Other editions of book Things I Have to Tell You

Teenage girls have a lot to say, and poet Betsy Franco shares some of it in this unique work. In both poetry and prose, the young voices here share their thoughts on topics all teens are familiar with—from self-confidence to body image, from sexuality to loneliness, and everything in between. Fifteen-year-old Laura says, “My parents can’t protect me/My friends can’t protect me/My wonderful, loving, ignorant community can’t protect me/So I protect them.” And 16-year-old Mahogany wonders, “Why would anyone use words like/I hate and/I can’t and/Goodbye.” These and many other potent thoughts swirl throughout Things I Have to Tell You.

Teenage girls tell their own stories — in compelling poetry and prose paired with 42 striking photographs.The voices in this collection have so much to question, so much to grieve. They have so much to celebrate, so much to rage against. They’re ready to speak up and begin the conversation — with you and with the world. More than thirty uncensored poems are accompanied by Nina Nickles’s masterful photographs, which sensitively capture the moods and essence of adolescence. Here, painted in the words of teenage girls, is a portrait of their dreams and desires - a record of hope, disillusionment, anger, joy, sadness, and most of all, strength.

Teenage girls tell their own stories—in compelling poetry and prose paired with 42 striking black-and-white photographs.The voices in this collection have so much to question, so much to grieve. They have so much to celebrate, so much to rage against. They’re ready to speak up and begin the conversation — with you and with the world. More than thirty uncensored poems are accompanied by Nina Nickles’s masterful photographs, which sensitively capture the moods and essence of adolescence. Here, painted in the words of teenage girls, is a portrait of their dreams and desires - a record of hope, disillusionment, anger, joy, sadness, and most of all, strength.

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Teenage girls tell their own stories-in compelling poetry and prose paired with 42 striking black-and-white photographs. The voices in this collection have so much to question, so much to grieve. They have so much to celebrate, so much to rage against. They're ready to speak up and begin the conversation - with you and with the world. More than thirty uncensored poems are accompanied by Nina Nickles's masterful photographs, which sensitively capture the moods and essence of adolescence. Here, painted in the words of teenage girls, is a portrait of their dreams and desires - a record of hope, disillusionment, anger, joy, sadness, and most of all, strength.