HILDE ON THE RECORD

Read all about it! A teen journalist opens up.

At 4, by happenstance, Lysiak went with her reporter father to the scene of a breaking news story, a murder. Watching him work, she became hooked on journalism. She started her own newspaper, the Orange Street News in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, just before she turned 8 and even scooped more traditional journalists on the news of a murder there. By 14, she’d published a book series, inspired the TV series Home Before Dark, and been the subject of countless news articles. Despite her accomplishments, however, the White-presenting teen grappled with emotional turmoil: “But on the inside, I felt nothing except pain.” This memoir describes the loss of self-esteem felt by many confident girls as they enter adolescence. Lysiak’s years of writing experience come through in this conversational account that includes many specific details and direct quotations. Along the way, she sheds light on how a news story is researched and organized, the importance of a free press, and her issues with food. Readers will find plenty to admire in Lysiak’s determination, her love and respect for her family, and the freedom that her parents have given her to pursue her passions.

The inside story from the perspective of a still-developing teen reporter.