True Crime: Real Girls, Real-Life Stories

by Seventeen Magazine

Aimed at ages 13-21 years, this illustrated book features true crime and life stories that will motivate readers to reflect on their own lives.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok. Well. I think it's safe to say that my reading material has finally hit the nadir with this one. What possessed me to read it I do not know, but believe me when I tell you I was actually, honest-to-god, no- kidding, absolutely mortified to read this on the subway. Mortified. You know that thing people do when they have a paperback and they fold the cover back, so they can hold the book in one hand that way? I did that, but it wasn't so I could hold the book with one hand. It was to keep people from seeing what I was reading. I mean, you know it's bad when two cops get on the car and I quickly put the book into my bag so they don't snicker at me too much.

Nonetheless, I managed to finish this one at home (in the bedroom with the lights out, under the covers with a flashlight, so my husband didn't know). Even for the genre, it's pretty trashy, although I do give them some credit for avoiding the breathless and exclamation-point laden style that this genre tends to devolve into, especially when written for teens.

And hey, it's still less embarrassing than reading The Secret.

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first story in here was so horrible I thought they were probably tapering upwards to something uplifting and inspirational. They weren't. All the stories involve teens being murdered, killing someone else or doing something else that's pretty unthinkable. The photos are all in full color. Most of these stories have clearly never been collected anywhere else. I felt a little as if I'd been punched in the gut when I finished the book.

[Lady ♥ Belleza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is collection of 'true crime' accounts. I put a crime in quotes because you could argue that not all of these are actually crimes. However they were short and interesting. I enjoyed it.

[Bill reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life isn't always a fairy tale are the words of wisdom in this collection by the editors of Seventeen Magazine. I am not exactly the target audience as a man of later years.
It begins with a five foot-nine girl of twelve telling her mother that she was no longer a virgin. The incensed mommy proceeded to pour bleach down Jasmine's throat, thereby killing her. Mom's boyfriend was a suspect in the deflowering but nothing was proven.
The next teen murder was of a girl named Ali. A simple case as a pool cleaner confessed but later recanted and was awaiting trial at publication.
Angenika, Latoya, and Takiyah were troubled youth residing at the Pleasantville Cottage School not far from where I live in Westchester County. An ex worked there and told me some horror stories. The threesome beat and tortured a counselor almost to death and received light sentences.
The next fairy tale involves a girl who was molested by a female babysitter(equal time for the fairer sex) from the ages of twelve to sixteen. Her "lover" is in prison.
Nakisha Thomas was unhappy with her life and decided to run away from home. Mom protested and was stabbed to death by her darling daughter who is now in jail.
A telephone pole was the cause of death for Charles Kramer who was out with his new love, Justina Perugini and lost control of a Nissan 350Z on Hylan Boulevard.
Nikita was thirteen when she gave birth to a baby prematurely. The boy died and her mother was tried for manslaughter for inducing the birth.
Holly and Sandy were lesbian lovers who killed Holly's grandma and grandpa so that they could live happily ever after. Both reside in separate Georgia prisons.
Chelsea and Elysia Jones were twin sisters who robbed a bank in order to save the family home. What a family. The mom and dad are in jail and the girls at a youth facility.
Silvia Johnson plied five teenaged boys with alcohol and had sex with them. The horny schoolteacher is now housed in a Colorado prison.
Maura Murray vanished without a trace in 2004. I read a full length book on the case and it remains an unsolved mystery.
Romeo and Juliet were Tony and Tiffany, nineteen and twelve respectfully. The love birds escaped their disapproving families and Tony hacked his dad to death. He is in prison and she did a short stint in juvenile hall. Such a happy ending.
A chapter was boring me until I saw the name Charles Cullen and realized that the deceased was a victim of the "Good Nurse," a book that I highly recommend.
Yet another pregnant girl of fourteen makes the grade here. Chelsea Brooks began having sex at thirteen with Ray Robinson, a man of twenty. He was unhappy with her pregnancy and paid a buddy named Ted(not Bundy this time) to off his lover. She was strangled with an extension cord.
The final story is the saddest as a woman known as "Miss Mary" died from an asthma attack while breaking up a fight in the. Bronx, NY. Life is not a fairy tale, indeed.

[Lori · Rating 1 out of 5]

I may have ingested too much true crime in my life.

I picked this one up - electronically - to fill in between library holds. A quick read on a subject that never fails to fascinate me.

Most of these cases I'd read, watched, heard about before. Some did not have all the same facts that I was familiar with from other sources. And overall, it read like a YA version of an adult book which makes sense as it is by Seventeen magazine.

Just didn't do it for me though.

[Rih · Rating 3 out of 5]

The was this book words things having to do with pedophiles and grooming is Not Great At All but i guess if your idea is to get youth where they are to avoid such things you have to speak their language but you can also give them new better language. my rating is a reflection of the writing and curation not content which cannot be rated as they are stories of real people’s lives

[Sophia Breedlove · Rating 5 out of 5]

This True crime novel tells the stories of multiple people of all ages. The novel is gruesome and somewhat depressing which is all expected in a true crime novel. This is an awesome novel if you are not easily nerved

[Brandi Kozuch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read, interesting stories from the early 2000’s. Would be nice if there was a release with some of the case updates!

[Mehran · Rating 3 out of 5]

another book for school to make a true-crime podcast.
i think it's my first nonfiction read of the year (in december too!)
a little too gory for me. i was eating cheetos and lost my appetite.

[Virginia Cabrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

in this book it contains some stories of girl teen being victims,some teens that where preptractors.this include two sisters that robbed a bank,a girl commited sucided,a qirl that was poisined by her own mother,a girl that killed her own mother,two bestfriends that died from drugs and a girl that been missing since 2004 this book is awesome i couldnt put it down it was sad and some point how scary that teens go through this.this book is just not for teens it can be for adults too.!

[Noelle Landis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this to see if it would be a good high interest book for a school booktalk. It would be high interest, I'm sure...but yipes, it's graphic. Way too much possibly triggering material to suggest to a whole lot of random high schoolers.

It's graphic, but nothing worse than what you'd see on any crime show - just - nothing really worthwhile to offer besides getting a kid to read who might not otherwise (and I can find better books for that).

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

seventeen is so trashy, i think i lost a couple brain cells reading this. the only reason i read it in the first place was because these kind of books are usually interesting but this was written like a crappy teen magazine story. yikes. not really what i expected to be honest but would not recommend.
the only good point was that they had a story about female-on-male rape and actually mentioned the double standard when it comes to female rape victims v male ones. good job seventeen.

[Crazy For · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say, once i first read the first page of this book, it was a MUST-READ! This book has many crimes that has happened in real life. It was one of the most shockinq crimes that I have ever read. I reccommend that if you love mysterys & crimes, then this book is for you. It's one of the most horrifyinq & eye-catching book I have ever READ!

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best Non-Fiction books I have ever read!!! I loved the stories although i feel sorry for some of them. :( It shows you really what is happening and all the things that is going on when everyone thinks it is okay. I could barely put this book down and finally got done within one or two days.

[Ratforce]

This collection of true crime tales focuses specifically on teenage girls and the crimes they have committed. The topic is often shocking and always true, the writing is interesting and quick to read, and the book includes several color photographs.

[Cherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was short - a very quick read which is nice sometimes.
I felt that some of the stories were not quite what I was expecting, I honestly expected more details or more intense stories but it was only slightly interesting.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it just fine: simple and straightforward. When condensing stories so much something has to be sacrificed; and I noticed it in the only story I recognized, from another source (televised).

Read it at work. It was a great cover page.

[Jessica. Klave. Klave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about true teens real life crime stories. I liked this book because it had so much detail was never left with questions.

[Dena]

abot crime

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happened to them to make them do what they did?

[Ashley B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book is all i can say

[Vivisection · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not saying this is the best writing in the world. C'mon it's Seventeen magazine. The stories and pictures, however, are lurid enough to make the most reluctant reader pay attention.

[BecomingChynaLi✨712]

This book was very good and heart broke, it made me cry. But i think others should read it to see how crazy people are.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad, Shocking

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these stories they were quite interesting and kind of scary but very good and informative...

[Traci Kismarton]

how do you rate something like this?

[Joelene Verster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting read

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

its was intents book I was freak out by it

[Pat Welte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read many of these types of stories and I will never understand why, but I suppose that is why I read them. Such sad ends to so many lives.