My new novel, Gimme a Call, is about a high school senior who accidentally drops her cell phone in a fountain. When she fishes it out, she discovers the only call she can make is to herself—as a high school freshman, at age 14.
When I was 14 I had a lot of questions. Was Tony Gowell ever going to ask me out? Would my parents get back together? Should I get bangs?
There are many things I'd tell my younger self: Yes, Tony Gowell is going to ask you out! (But he's also going to cheat on you with a redhead named Kim.) No, your parents will not get back together. (But you will get over it. Promise. Although a little therapy might help you get over it a little faster.) And no, you should not get bangs. Ever.
Oh! You also might want to keep better diaries—you grow up to be a YA novelist, and you need more
material.
Since Gimme a Call comes out next week, I thought it would be fun to ask a few fellow YA authors what they would tell their high school selves if, say, they had magic cells of their own. So on Monday I tweeted "Ever wonder what YA authors would tell their high school selves? (If they had magic cell phones that could call the past?) #gimmeacall." What started as a question to fellow authors has spread to their followers and their followers' followers. Search #gimmeacall for the full list of responses (over 1000 now), but here are some of my favorites (mostly written by YA writers. What, me, biased?):
@sarazarr: You are NOT FAT. You will be, but you're not now, so enjoy it.
@neilhimself: Dear 15-year-old-self, those comics you feel guilty for spending your barmitzvah money on each week will save your life one day.
@LaurenMyracle: Don't go on a pot run with Steve Campo. You will get arrested, and he will still take Leslie Prat to prom.
@nickearls: Dear HS Self: Do not try to impress girls by writing them sonnets. This tactic last succeeded in the 1620s.
@amitygardens: Dear HS self, have fun and be adventurous, but just not so slutty.
@juliadevillers: Facebook will be invented. Are you sure you want your friend to take that picture?
@OfficiallyAlly: Dear high school self, people who say HS is the best time of your life aren't in for a very good life. (It gets better!)
@PebblesGoPlop: Dear HS self: things will get better after Windows 95. But in the meantime, back up all your essays or you'll lose them.
@polliejean: Dear HS self: That 'perfect' girl who's bullying you constantly? Smile and hold your head high: you end up with her boyfriend.
@zieglerjennifer: following Duran Duran is not a good career option
@libbabray: Dear High School Self: That Junior Classical League trip senior year? Do NOT take over the P.A. system on the bus. Just saying.
@elockhart: Dear HS Self, cars on the right have the right of way. Can u pls remember? U were voted Worst Driver in your sr. class.
@realjohngreen: Dear HS self: There are two reasons you have no girlfriend: 1. no confidence. 2. poor hygiene. #startwithnumbertwo
@sheriffcoffey: Forget Bonanza and the New York Mets. Get to Woodstock in August.
So what would you tell your high school self? Use the hashtag #gimmeacall and join the conversation. You never know—your younger self might be listening.
