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Every representation of a person's life is just that—a representation. A curation. A summary. An interpretation.

I know that. I off went to see "Amy," the deeply moving documentary about the great singer, Amy Winehouse, fully aware that what I was about to witness was a life encoded by footage and recall, and not a life itself.

Still. There are some incontestable things about this British singer with a genius touch and a tortured relationship with her own talent. First (incontestable): she could sing. Second (I think it's clear): she wasn't always sure of who to trust. Third: she died too young of alcohol poisoning in a body winnowed to near nothing by too many drugs and an eating disorder.

Fourth: Winehouse never originally wanted to be famous, never thought she would be famous, never imagined herself capable of fame. She is there, in the footage, saying so. But fame became hers, fame became her, and she had to live, and die, with the consequences.

There is a dividing line between those who make things in order to be known or seen, and those whose loyalties lie with the things themselves—the songs, the films, the stories. There are those who craft themselves into a brand—who orchestrate aggrandizements, who leverage opportunities, who seek out "friendships" that will advance them, who overstay their welcome, who build cliques that further not their art but their careers, who ricochet with gossip. And there are those who (I think, in the book world, of Alice McDermott, Marilynne Robinson, and Michael Ondaatje) seek out private quiet. Yes, they cede to interviews and talks and touring when their books are released. But they also vanish from public view, and consumption, just as soon as they're able.

Fame—a seething hope for it—is not what propels them.

Watching "Amy," one wants to turn back time. To give the artist her creative space. To let her walk the streets without the blinding pop of cameras. One wants to give her what matters most—room for the everyday and the ordinary. Supremely talented, unwittingly destined, Amy Winehouse suffered. She made choices, certainly. She faced a wall of personal demons. But the media that stalked her and the fans who turned hold some responsibility for what happened.

Artists have the responsibility to do their work for the right reasons. They have responsibility to the work itself—to not sell out, to not write to trends, to not step on others in their quest for something.

But fans have responsibilities, too. To give the artists room to make, to risk, to sometimes fail. To love artists for who they are and what they do and not for whether or not, in this bracket of time, they appear to be potentially famous. To see artists as people who would be better off, who would be healthier, given some time to live with dignity instead of trailing endless glitter.

Age Range: 12 and up  Grade Level: 7 and up Series: Into the Dark Hardcover: 368 pages Publisher: EgmontUSA (April 28, 2015)  Pre-Order today on Amazon! Fan-favorite author Bree Despain continues her modern-day romance trilogy inspired by the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades with this second book in her Into the Dark series.     Haden Lord, the disgraced Prince of the Underrealm,

   Hunted (The Sinners Series Book 2) by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki Pre-Order today  Print Length: 414 pages Publisher: Month9Books  (April 28, 2015) Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc. Language: English ASIN: B00SVVX64C It’s been three months since the revolt against the Commander’s fifty-year-old regime failed.  Under a new ruler, things

Gone Reading Prize Pack Giveaway "Banned Books" Coffee Mug from GoneReading.com "Paperback" Body Lotion from GoneReading.com A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab Fall With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout (release date: March 31, 2015) Hello to all you faithful readers and supporters of Reading Teen. You know we love you all and the support you show for the blog is very

Welcome. I hope that you have begun work on your goals. Don't know what a Golden Coffee Cup is? Check here. Today, folks, take this high five that’s includes ‘a princess for a day’ motif.

Laura Amy Schlitz –Rob Carr/Associated Press

Laura Amy Schlitz was the 2008 Newbery Winner for her novel Good Masters, Sweet Ladies. This is a beautifully rendered book. Each word is so carefully chosen and artfully placed. I’ve heard lots of teaching about voice, and I totally side with folks that voice is about the words. It’s about creating a world of words that gives life to your book. It’s poetic and lively. It’s wild and woolly. Your word choice is going to set your story apart. Get in there today and improve the word choice. Spice the lazy walks, pedantic sunrises, and boring, bland conversation. Go through a current work and choose 20 better words. Hey this applies for artist too. Make 20 better lines today. Voice will spring forth because only you would have chosen this creative expression for this story.

Yay, for hard word! Mmmm, coffee... Read the rest of this post