You've Got It All Wrong

by Ingrid Ricks (editor), Marjie Bowker (Editor)

From the publishers of We Are Absolutely Not Okay Druggie. Loser. Boozer. Dropout. Runaway. Delinquent. Slut. Labels can hurt and destroy-as the teen authors of this powerful true story collection know all too well. But are they true? Would you still think the same if you knew the challenges and circumstances these "labeled" teens have faced? In You've Got It All Wrong, twenty-one teenagers take readers into their lives as they struggle with homelessness, abandonment, death, addiction, abuse, and peer pressure. Through their narratives, they share the circumstances they faced and the decisions they made during their darkest hours. By revisiting their past and sharing their stories, these high school students are taking charge of their futures in a positive, powerful way. They are also reaching out to other teens to remind them that they aren't alone and that labels do not define who they are.

Genres: Short Stories, Nonfiction

152 pages, Paperback

First published May 26, 2013

About the author

Ingrid Ricks is a Seattle-based journalist, author, and teen mentor who leverages the new world of digital publishing to give teens a voice. Using her New York Times bestselling debut memoir Hippie Boy: A Girl’s Story as a catalyst, she recently co-launched WeAreAbsolutelyNotOkay.org, a nationally recognized mentoring/publishing program that helps teens find their voice by writing and publishing their personal stories.

Ingrid’s essays and stories have been published in Salon, Ladies’ Home Journal, The Advocate and a variety of other publications. She has also written extensively for The African Children’s Choir, an international relief organization that has been featured on CNN International, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and American Idol.

In addition to Hippie Boy, Ingrid is the author of Focus, a memoir about her journey with the blinding eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa, and a memoir story collection, A Little Book of Mormon (and Not So Mormon) Stories. She is currently working on Determined to See, a memoir about her yearlong quest to heal her eyesight. She’s blogging about her journey at www.determinedtosee.com

Ingrid lives in Seattle with her husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

You've Got is All Wrong written by students from Scriber Lake High School is an intimate look in the the trial and tribulations of today's youth. The stories provide insights into the lives of teens who have to deal with all sorts of things, including, drugs, alcohol, sex, abuse and death.

This book certainly shines a light on how the teenage mind processes traumatic events. Although not everyone has had to deal with similar events that happened to the teens writing these stories, we have all been teens at one time. It gives the authors and readers an instant connection not with the subject matter of each story, but the emotional reactions and effects on each author. I would highly recommend this to any teen, whether they find themselves in similar situations or not. It is a unique collection that certainly touches the soul of the reader, no matter what your background.

*Reviewer received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads

[Cindy Holdmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book in an exchange for a review and I was not disappointed at all. It consists of short stories, written by high school kids about their struggles in life. It gives a vivid insight as to what turmoils some teenagers experience and how they cope with them. Each and every story was written very well and this is a book I would recommend for teenagers as well as adults. Thank you for sharing your stories kids. You are an inspiration to all of us.

[Jenny Pace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is heartbreaking. I know exactly where some of places they described are, and I recognize names and events mentioned. I think its amazing that these students in my area re taking charge of their life, and using their experience to have a voice. Some of them are my age, and it makes me so sad that they have had to go through so much. Stay strong.

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collections of sad/tragic stories all ending I better ever after. Teenagers create stories of their real life struggles: alcohol and drug abuse, physical abuse, gang affiliations. All these teenagers turned their lives around.