Intensity

Gr 9 Up—Intensity is the latest anthology to emerge from WriteGirl, a creative writing and mentoring program for inner-city teens in Los Angeles. Every year since its establishment in 2001, the program has published a collection, not only of the mentees' work, but also that of their mentors, professional women writers. The result is a unique blend of experience and youth, though the girls' words and stylistic maturity often transcend their ages. Separated by themes such as "identity," "nature," and "family," the selections cover topics as diverse as fulfilling family expectations and metamorphosing into a lizard. While much of the beauty of Intensity certainly lies in the powerful voices that emerge from the lines of poetry and prose, the collection offers more than the creative works themselves. It is just as much the story of the girls, the women, and the program behind the words. Writing prompts are scattered throughout, as are short anecdotes in which the teens describe their process or inspiration for a particular piece. Toward the end, a section entitled "More Writing Experiments" extends the nuggets dropped throughout earlier pages. The end result is an excellent read for young adults, especially those in urban areas, who will find their lives and perhaps their own creative aspirations in those of the authors. Teens living outside the LA area will undoubtedly wish for a similar organization in their own backyard.—Jill Heritage Maza, Montclair Kimberley Academy, Montclair, NJ