I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six Word Memoirs by Teens Famous and Obscure

[description from amazon]

The New York Times bestseller NOT QUITE WHAT I WAS PLANNING made six-word memoirs an international phenomenon, as people around the world embraced this pithy new format. The editors of the collection found that some of the most poignant entries were coming from teens-and so this newest collection is entirely by and for those smart, sassy, and angst-filled truth tellers. From navigating the hazardous halls of high school, to dealing with extreme situations at home, these writers may be young, but their stories will resonate with people of all ages.

A few sample memoirs:

I live bigger than your labels.

Aspiration: Colonize Mars. You're not invited.

Fifteen and my mom has cancer.

Homecoming king with a septum ring.

Friend. Boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend. Friend. Friend's Boyfriend.

Review:

This book isn't really one that can be reviewed, since there isn't much to say about it unless you get INSANELY specific, which I am too lazy to do. But I wanted to post a short review of it because, well, I'm in it. So are Tirzah from The Compulsive Reader, Jory from Ten Cent Notes, and Lauren from Shooting Stars Mag. Therefore, the book already wins. Not that I'm biased or anything.

The 800ish memoirs cover a wide range of topics, from school to the internet, so it's quite easy to find at least one to relate to. Some of the memoirs, particularly a couple from the few celebrities in the book, sound like they are trying way too hard to be ~deep~ and ~intellectual~, but a lot of memoirs unintentionally are really smart and thought-provoking. But, the majority of the memoirs either had me going "TRUE FACT", "Ugh, I know how that feels", "You go girl (or boy)!", or "HAHA oh my gosh." There were also definitely more than a few emotional, powerful ones in the book that made me go "Oh. Ouch. :/"

A short book that takes less than a half hour to get through if you don't dwell on anything, but still a worthwhile read because of how powerful and complex it is, despite how simple it seems.

And if you read it, you should try to guess which memoir is mine. :D

Links: the smithteens site

HarperTeen/Paperback/$8.99/Amazon/B&N/Borders/IndieBound