Update: November 5, 2012: The winners of the contest are:
1) A copy of THINGS I CAN’T FORGET goes to Estelle.
2) A copy of DEAR TEEN ME goes to Amy at Book Goonie.
Thanks again for participating!
I’m so thrilled to give away an arc of my third book, THINGS I CAN’T FORGET, coming out on March 1, 2012, and a copy ofΒ the Dear Teen Me anthology, which I co-edited, is coming out on October 30, 2012 (next week!). The anthology features letters from adult YA authors to their teen selves, including entries from Ellen Hopkins, Lauren Oliver, and Sara Zarr.
So – to enter the contest, all you have to do is comment below, saying what you’d tell your teen self.Β e.g. I’d tell my teen self to stop eating so much junk food! And if you’re still a teen, tell me something you want to tell your adult self!
I will choose two winners. One person will win the arc of Things I Can’t Forget. The other will win a finished copy of Dear Teen Me. The contest is international and it will end on November 2, 2012 at 11:59pm EST.Thanks for entering!
Colette
I’d tell my teen self to go outside of your comfort zone more often. Be more open, who cares what other people think!
I cannot wait to read this book!!!
Kari
I would tell my teen self to study harder and eat better. I like your example, ha ha!
sarabara081 @ Forever 17 Books
I would tell myself to be kind to my mother because one day she would be my best friend. π
sarabara081(at)aol(dot)com
julie rimpula
Dear Teen me,
Loosen up! Enjoy life and be happy. π
Ciara L
Thank you for the contest!
Technically, I’m still a teen (19 to be exact) but if I could go back, I would tell my earlier teen self this: you’ll be okay on your own. Don’t define yourself by what everyone else thinks of you.
Can’t wait to read Things I Can’t Forget!
Memory
I’d urge my younger self to develop (and stick to!) a decent exercise plan instead of just lounging around all the time!
Kelly Cooper
I’d tell my teen self to not be so afraid of being yourself. Because as Dr. Seuss said those who matter don’t mind and those who mind don’t matter! π
Jeanette
I would tell myself not to stress over the little things. Some things are not worth fussing over.
Jessica
I would tell myself to be carful when picking friends. Don’t choose people who will drag you down.
TheCaffeinatedReader
I’d tell my teen self to be more outgoing.
Andrea T
I would tell my teen self that it is okay to be comfortable in my own skin. That being tall is a great thing. To never let anyone convince me that I deserve less than the best.
(I have a lot to say to teen me.)
Thanks and Congratulations!
andreat78@yahoo.com
Lori
I’d tell my teen self to ditch the loser boyfriends because they were only holding me back. What was I thinking? π
Ashley @ Book Labyrinth
I would tell myself to be more outgoing & not be so scared about what others think. I’ll always be introverted, but I think things would be a lot different now if I had learned then how to speak up more.
Silvana
I’d tell my teen self to enjoy life fully- mistakes, painful memories, happiness, to hug them tight because they lead you to a better person.
Areli Sotelo
I would tell the teen to not do anything too extreme, like cutting your own hair.
Leigh Smith
I’d tell my teen self to not worry about what other people think of you as much. Do things for yourself. And that unsweetened tea is not so bad as you think. Give it a try. Today. You’ll get used to it.
Becky Warnick
I would tell my teen self not to take everything everyone says personally and to enjoy life.
megan golden
I would tell my teen self that you are only young and without major responsibilities for a short time. Go out, enjoy your time more and get involved!! (Dye hair pink, parties, sports games, get ear pierced but PLEASE forget about that tattoo)
Also, take the art class. You will regret not doing it.
Nina
I would tell my teen self that she should stop thinking so much about what other people want her to be, and think more about what she should do for herself to be happy! I spent way too much time trying to please others, but I am so much happier now that I have realized that my own opinion is the only one that really matters:)
Mariah
I would tell my teen self to not to get involved in all the drama that comes with high school. Not to worry about making the perfect friendships because to be honest you probably won’t talk to those people all that much anyway.
Estelle
Ah! So psyched about this book.
I would tell my teen self a lot of things… haha but one of them would be to have a little bit more fun and not worry about being so “perfect” all the time. That leads to a lot of stress. haha
Andrea
I would tell my teen self to not make decisions based ONLY on emotion. Follow your head, too! Also, start good habits now, because they’re much harder to start when you’re older.
Megan
I’d tell my teenage self to forget the fear and just go for it. And to take a year off before university. And that Chris from bio is a cool guy who likes you.
Annie
Let your freak flag fly, as you are way more likely to regret the things you didn’t do, than the stuff you have done!
Kristan
I would tell my teen self that high school isn’t forever and that there is life after 17, so don’t sweat the little things. Life moves on, people change, and as long as you know where you’re heading the right people will follow.
Kelly M
I’d tell my teen self, you think it’s love, but it’s not! Walk away!! π thanks for the giveaway!
Haley
I’d tell the teen me appreciate your parents more- parenting is way harder than it looks
Aubri
I would tell my teen self to be more independent, and have confidence in what I am capable of achieving, and make choices for how they will positively affect me and nobody else. Life is hard and not a fairy-tale be responsible but have fun and enjoy the moment.
Edna
I’d tell my teen self to not worry about what others think and to be a bit more outgoing and social. And though I did get good grades, I’d want to push myself a little harder.
Stacey
what would i tell my teen self, not to get pregnant senior year, to wait a few years, but as for my adult me, i wouldn’t change anything at all π I love my life, and my children, even though I was still very young when I got pregnant.
Kate
I’d tell my teen self to not worry about who likes me, how my hair looks each morning, or the lack of friends in high school. I know things will get better over time and the focus should be on school instead of immature high school drama. To quote my mom “The people who say high school was the best time of their life turn out to be losers.” The best is yet to come!
Sarah Handrich
I would tell myself to be more confident and not care what other people think!
Laura F
I would tell my teen self…It get’s better! So so much better. You go to university (& have a brilliant time plus make some amazing life long friends), get the job you’ve always dreamed of and you’re happy! π
F Marie
I would tell my teen self to not worry so much about what “others” think and worry more about what “I” think. I would also tell my teen self to be nicer to the cute sophomore sitting next to me in geometry as he will father my children someday. Finally, I would strongly advise my teen self to not get in so much trouble at my high school as I will be back in 5 years as a teacher working with the same folks whose classes I skipped or slept through!
Can’t wait to read “Dear Teen Me” and would like info on bulk purchases!
Jennifer Kerr
I would tell my teen self to go out more and spend time with the people I love, taking life too seriously isnt really worth it and that you never regret the nights you went out but you will regret some of the nights you don’t
Lynn Z
I would tell my teen self to stop settling for losers because I was afraid of dating someone amazing who could actually hurt me. Luckily I figured that out near the end of my teens so maybe my brain communicated subconsciously with my adult self.
Sydney
I’m still a teen myself but this is what I would have said to myself:
Dear Sydney,
You have to let the things you can’t control go. You can’t control what your friends do or who they hang out with…that’s their decision not yours. And they may disappoint and hurt you but just know maybe your friendship wasn’t meant to last with them.
Congratulations on the book! I can’t wait to get my hands on it!
Natalie
I would tell my teen self to stop being so shy, and smile a little more often.
Pam
It sounds crazy, but I would tell myself not to be so stressed at such a young age. Between school, friends, and team sports it can be exhausting! But you have your whole life ahead of you to stress, relax and have fun!
Can’t wait to read this one! Love all of your books so much. π
Madeleine
I’m telling my teenage self to keep my English grade an A or I shall face dire consequences…
Mary
I would tell teen me to go out with my friends a little more and care what people think a little less
Shirley
I’d say…have some FUN once in a while and be a little more outgoing and possibly to have studied a little harder during exam periods…
Thank you so much for the giveaway! π
Miri
I’d tell my teen self to let go of all that anger. Be nicer to my mother, cause me as a teen? Put my mother through hell. And most importantly, value my self worth. And stay away from my hot History teacher, cause that wasn’t a smart move.
Gabbie
Well I’m in the last of my teenage years so I don’t really know what I’d tell myself now… since it is now. And I have no idea what I’d tell my adult self. So I’d tell my younger teenage self to be stronger, stand up for myself
Charlie
I would tell my teenage self that it’s okay to make mistakes and that she doesn’t have to go out of her comfort zone just to please anybody.
Christine
I’d tell my adult self not to forget my teen self.
Eileen
I actually just turned a teen maybe less than six months ago but when I was writing a “Dear Adult Me” letter to myself I told my adult persona never to change for anybody because I believe in what my older self will do with her future and that I love who I am right now π
Thanks for the chance to win!
Tiff
I’d tell my teen self that spending time with friends and family is more important than spending time with boyfriends who will not be in your life forever. Lesson learned! π
Andi
I would tell my teenaged self that its okay to be your own person and figure out who you are.
Amy @ bookgoonie
It is so much easier thinking of what I would tell my daughter’s teen self than my own. I think I would warn me is to stay active and not let yourself go…it is so hard to undo. And to stay connected to those HS BFFs. It is hard to reconnect when you are chasing your own kids. And try harder. I did good in school, but if I would have tried what new possibilities would have opened up.