As an aspiring teen author, I was quite impressed to hear of Rachel Coker's accomplishments in the publishing world. At the age of 16, she's already a published author, and that itself is inspiring to me.

So it was that I picked up Interrupted. I'd heard about the book after hearing about the Go Teen Writers blog (which is a fantastic resource, by the way—go check it out ASAP). And I was really intrigued, especially by the cover. (Isn't it beautiful?) I wanted to know whether Interrupted was as good as it sounded.

It is. It's a fantastic book. And while it's not perfect, it is enjoyable. The story of Allie Everly kept me hooked, and I did relate to a lot of her adolescent struggles. (By the way, her full name is Alycone—how cool is that?) While I didn't connect with Allie in terms of having similar personalities or circumstances, I did love her, and that's what counts. I can usually overlook minor flaws if I love the characters. And that's how it was for Interrupted. (Sam Carroll was a complete sweetheart, too! I'm sure many of you can agree.)

As for what the flaws were, I don't even remember most of them now. The characters and plot could have been developed a bit more (but isn't it that way for all books)? The book does seem like a first novel and there are parts that could have been polished more... but that's okay. It was a good story. It was a story I enjoyed. The characters were ones I loved. And that's what counts.

The thing is, Interrupted inspires me because of the fact that it wasn't perfect. For once, I didn't feel inadequate while reading a published author—I felt uplifted. I felt like I wasn't alone in my journeys and struggles as a teenage writer. Reading Interrupted reminded me that my novels are good stories, too, even with their imperfections.


Rachel Coker inspires me because of the way she's managed to navigate the publishing industry with a professionalism and maturity far beyond her years. It is possible to write good & enjoyable fiction even at a young(er) age.

Thanks, Rachel Coker. And thanks, Interrupted. You both have shown me that writing & my dreams aren't impossible. Because of Interrupted, I feel like I can do this journey, too.

And that, my friends, is exciting beyond words.