What's it like to be 13?

New Moon turns 13 in September! As TIME magazine reported in "Being 13" last week, "teens are growing up in a culture that sexualizes children and immerses them in adult images." New Moon magazine, edited by and for girls ages 8-14, is different. Instead of publishing adult-created content, New Moon brings girls' experiences, knowledge and understanding forward.

In honor of New Moon's 13th birthday, I asked some of our 13-year-old friends what it's like to be 13 and why they read New Moon. Here's what Siri, a New Moon reader and Girls Advisory Board member, had to say:

"Being 13 is pretty much like being any other age, except that I think 13 is the age where you grow the most as a person. Being 13 also means having more responsibility and being trusted more than someone who's younger.

"Other magazines that girls my age read have fashion and boy advice, and tips about how to make your body look good, and what foods are best to eat. New Moon, on the other hand, tells girls that they are beautiful for being themselves. Girls should feel comfortable in their own skin even if they don't know the difference between Dior and Manolo Blahtnik. New Moon gives girls an opportunity to say what they think, and I think that is very important. If girls are continually given the opportunity to speak their minds, they'll develop their own character and will know how to be their own person. If girls are continually told what to think, like they do in other magazines, then girls will end up acting all the same, and they might have trouble thinking for themselves in the future."

Wear it if you like, girl advises in "Fadshion" article

Carin, 15, a New Moon contributor and Computer Advisory Board member, was featured in the Lancaster New Era last week. Carin wrote about fads in the July/August issue of New Moon (pictured at left). "Fads are marketing strategies, a way to get you to buy something," Carin explained in her article. She wanted girls to know that fads don’t happen by accident. “You have to realize that it is controlled,” she told the New Era. Other feature stories in the "I Don't Buy It" issue cover labeling, reality TV, and craft projects. Check it out!

Businessgirl donates profits to charity

Natalya, author of "Natalya's Happy Hugged Hens" in the July/August issue, was featured in the Daily Camera yesterday. Natalya, 12, said she wants to be a journalist, and we think she has great potential!

More press about TBIO participants

The girls who attended the 2005 Turn Beauty Inside Out conference are still sharing what they learned about movies. Caitlin and Kaylor's take was recently published in the Davis Enterprise.

"Body Language": Predicting a Girl's First Period

To help girls learn about their bodies and their health, each issue of New Moon contains a "Body Language" article. The July/August 2005 article, "Study Period," describes how doctors are looking for a way to predict a girl's first period. Kati, 13, helped them out. To read Kati's article, order a copy of the issue. Members of the media can contact me for a copy.

9.5 Stars for "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"

Last Sunday, a few of the girls who met actress America Ferrera at the 2005 Turn Beauty Inside Out conference discussed America’s latest movie, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," with Nell Minow, Yahoo's "Movie Mom." Ten-year-old Pia gave the movie 9.5 out of 10 stars. "It really celebrated girls for their personalities, not for their bodies," she said. Caitlin, 10, also liked the film. "It was nice to see a movie that wasn't about girls hating each other and being mean!" The actresses thought the movie was true to their own experiences, Minow said. Read more in her interview with Amber Tamblyn and Blake Lively.

Girls Excited About "Sisterhood" Chat

Two more girls who will participate in the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" chat this Sunday shared their opinions of the movie:

"I thought the movie was really good, but of course, the books were better," says 12-year-old Sasha from California. "The books really showed me a lot of different perspectives, and I could always relate to some of the feelings the characters were having. I also really liked how all the girls were different and the actresses who played them did a really good job. My favorite is Carmen, because she has the body type and personality most like mine. I can really relate to her, in more than one way."

"I liked how the movie followed most of the book, and the actresses were great (I love America!)," says 15-year-old Nicole from Illinois. "I could relate to each of the characters in some way or another. My favorite part of both the book and the movie is when Carmen tells her dad how she truly felt. I was crying during the movie;I just loved how Carmen let him have it."

If you've seen the movie, feel free to post a comment!

Minnetonka Girl Knows Inner Beauty

Check out this story in the Lakeshore Weekly News about 10-year-old Surene, one of New Moon's "25 Beautiful Girls." Surene attended the Turn Beauty Inside Out conference in Los Angeles in April, and was invited to participate in our "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" discussion next Sunday.

New Moon® Girls to Review "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" Online

A group of girls who met America Ferrera at the 2005 Turn Beauty Inside Out Conference will chat online about "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" on June 26, 2005. Nell Minow, yahoo's "Movie Mom," will lead the girls in a critical discussion of the movie (you can read a transcript of New Moon's last Movie Mom chat). Here's the press release.

The New Moon girls who have seen the movie so far agree that it follows the TBIO Best Practices for Movies, portraying girls in a positive and realistic manner. “I saw the movie and had a great time watching the actresses portray characters many of us came to love while reading the book,” said 13-year-old Siri, a Girls Advisory Board member who attended the TBIO conference in April. You can read the girls' reactions to the TBIO panel America participated in, "Being a Girl in Hollywood," on the girls' conference blog.

Inner Beauty Shines Through Girl's Poem

The Anchorage Daily News recently featured two girls from Alaska: Ann, who was honored as one of New Moon's "25 Beautiful Girls" this year, and Eve, who wrote a poem to nominate her friend for the issue. According to the article, Eve is a long-time fan of New Moon Magazine. "It's about expressing yourself and being who you are," she told the Daily News. "It represents girls voices and what they want to say." Congratulations to both of these beautiful girls!