Three of my fellow VOX teen journalists, Catherine Boyd, Thalia Butts, and Jason Crichton, had the chance to interview these authors as I assisted some other fellow teens with shooting the video. Each of these authors had interesting things to say about their work. I found all of their inspirations to be both relatable and fascinating, with most of their work being inspired by events and people in their lives.

Part of me — the part that aspired to be the Perfect Sophomore, the Perfect Junior, the Perfect Senior — wants to spend the summer working toward becoming the Perfect College Freshman or the Perfect Adult. But she does not exist…