S. E. Hinton was 16 when she wrote "The Outsiders."

Christopher Paolini was 15 when he wrote "Eragon."

Ann Frank was 13 when she wrote her diary.

Who says kids can't write?

There is a lot of criticism directed at teenagers' communication skills—with many of their so-called deficiencies attributed to increased exposure to the media and use of technology. While these elements of modern culture certainly provide a challenge to educators, we also believe that kids are just as passionate, creative and talented as ever. And they are writing—perhaps more than ever before. One problem with the role of technology in modern life is that it is too easy for individual voices to be drowned out. We want to encourage and recognize excellence in young writers—and help them to maximize their talents.

Think about some of your best students

What are they writing that deserves to be recognized?

Nominate your students for The Best Midwestern High School Writing: A Celebration and Recognition.