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by Hannah Cohen

Jewish youth groups have a blast

seeing red

Former Detroiter's book gives voices to teen girls.

my Goldwasser, 37, grew up in Birmingham and
graduated from Seahohn High School in 1988.
Her mom, Judy Goldwasser, a former Detroit Free
Press reporter, now lives in Bloomfield Hills. Her dad, the
late James Goldwasser, had been an English professor and
fiction writer. Her book Red is dedicated to him. Amy has
edited and written for such publications as Seventeen, The New
Yorker, Vogue and the New York Times. She teaches editing and
writing in New York.

She was back home earlier this month for readings from
Red: The next generation of American writers — teenage girls — on
whatfires up their lives today, a compilation of essays she edited
that were written by 58 teenage girls. She shared the read-
ings with three local teens whose essays are in the book.

was easier to reach them. I'd love to do a book of teen boys'
writing next."

What did you learn about today's teenage girls?

"They're really observant. They're paying attention to ev-
erything. I think grown-ups, especially their parents, can
write them off as unknowable or apathetic. Really, these
girls might be paying too much attention ... I keep going
back to this idea of them being reporters embedded in their
parents' homes, their schools, their own heads."

What are your thoughts on the writing styles?

"I love the range of their writing styles! Selfishly, as an edi-
tor who's been doing this for years, that was my favorite part
of the whole project. See, adult writers — and I'm
as guilty as anyone — learn how to please: their
editor, the editor-in-chief, the world. Professional
writers' essays tend to be formatted a certain way.
With these girls, every time I got an essay, it was
a total surprise. Some would be all dialogue or
all stream-of-consciousness or kind of start in the
middle or jump around with tenses. Really what
would be considered "experimental" were it from
older writers ..."

Editor Amy Goldwasser of New York speaks at a reading at Borders in Birming-

Instead of a day off from school, Frankel Jewish

Academy students and faculty gave back to the

community on Martin Luther King Day by par-

ticipating In various service projects at Gleaners

Food Bank of Southeast Michigan and Habitat for

Humanity. Juniors Jeff Karson of West Bloomfield

and Yossi Llchterman of Huntington Woods helped

out at Habitat for Humanity Restore In Detroit.

Do you see major differences in the problems
and experiences these teens go through today
compared to when you were a teen?

"I'd say the heartbreaking change I see is that
the body-image issues, the eating disorders, have
proliferated. The cutting that was a rarity (or at
least hidden) when I was in high school is prevalent and out
enough that girls would write, knowing what kind of knife a
particular friend uses to cut herself. It's really troubling, and
where's it going next?

ham, while teen essayists Lisa Chow, 19, of Ann Arbor and twins Hannah and

Sarah Harris, 16, of Dearborn wait their turn.

Red's essays include such topics as traumatic experiences,
friendships, family, obsessions and life's high and low points.
Two girls chose Jewish themes: curly, unruly Jewish hair and
Israel. A social networking site, including blogs by the au-
thors, can be found at www.redthebook.com .
I recently interviewed Amy to get better insight about Red.

Why is it called Red?

"The idea is red-not-pink, meaning exploding the puffy pink
heart stereotype of the teenage girl. She's the best shades of
red: fired up, angry, impassioned, primary-color invested in
her cause. Not watered down or girlie in that pink way."

Why did you compile essays of teenage girls?

"They're more honest storytellers, a more interesting range
of voices than professional adult writers. Though, by the
way, I started with teen girls specifically, rather than includ-
ing boys, only because I had some experience with them.
This was an experiment from my computer at home, and it

"I see many, many more positive things and signs of
progress to make up for it. I think this generation has made
great strides in combating racism, homophobia, anti-Semi-
tism. They're kind of past getting so hung up on their dif-
ferences. I suppose that gets better generation to generation,
but seems exponentially so in the past 15-20 years.
And this is the most diverse generation the country's ever
seen. Girls have gay friends and friends of different religions
and race without commenting on it. They could be "minori-
ties," but felt no need to make that the subject
of their essays or what defines them." t

Venturing Crew 18 member Elizabeth Kovan, a

senior at the Frankel Jewish Academy, took the

challenge on the rock-climbing course at LifeTime

Fitness In Commerce Township during a Crew 18

outing in late January.

Hannah Cohen, 18, Is a senior at Farmington
Harrison High School.

For thefill text of the intervieN go to jnt2t.corn

Area seniors who are part of the BBYO Class of

Check out JNt2t.com!

This week you'll find:

• Full interview with editor Amy Goldwasser, who
compiled 58 essays by teen girls in her book, Red
• Seth Samuels' Auto Show press preview photos
• Volunteer opportunities for local teens
• Info about a new group for Jewish teen girls in
Commerce Township

2008 had a great time bonding at Senior Getaway

at the Milan Conference Centre in Belle River,

Ontario.

teen2teen February • 2008 B3

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