Young Adult Clean Fiction

By Jill K Willis

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While we're shuttering our Storyteller Squad blog, we're still going strong on our Facebook page. Check out the story of my writing journey with my critique partners.

Inside the Storyteller Squad: A Writer's Journey

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Five Festive Short Stories from Catholic Teen Books: A Review

Every December, my To-Be-Read stack on the nightstand looks like a snowdrift—beautiful, slightly dangerous, and full of the promise of unexpected joy. This year, I dove into five speculative short stories from the authors of Catholic Teen Books, and let me tell you… these writers aren’t just sprinkling tinsel on young adult fiction; they’re crafting Christmas tales that wrap heart, humor, and…

Five Festive Short Stories from Catholic Teen Books: A Review

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Writing Through the Drama: Six Ways Creative Writing Helps Teens Process Emotions

If you’ve ever watched your teen slam a bedroom door, shuffle off to their room, or emit that dramatic sigh that makes you wonder if they’ve turned into a Greek tragedy overnight—well, trust me, you’re not alone. I’ve heard plenty of “You don’t understand!” with my two kids. Teen years are emotional rollercoasters, full of hormones, identity work, social pressure, and the quest for “Who am I,…

Writing Through the Drama: Six Ways Creative Writing Helps Teens Process Emotions

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Writing Through the Drama: Six Ways Creative Writing Helps Teens Process Emotions

If you’ve ever watched your teen slam a bedroom door, shuffle off to their room, or emit that dramatic sigh that makes you wonder if they’ve turned into a Greek tragedy overnight—well, trust me, you’re not alone. I’ve heard plenty of “You don’t understand!” with my two kids. Teen years are emotional rollercoasters, full of hormones, identity work, social pressure, and the quest for “Who am I,…

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10 Ways Parents Can Inspire Their Teens to Read Fiction During the Summer

Hey there, parents! Summer break is a fantastic time for your teens to kick back, relax, and dive into some great fiction. But let’s face it—getting them to put down their phones and pick up a book can feel like pulling teeth. Fear not! Here are ten fun and creative ways to inspire your teens to embrace the wonderful world of fiction this summer. 1. Create a Cozy Reading Nook Set up a chill…

10 Ways Parents Can Inspire Their Teens to Read Fiction During the Summer

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Truth for when the demons invade

I’m a big believer in memorizing scripture. The God-breathed messages come in handy when demons invade. Which they do. Daily. After all, Satan’s full-time job is to invade our lives and make us believe his evil lies. If he can shake our confidence in God’s goodness, he wins. Satan targets teens because they have open minds and hearts. Life experiences haven’t yet jaded them. They’re willing to…

Truth for when the demons invade

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Set 2025 Reading Goals with your Teens

In January each year, Goodreads prompts me to set a reading goal, and each year I set the goal of 52—one a week. If you friend me on Goodreads, you’ll see that I tallied 82 books in 2024, far surpassing my goal. I sat in a lot of doctors’ offices and hospital rooms this year with my mother and in-laws. Reading calms my soul and keeps me from harassing the nurses. I encourage you to join…

Set 2025 Reading Goals with your Teens

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Turtles All The Way Down

What a strange title. I had never heard the phrase until my niece recommended the book to me. Before reading, I Googled the phrase and discovered that there is a mythological idea of a turtle that supports a flat Earth on its back. That turtle rests on the back of an even larger turtle, which is part of a column of increasingly larger turtles that continues forever. The author, John Green, who…

Turtles All The Way Down

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How to edit with Microsoft Word

So you love to write, and you’ve found a critique partner who also loves to write. How do you go about critiquing each other’s works? You can do it verbally, handwritten with a red pen (gasp!), or through a software program. All work well. In fact, the writers I know have used each option at one time or another depending on the circumstances. The Storyteller Squad prefers the third option. We…

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YA Book Review: Livia Aemilia Mystery Series

Fellow Redemption Press author, Lisa Betz, is a riot. We met at the February 2022 Christian Product Expo in Concord, N.C., and I enjoyed her company so much that I volunteered to work a second shift at our publisher’s booth so I could spend another hour with her. She’s a terrific storyteller, in person and on the page. I may or may not have done a little fan-girling as she handed me a free…

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Scripture to pray over teens

I’ve never prayed harder than I did during my children’s teenage years. Not only did I pray for them, I prayed for my husband and me. I asked God to strengthen and instill trust in our relationships, keep our children from harm, grant all of us patience and understanding, and . . . the list went on and on. I prayed in my favorite chair, on my knees, face down on the floor, in my closet, on the…

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MG & YA Book Review: Hana's Suitcase by Karen Levine

While on vacation in the Czech Republic, I learned about a MG and YA WWII book called "Hana's Suitcase." When I returned home, I downloaded and read it in one sitting. It's an amazing story. Check out my book review.

During our recent vacation, my husband and I visited the town of Terezin, the former WWII Theresienstadt Ghetto, located 30 miles north of Prague, Czech Republic. It served as a waystation from 1941-1945 for more than 88,000 Czech, German, and Danish Jews on their way to extermination camps. Another 33,000 Jews died within its fortress-like walls from malnutrition and disease. Now a Holocaust…

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Fun Reads Friday: MG Book Review

“The Prince Warriors” seriesby Priscilla Shirer I’ve taken several of Priscilla Shirer’s classes, read her hard-hitting The Resolution for Women, and watched her talented performance in Overcomer; but I never dreamed she’d written fiction, much less a powerful Christian series for middle graders. I stumbled upon the Prince Warriors boxed set, co-written with Gina Detwiler, while looking for a…

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It’s May 2nd - National Teacher Day!

Oh, gosh. Did you forget again? No worries, National Teacher Day has been stretched into a week. You have three more days to let your kids’ instructors know how much they’re appreciated. Going forward, you might want to add this recurring event to your digital calendar. National Teacher Day is now observed on the first Tuesday of the first full week of May. In 1953, President Franklin D.…

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

For decades I believed Irish blood ran through my veins. After all, my maiden name is Kirkpatrick. But during a trip to Dublin, I discovered my ancestors hail from the parish of Closeburn in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. Still, it’s fun to wear green on St. Patrick’s Day and pinch those who don’t. If you’re looking for clean fiction about the Irish to help your middle grader celebrate March 17, I…

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Depression vs the Blues

Winter is a tough time of year for teens. The novelty of a new school year has worn off, the holidays have come and gone, and uncooperative weather pushes our youths indoors. They yearn for Spring Break, but it’s months away. This sometimes-dark season is when we should keep a closer eye on our teens. It’s so easy for them to disengage and slip into depression. And it’s our responsibility to…

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10 Best Devotionals for Teens

Looking for a devotional book for your teen? Check out my recommendations.

I have a tried-and-true spiritual routine that ensures my heart is in the right place before I face the world each morning. I wake when my husband’s alarm shrills, stumble to the kitchen and grab a cup of coffee, then snuggle with my fat, orange cat in my comfy recliner. I spend about twenty minutes reading a devotion, praying, and listening for God’s guidance. This quiet time sets the tone for…

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