Video Description: Whether it’s the family we’re born into or the family we build for ourselves, we’ve all experienced the ups-and-downs of family drama.  These top YA authors present characters asking to be seen and accepted, testing the bonds of siblings, and dealing with uncomfortable truths about their parents.

• Use the video in conjunction with students writing stories focused on family situations, issues, or conflicts. What insights do they gain from the authors that could help students as they write and evaluate their work?
• Use the video in conjunction with a student activity that has them writing stories specifically for a young adult audience. What insights do they gain from the authors and the discussion of the genre that they can use as they write their own stories?
• Use the video as you study specific elements of story writing such as plot, character, or theme. What insights into those concepts do students gain from the interview that they could use in their writing?