“It’s about the lights in their lives, stepping in front of or behind the camera and taking action in life,” says Amy Rosenbluth, executive director at Lake Erie Ink.
The launch party highlighted the teens and their hard work, with readings by the writers showcasing themes of mental health, self-image, internal and external struggle, as well as some personal experiences and creative pieces.
“There’s nothing else where kids can be creative humans without expectation. There are no grades, no competition,” Rosenbluth says. “There are very few things offered to them like that, so if we can be one of those things, that’s critical.”
In a preface to the readings, educator and mentor Amy Hughes, who oversees the operations of the teen editorial team, took the stage to celebrate the teen editors’ and writers’ successes. She ended her speech with a powerful message that echoed through the room.
“If you’re feeling hopeless about the world, spend more time around teenagers. They have hope,” she says.
“Lights, Camera, Action!” launched May 19 and became available in local bookstores May 20. You can grab a copy at Mac’s Backs Books, Visible Voice Books and Loganberry Books. Visit www.lakeerieink.org to learn more about their organization, and follow along with their mission by checking out @LakeErieInk and @theteenbookproject on Instagram.