Writing and self-publishing a Young Adult novel, one of the things I wondered about was, how am I going to get anyone to review my story?  How am I going to get the word out?  Most of the major reviewers at publications like the American Library Association have policies against reviewing self-published work.  Some have begun to realize that self-publishing is no longer the same as “vanity” publishing, but change is slow.  

 

During the last week of school, before summer vacation, a group of high school students in Mankato, Minnesota read Outside the Box.  It was a mixed-grade class, so the readers’ ages ranged from 15 to 19.  I went in and talked with them before they read the story, and then visited again after they’d finished it.  They seemed excited and motivated to read it, which I thought was terrific, especially so close to summer!

 

To get the conversation going, I gave the readers a bunch of questions to think about while they were reading.  Things like, what did you like best (and least) about the story?  What did you think of the characters?  What was the author’s goal in writing this, and did he come off as an adult preaching to you (I personally can’t stand that!)?  Would you recommend Outside the Box to your friends?  

 

One reader really liked the fact that Reid “became a different person.  He found out that what he wears is not him.”  Another was fascinated, and a little “creeped out” by the camera in the Wii sensor bar.  The group agreed the characters were kids they knew (or would like to know).  Tiffany, a senior, said “I think the characters are perfect for the story.  They each bring a special essence that brings them together.  Louise is my favorite, she is so spunky!”

 

The readers decided they thought my goal was to “portray to some extent some of society’s problems,” and to “show that you can be yourself and there are others like you somewhere.”  They agreed that the narrator’s voice did not sound preachy.  One reader said “No, sounds to be honest like someone 15-16.”  Another said “No, it seems like a story that gets to you like you’re in it.”

 

All the readers said they’d recommend Outside the Box.  One remarked, “Your writing style is something I haven’t seen very often, and it’s good!”  Another, when asked for a final comment, said “Just that it was a sweet book and that I want the second one really bad.”

 

I’d have been happy to get these comments from any classroom of readers.  What makes this positive response even more significant to me is that this was a class of “at-risk” teens at the local “alternative” school.  Students who haven’t had easy lives, and who are often cynical and leery of the books adults write for teens.  The fact they found the characters credible and the story compelling means a lot to me.  

 

My favorite comment was from a fifteen-year old named Aaron, who was actually in the classroom next-door, but got special permission to attend and read Outside the Box.  He said, “This book is a badass teen book. I mean it tops all other teen books, because this is the real deal. It really goes out to the teens.  I mean it's like a book that just jumps out at you.  It can go out to everyone's life.  It's just that cool.”  I’m still hoping for professional reviews of Outside the Box.  But if I had to choose, I’d take Aaron and his classmates.  Because, as he said, that’s the real deal.