Bookslut's Teen Mag Makeover

Bookslut blogger Melissa Fischer created her own TOC (table of contents) from the more substantive pieces buried beneath the ads, fashion spread and tips on how to flirt, kiss and be popular found in most teen magazines. Her ideal teen mag would include:

FEATURES
"Innocents Abroad"
Teen Vogue gets the Magazine Whore award for best journalistic content; this "My World" article is the story of two sisters whose "London sightseeing trip turned into a nightmare when terrorists bombed their subway car." The sisters take turns relating their personal take on the events, and the result is an intimate peek at their devastating experience.

"Rock Camp"
Elle Girl's "Real Life" installment provides information about The Willie Mae Rock Camp, a basic training "that was started in New York City last summer to encourage girls to get out there and make the rock scene less male-dominated."

"The 17 Best Internships"
Seventeen gives its readers statistics: "45% of employers give their interns full-time jobs" as well as other details on hot internships in book publishing, technology, space, sports business, finance, journalism, engineering, fashion design, and other fields.

"2005 Born to Lead Awards"
CosmoGirl recognizes Hilary Duff for her charity and human rights work, as well as real people like the entrepreneurial card designer Chauncey Holloman, marrow donating Brittany Heck, and perfect-game pitching baseball star Katie Brownell.

REGULARS

"Class of 2008"
Elle Girl follows four teens as they make their way through high school, updating readers each month with the latest installment’s details on the triumphs, challenges, and goals that these geographically, economically, and socially diverse students experience.

"True Stories from Real Teens"
A glimpse at global Teen life with stories including "I was arrested for assault," and "I live in a kibbutz."

"Ask Sophi: Real Girls, Real Advice"
In this edition of Teen magazine's Ask Sophi, advice ranges from cutting off a flirting boyfriend to dealing with parents who are opposed to interracial dating.

DIY

"Lovely Leather"
Justine magazine gives easy structions on making a "kinda crafty," custom-made hip leather cuff from a few pieces of leather and beads.

"Sew What"
Again some craftiness from Justine, creativity is inspired with blue jean bum stitching in rows of patterned x’es.

BOOKSLUT IN TRAINING

Since none of the teen 'zines have regular book features, my version has Bookslut's Colleen Mondor at the helm of all such concerns. For this issue, she reviews Newbery Award winner Kira-Kira, by Cynthia Kahadota, and Newbery Honors winner Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy by Gary D. Schmidt. Also reviewed: Chris Lynch's Inexcusable and Adele Griffin's Where I Want to Be, both National Book Award finalists.

Teen magazine, however, does get an honorable mention for a one-page spread called "book report," which includes a review of Charise Mericle Harper's novel, Flashcards of My Life.

FANTASIES

"Journalism Camp"
This "Real Life" installment details The Judith Miller Journalism Camp, a wildly popular retreat for girls designed to encourage teens to get out there and make the journalism scene less dominated by men. Also in development are The Margaret Atwood Novelist Camp, The Jane Goodall Science Camp, and The Future Female Presidents of the United States Camp.

"Q&A with C&A"
Respect authors Courtney Macavinta & Andrea Vander Pluym field questions about the complexities of pre-womanhood and hashing out an authentic identity in a sea of media-imposed lemminghood.

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.