Press Coverage
“Their voices are raw, unflinchingly honest, and, though sometimes unpolished, totally compelling.”
“I like that [Hannah] ended the book with a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, but she does not sugarcoat anything. She gives a realistic outlook for herself, and is thinking positive, but not impossible.”
“I often found myself getting lost in the prose and cheering for Rae and forgetting that I was, in fact, reading a true story.”
“I really think that more kids should read [Alexis] because they don’t seem to realize the dangers of being online and that accepting an IM from a complete stranger could change their lives forever.”
“I recommend [Alexis] to parents with teens who spend a lot of time on the Internet…”
“I was rooting for [Hannah] all the way through!”
“I recommend [Rae] to all. To teenagers looking to find that they are not the only one that feel the way they do.”
“It is my belief that the Louder Than Words Books will be able to reach out to parents and teens alike and help…teens to realize they are not alone.”
“[Rae] was very well written – the quotability factor was skyrocketing through the roof – and her analogies were fantastic.”
“Alexis is an amazing story that is beautifully written. It is raw and honest and I devoured it in a single sitting.”
“A brilliant debut from a writer I hope we see more of, [Alexis] will leave you with the chills.”
“[Alexis] is a good resource for young girls who might be involved in an “innocent” flirtation with an Internet “friend.”
“For a teen to be able to read a book that’s written in a teen’s own words is a powerful thing – it’s someone in your own peer group telling you how it is instead of an overbearing adult.”
“…You felt what she [Alexis] felt. The sensation that this was wrong, the gradual pull, the cracking of willpower.”
“Hannah is the kind of book that does not really exist in fiction, because no book describes mental illness, cutting, and other various sad things as believably and emotionally as this one.”
“Rae is raw, real, and I’m truly grateful that Swiggett shared her story.”
“Hannah is a book that makes you thankful for what you have, and makes you want to reach out and help those around you. I think this is a really important series for teens and I can’t wait to read more.”
“Alexis is the type of book that you wish didn’t exist because it’s horrifyingly real and shows that things like online solicitation are still constantly occurring. But I’m glad it does exist, since I’m sure everyone knows someone who has gone through something… similar to Alexis or has simply gotten a creepy message on Formspring.”
“Maybe with more books like this [Alexis] young people will think twice before falling into what can only destroy them. I’m impressed with Alexis for sharing this very painful story with others; for caring enough to do that. ”
“A wonderfully raw and honest look at social anxieties in girls that will tear at your heart and open your eyes to their struggles…[Rae]”
“Well-written and emotionally charged, Hannah shows us the power of truth, pain, and strength with a maturity beyond her years.”
“This memoir [Rae] has the ability to touch a lot of lives who suffer with the same phobias.”
“I would recommend this book [Alexis] to any parent of teenagers who spend a great deal of time online and interacting with perfect strangers.”
“Hannah’s story is deep and personal, enlightening and revealing, and certainly should be read.”
“I love this book [Rae]. I love the fact that Chelsea was willing to share her story with us. I love the fact that it will give teens something they can relate to.”
“Alexis is a book that’s badly needed, because for every Facebook profile or Formspring account created, there’s somebody waiting to prey on innocence. ”
“Alexis is so well written and has a great style of writing that you like reading it despite the horror the pages contain.”
“Overall, I absolutely LOVED this book. I felt like certain parts of the book was written about me and I strongly encourage teens and even adults to read Rae.”
“I think this memoir [Hannah] and the others in the series would be wonderful for teens to read to see that they aren’t alone with their problems and feelings, as well as adults to see that there is more going on in some young adult’s lives than they realize”
“It was a fast, eye-opening, read that would be a welcome addition to any middle or high school library.”
“They say the pen is mightier than the sword, but maybe the pen also helps you deal with the sword’s might.”
“These are the kinds of books that teach us, move us, and make us all feel a little less alone.”
“I found her [Marni] personality captivating by the end of the first page.”
– Reading Junkie’s Reading Roost
“Marni Bates, Emily Smucker, and Chelsey Shannon have experienced more challenges before the age of 20 than most people do in a lifetime.”
“By empowering these three young writers tell to their stories, Deborah has produced an authentic work by teens for teens…”
“These titles capture the voices of their young authors in a way that had me laughing and crying at the same time, an emotional state that I love…The bottom line: Each is a riveting read.”
“This exciting, new series will be the resource for girls looking to read compelling, intriguing, and personal real-life stories written by current teens with powerful voices.”
“I hope this series can continue, and become a great collection of the experiences that teenagers are having all over this country. How incredible would that be?”
“The three girls who are in this teen memoir trilogy have serious guts to open up their entire lives to the public.”
“Each book is a fast paced read. I recommend these books for those who want to read real issues by teens.”
“Teenagers struggling with any kind of addiction will find an everlasting friend in Marni.”
“Louder Than Words … gives power to the teen voice.”
“There’s almost a sense of voyeurism here – as if we’re reading an online journal we’ve stumbled upon.”
“I think it’s great that teen writers now have a way to tell their stories and I look forward to the future books in the series.”
“Consider Louder Than Words to be a refresher into the mind of what it is to be a teen. It is a road map to what our teens may be going through today.”
“The meandering musings, rants and ramblings of a typical teenager, turning what might otherwise have been a sober story into an engaging, entertaining read.”
“It may seem bizarre to ask teenagers to write memoirs, but Louder Than Words is dedicated to “reinforcing the message that the experiences of teenagers and their perceptions and beliefs regarding their experiences have validity.”
