After publishing four successful books in the groundbreaking Teen Ink series, this fifth-and possibly best-installment takes a close and compelling look at what's really important to today's teens. Partnering with the worldwide Laws of Life Essay Contest, a program of the John Templeton Foundation, this collection offers a unique tapestry of teen expression. Many of the haunting questions of all time are tackled by voices that sing with hope and the reality of being a teenager in the 21st Century.

With eloquent prose, insightful poetry, art and photography, these teens present timeless values through their own experiences and explore principles such as, "It's better to give than to receive," "If at first you don't succeed . . ." and "Honesty is the best policy." In Teen Ink: What Matters, you'll find fresh and honest interpretations of these and other ideals that we all try to live by. In addition, teen authors and artists journey into waters filled with forgiveness, generosity, courage, love and bravery through personal expressions about tough challenges, family, friends and everyday events.

Young people from as far away as China and Ukraine reveal fascinating insights in this selection from over 88,000 submissions to the Laws of Life Essay Contest. Teen Ink: What Matters is an uplifting book of hope, reflection and inspiration that will resonate with teens.

In the third volume of the incredibly popular Teen Ink series, teenagers share their thoughts on the emotional peaks and valleys of dealing with friends and family. The joys and challenges, highlights and sorrows are all exposed in this diverse collection.

Pieces for this book were chosen from more than 300,000 submissions to Teen Ink magazine, a nonprofit publication read by 3.5 million teens nationwide. Since its inception, Teen Ink (formerly The 21st Century) has published more than 25,000 students. These young authors produce fresh, creative, honest and always compelling words that make Teen Ink the standard for teen expression.

Future books in this incredible series will examine other aspects of teen life, from love to loss and everything in-between. All will focus on the winning formula of teens talking to teens with brutal honesty and unique creativity. Teenage readers will find a voice they can relate to; the reassurance that they are not alone; and straight talk about the real issues that affect them.