Those sleepy-looking, weirdly outfitted creatures who pass us on the street, or in our own homes? They don't know anything that we don't. Except, of course, for the things that differentiate their generation from ours, and scare us: the hook-up culture and the short attention spans and the MySpace and the IMs!

Despite the simultaneous familiarity and exoticism of teens, their universe is one that doesn't often hold much appeal for adults. It's a life-stage best forgotten, a time we hope our loved ones move through with safety, grace and as much speed as possible. I'll admit that when I got a copy of the book "Red: The Next Generation of American Writers -- Teenage Girls -- on What Fires Up Their Lives Today," I opened it grudgingly, figuring I knew what was in there.

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