Teen Vogue (Magazine)

Teen Vogue

Teen Vogue, Code Nast, New York. ISSN: 1540-2215

Summary

Teen Vogue is a fashion and celebrity magazine for teenagers. Published by the same company as sister magazine Vogue, Teen Vogue is published ten times a year. Along with a companion website and social media platforms, there is the Teen Vogue handbook, which is a guide for teenagers looking to  enter the fashion industry. Monthly features are on young celebrities, actresses, and singers, such as Chloe Grace Moretz and Shailene Woodley. Regular articles include features on fashion collections, young designers, up and coming actresses, and hair and makeup tips. “People Watching” features interviews with teen designers, bloggers, and trend setters from around the world.  Both celebrities and “normal” teens are featured and interviewed throughout the magazine.  Several monthly articles also go into more mature topics, such as family members with autism, dating violence, and preparing for college. Mini magazines with themes such as Prom, Holidays, and Back to School are also seasonally included with the regular magazine.

Critical Evaluation

The magazine itself is laid out nicely. The articles are short, but sweet, there aren’t too many ads bombarding the readers, and there’s always a positive spin on things, even with some of the more serious topics.  The articles have a nice mix of fluff and substance within them.  The articles about the celebrities make them seem more down to earth, and it’s refreshing to find articles about average teenagers as well.

I was pleased to see more serious articles such as the one about dating violence. While the articles don’t read like something from the “New York Times,” I think it’s great that teen magazines are informing and educating their young readers about serious topics.  Articles like these also separate Teen Vogue from other teen magazines, as well as giving the magazine more maturity over say, American Girl or Girl’s Life.  Teen Vogue would be a great addition for a library’s teen section, and has something to please any teenage girl.

Reader’s Annotation

Looking for a teen magazine with more than just fashion and beauty? With articles on serious topics, and interviews with teens like you, Teen Vogue is more than your average fashion magazine.

About the Author

N/A

Genres

Magazine

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age

13+

Grades 8+

Challenge Issues

N/A

Why Included?

I included Teen Vogue because it’s a personal favorite among our teen patrons.  I also liked the variety of articles and the maturity of the magazine.

PC Gamer (Magazine)

PC Gamer

PC Gamer, Future US Inc, San Francisco, CA. ISSN:1080-4471

Summary

According to the magazine cover, PC Gamer is “the world’s number one PC games magazine.” An offshoot of the original British publication, the US edition is published monthly (with two editions in December) and has a companion website and social media.

Regular departments include Monitor, which covers upcoming gaming tournaments and other gaming news. Previews features games in development and game demo reviews. The main feature is in depth reviews of new games, such as Sims 4, and World of Warcraft.  The editors are all gaming fanatics themselves and publish monthly reviews of new or soon to be released games. The reviews cover the cost, plot, style, and overall ease of game, along with similar games and a score out of a 100. There are also reviews and articles on computer hardware, keyboards, and computer towers. The magazine also includes codes to get free items, such as new characters to play in online role-playing games.

Critical Evaluation

PC Gamer is easy to read and has enough content to satisfy subscribers. Even non-gamers or novices to the gaming world would find it easy to read.  While the magazine seems more geared toward young males, I was surprised to find a few letters to the editor from teenage girls and seniors. While it was in the teen section at my library, I really think PC Gamer could be enjoyed by any age or gender.  There were very few ads in the magazine, which was a nice feature as  they didn’t distract or take away from the main articles.

The magazine and companion website is probably best for older teens: there are some articles with discussing language and sex in games, and most of the games reviewed are rated T (for teens 13 and up) or M (for mature, ages 17 and up) Overall, PC Gamer is a great fit for any library, especially those with a gaming audience.

Reader’s Annotation

PC Gamer has the latest reviews, news, and updates for the newest games.

About the Author

N/A

Genres

Magazine

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age

14+

Grades 9+

Challenge Issues

N/A

Why Included?

I originally included PC Gamer, because I thought it would be a good male oriented magazine. After looking at a few issues, I think the magazine would be great for any patron who loves gaming.  

Seventeen (Magazine)

Seventeen

Seventeen, Hearst Corporation, New York. ISSN: 0037-301X.

Summary

Seventeen magazine is a fashion, shopping, and lifestyle magazine for teenage girls. Published monthly, the magazine features cover articles on young singers and actresses such as Ariana Grande, Lucy Hale, and One Direction.  Regular magazine features include fashion tips, shopping guides, beauty and hair tutorials, fitness routines, and advice on guys and dating.  Beauty product giveaways, beauty reviews, and horoscopes are also included as departments.  One unique department of the magazine is “Your Awesome Life,” which has articles on serious topics such as getting a job, anti-bullying movements, and suicide.

Similar to Teen Vogue, Seventeen also has themed seasonal issues such as Prom, Back to School, and Summer Vacation. There are also mini magazines included, with topics such as prom dresses and manicures.  Teens can also connect with Seventeen magazine through online platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. The Seventeen website includes more articles and features and has an entire feature to preparing for college, and choosing a school.

Critical Evaluation

Seventeen magazine publishes almost every type of article a teen girl would be interested in: fashion, beauty, and guys.  Most of the beauty and fashion products featured are in a reasonable price range for teens, and the articles on guys never get too serious or talk about ‘true love.’ I was also pleased with the more serious articles that Seventeen publishes. A recent article called “Alpha Girl Suicides” talked about the growing rate of suicides in seemingly happy young women.  While articles like these may be hard to read for some teens, it is still important that the magazine publishes these types of articles so their audience can be aware of what’s going on in the world.

Seventeen has  more ads then Teen Vogue, but all of the ads are age- appropriate for teen girls. Seventeen also has about fifty more pages of articles and ads compared to Teen Vogue.   With the online platforms and companion website, Seventeen  is a good fit for older teen girls looking for a fun magazine to read.

Reader’s Annotation

With horoscopes, beauty giveaways, and articles on preparing for college, Seventeen magazine gives readers both fun and serious topics.

About the Author

N/A

Genres

Magazine

Curriculum Ties

N/A

Booktalking Ideas

N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age

14+

Grades 8+

Challenge Issues

N/A

Why Included?

I included Seventeen magazine, as it’s a favorite with our older teen girls. I also liked the giveaways and serious articles featured.