Things I Have to Tell You
Poems and Writing by Teenage Girls

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.