Every single story is original, fresh and new --- there are distinct characters who get into crazy adventures, twists and turns, strange unexplored lands and the author’s unique take on language. However, that doesn’t mean that the overall idea for the story --- the inspiration --- has to come from thin air. As author Fiona McIntosh explains, lots of books are born from a trope, or “a recurring idea in fiction.” In fact, her new middle grade novel, THE WHISPERER, came from the same trope as Mark Twain’s THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER --- two twins are separated at birth but maintain an unbreakable bond. Read Fiona’s blog post, below, to learn more about how an author can take a tried-and-true idea and make it their very own, as well as to get some inside info on THE WHISPERER!

Teenreads loves National Poetry Month, and so do our Teen Board members! To celebrate these 30 days of haikus, sonnets, limericks and everything in between, Teen Board member Mary M. wrote a series of poems addressing Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE. As Mary notes, "In all of the poems, the 'you' is Holden. Most of them are written from a character's perspective (whose name is in the title), but two of them are written from a third-person perspective." Read Mary's poems below, and perhaps you'll be inspired to write some poems based off of one of your own favorite books!