tenure, Smith has taught and counselled more than 23,000 students on the subject of their careers, representing more than 10 percent of UW’s alumni. Smith has worked with more than 500 teams of student entrepreneurs, advising them as they have created companies of significant size and success across industries as broad-reaching as communications, software, robotics, entertainment, design and real estate. Smith is also president of Essential Economics Corporation, an economic consulting practice that serves a wide range of public and private clients. “Why You Will Fail to have a Great Career,” his TEDx Talk based on his experience counselling students, has been viewed by over six million people. Rachel Fershleiser is SMITH's memoir editor and has written for the Village Voice , the New York Press , Print , and the National Post . Rachel lives in New York City.