Bookmarked: Teen Essays on Life and Literature from Tolkien to Twilight Book

Introduction

Unregulated Friendliness: Ann Camacho

Chapter 1
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time given” —J.R.R. Tolkien
Essays on Beliefs and Ideals

Be the Change: Sameer Patel

The Measure You Give: Julio Sanchez

A Piece of Fruit: Andreea Tanase

A Hot Bath: Emili Lamph

No Royal Road: Karisa Booth

Man’s First Duty: James Roose

Common Sense Rounded Out: Sebastian Chiu

God Himself: Thomas Assali

Our Choices: Raymond Yeung

It Lights the Way: Koutibah Chihabi

All We Have to Decide: Greg Hice

And So . . . Questions for Reflection, Discussion, and Writing

Chapter 2
“S’pose you didn’t have nobody?” —John Steinbeck
Essays on Family, Friends, and Love

Miles to Go: Anthony Accuar

By Any Other Name: Jessica Trumble

So Little: Asma Patel

Am I Making Sense?: Alex Smith

Most of the Time: Saad Patel

See It Through: Rachele Honcharik

Good Is Good: Stephanie Treen

Gone Away: Akhila Pamula

The Whole Damn Bunch!: Michelle Lu

Honest Doubt: Yadira Navarro

Nobody: Zerka Wadood

And So . . . Questions for Reflection, Discussion, and Writing

Chapter 3
“Braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” —A.A. Milne
Essays on Hard Times and Hope

The World Belongs to You: Nooreya Shenghur

Only a Half Step: Roxanna Mohrdar

Words Are No Good: John Joanino

Nothing Beats a Failure: Archeé McDonald

Before I Met the Monster: Kristine Gierz

My Mother Is a Fish: Desiree Rogers

The Rest of the World: Kaylee Rangel

The Time of Your Life Jaclyn: Allavie

Where Is Your God?: Rickey Weaver

To Be or Not to Be: Ashleigh Greenstreet

Braver than You Believe: Vanessa Cazares

And So . . . Questions for Reflection, Discussion, and Writing

Chapter 4
“I am a red balloon.” —Sandra Cisneros
Essays on Identity and Self

A Matter of Infinite Hope: Jimmy Kollar

What Suits You: Adam Fletcher

Climb Into His Skin: Pricilla Nguyen

Different Drummer: Cory Scott

From a Single Spark: Zerghona Wadood

Place by the Window: A.J. Almaguer

When the Light Turns: Blue Ricky Dama

Majority Rule: Paul Gierz

Beautiful Fool: Kelly Nielsen

Shine Like Stars: Hsuanwei Fan

I Am a Red Balloon: Derek Ignatius

And So . . . Questions for Reflection, Discussion, and Writing

Chapter 5
“And did you dream of anything?” —Aldous Huxley
Essays on Goals, Dreams, and the Future

Watcher of the Skies: Quentin Burns

Reach Down and Take It: Max Baugh

Between the Tedious Spaces: Dina Assali

The Lost Game: Hongyu Chen

Missions Are Stupid: Sushana Ullah

Undirected: Andi Christmas

After the Spotlight: David Hunt

Good Luck!: Jeong Choi

Life Is Always a Sketch: Trent Smith

You’ll Move Mountains: I. Obi Emeruwa

Did You Dream?: Javier Moya

And So . . . Questions for Reflection, Discussion, and Writing

How to Use This Book—A Guide for Teachers and Leaders