I went to my first funeral when I was 15. Not for a grandparent, great-uncle or elderly family friend, but for a girl my age. Tammy had been hit by a car walking home from school one day. She never … Continue reading →

Growing up, I was such an angry teen, although most people who knew me during my teenage years would probably be surprised to hear this. I was raised in a Southern family where the unofficial but uncontestable motto was, “Never … Continue reading →

In the classroom, I was a big believer in seating plans, even in the senior grades. It’s comfortable for kids to form their own packs and live within them, but it’s better to learn interpersonal skills with people outside your … Continue reading →

Creating Our Own Character Arcs As human beings, our brains love labels…without us needing to exert even the slightest conscious effort, the second our mind encounters something new, it immediately goes to work finding a place for it within the … Continue reading →

I once had a student in Grade 9 who was exceptionally smart. Rob’s* marks didn’t reflect his aptitude at all, not uncommon in high school. I encouraged him, challenged him, worked with his parents and guidance counsellors—in short, I did … Continue reading →

Welcome to Complicated! I’m so excited to be part of this exciting joint venture with Jen and I hope you’ll join us as we delve into all things YA. You might be thinking, “Congrats, Katie, for finding a way to … Continue reading →

Welcome to Complicated! Katie and I thrilled to have you join us. Together we’ll throw out ideas, musings, thoughts and opinions about issues that are important to you, as teens, and we’ll use the lens of our favorite (and maybe not-so-favorite) YA … Continue reading →