teen talk

A librarian once told me that Wish didn’t sound like YA language, and I took that as a compliment.  Then I thought about it and wondered whether my reaction was appropriate—what’s wrong with sounding like a teenager?  The truth is, I probably didn’t sound like a teenager even when I was one, and I don’t use much slang in my writing now…but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect the myriad ways teens have of expressing themselves.  While reading Jazz in Love by Neesha Meminger, I found myself faltering whenever the teen characters slipped into “teen talk.”  But once I let go and let myself focus on what they were saying (more than how they were saying it), it all started coming back to me…those terrible teen years, the angst, the panic, the highs and lows, and battles with parents—I’d never want to be 16 again!  Jazz actually reminded me of my friend Fariena; she was tall, thin, beautiful—and Muslim, with strict Guyanese parents who had their hands full with three vivacious daughters. I think, as a group, my friends and I did more pining than playing when it came to boys, so it was great to see a girl like Jazz taking a chance on love—and keeping her grades up at the same time!  Neesha has created a genuine teenage girl who’s unsure and ambivalent about her feelings, her obligations, and her rights as a young woman.  Like Neesha, I’m thrilled that Jazz in Love has been reviewed on the Kirkus Reviews blog, especially after reading this article about self-published authors having to pay for a listing in Publisher’s Weekly (with the outside chance of a review).  If you’re a blogger and would like to review Jazz in Love, be the first to leave a comment and I’ll send a copy your way!