Max Leone, a 13-year-old teen tells the publishing industry what teens want to read in read this b4 u publish 
(Publishers Weekly 11/10/08). He writes that the reason teen boys read so little in their free time is “partially because of the literary choices available to teenagers these days.”
Key things to remember: don’t include archaic language even if the story takes place in an earlier time. Don’t “clumsily smash morals about fairness or honor or other cornball crap onto otherwise fine stories.” Keep your vampires menacing and badass, not romantic.
Leone stresses what he considers the cardinal rule of writing for teens: Do Not Underestimate Your Audience.
via PW Children’s Bookshelf, 11/13/08
posting by Lorraine
