Dear Teen Me from author Jennifer J. Stewart (CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A THIRD-WORLD KIND)
Dear Teen Me,
This letter is a message in a bottle (rocket), thrown backwards (Ka-BLAAM) into the past, as if by doing so I could change (obliterate) it.
Jennifer at 16 -- without her eyeglasses.
I can only imagine how strange it would be to hear from your future self. Do this! Don’t do that! As if you could put up road signs though life flashing “Warning!” when needed. You can’t, of course. You may love reading novels with time travel in them, but, sadly, time travel doesn’t exist except as a cool plot device. You will have to
get through your teen years on your own.
But if I could have a heart-to-heart conversation with you on Valentine’s Day, here’s what I would say: Okay, you’re still finding it hard to believe. It really is Much Older Me. Remember the bomb scare at the library when you were nine? And how one brave librarian did one final sweep of the children’s section, and found you sitting cross-legged on the floor at the back of the stacks, specifically in the southeast corner, reading Rinkitink in Oz? The library has always been your favorite place to go. Actually, it still is.
I know you love books. Trust them. You already know that they provide escape during the worst times. They can also teach you right from wrong. Roman twins Romulus and Remus may have been raised by wolves, but you are going to be raised by books, and lots of them. Tolstoy wrote, “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Soon you’re going to read that opening line from Anna Karenina, and it’s going to change you. You’ve already realized that something is very wrong; you’re living it, and it is awful, and you haven’t fathomed just how awful, because for you and your younger sister and brother, it is just the way things are. But I’m telling you, it’s not the way it has to be, and it won’t be that way forever.
In a few short years, while you’re still a teenager, you’ll meet the man you’ll marry. You’ll become part of a new family, and before long you have children of your own, and you’ll listen to your mom-in-law’s stories. Like the one about the year of no Christmas tree, when her father’s small grocery market sold out of them, and the year after that, when, to compensate, he ordered so many trees, that the extra unsold ones were set up in her back yard, each one lovingly decorated. You’ll tell your mom-in-law stories, too, and that’s when you’ll find your voice, and at the same time, your happiness.
Because when you start writing your stories down, you will realize your dream of being a writer, and yes, you’re smart not to tell anyone you don’t trust about what you’re up to—secrecy is underrated in this regard.
Hang in there. I believe in you.
Love,
Much Older (and Wiser) Me
Holiday House, February 2008.
Jennifer J. Stewart is known for her seriously funny books for children. She enjoyed doing the research for her first picture book, THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS IN ARIZONA (Sterling 2010) with art by Lynne Avril. Jennifer is also the author of three middle grade novels: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A THIRD-WORLD KIND (Holiday House 2004); THE BEAN KING’S DAUGHTER (Holiday House 2002); and IF THAT BREATHES FIRE, WE’RE TOAST! (Holiday House 1999). , which School Library Journal called “a remarkable read,” is based upon her family’s adventures working as medical volunteers in Nepal. It was honored by nominations for Arizona’s Grand Canyon Reader Award, Connecticut’s Nutmeg Award, and Maryland’s Black-Eyed Susan Award.
When Jennifer is not writing or speaking at schools or at writing conferences, she volunteers with MAKE WAY FOR BOOKS, a non-profit organization which gives young children the chance to fall in love with books and reading. She is honored to serve on the board of directors. She lives with her family in Tucson, Arizona..
Visit Jennifer on the Web at www.jenniferjstewart.com.
17 Comments
Leave a Reply
RSS Feed
What a very touching letter and very telling of how books influence us. I related in so many ways. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome, Katie,
It wasn’t easy to write that letter (yeah, that’s the understatement of the year), and I’m glad it touched you.
Books are the best friends when you need them most. Glad they were there for you.
I think I can say that I was raised by books.
Wow, Jennifer. I think I understand the bravery needed to write this letter… I am deeply impressed and inspired.
Tam
Thank you so much.
Thank you, Tamara, for understanding.
Beautiful.
Thanks, Cayla.
Wonderful letter, Jennifer! Books, indeed, are a great escape for so many kids and teens. I’m glad teen you had them!
Books really can be lifesavers, and I get twitchy if I don’t have one on me at all times.
A very inspiring letter, both for your teen self, and we in the present. It’s obvious you were born to write! Thanks so much for writing your wonderful books, Jennifer.
Thank you, Lynn.
Beautiful letter, Jennifer. I love your stories. You were a beautiful teenager, too, which isn’t always easy!
Ha! I was a skinny too tall teenager with thick-lensed glasses. Thank you for your kinds words about my books.
I, too, was raised by books (mostly fantasies–I could escape in those tomes for whole days), but my childhood dogs were also lifesavers. From them I got unconditional love, a life-changing gift for any child. Thank you, Jennifer, for such an honest and beautiful letter.
Thank you, Nancy.