FROM A TO Z ON THE NET The Purple Pages.

• Author: BASSIN, IAN
• Position: Web sites for teenagers

This is not the Yellow Pages. This is your guide to the most fun, useful, and thought-provoking Web sites for teens.

HERE'S THE THING ABOUT THE INTERNET:

For every cool site you click to, there's another slow-loading dud that will waste your time. So we took it upon ourselves to check out every site we humanly could and then squeeze as many in here as possible. OK, we assumed that you probably know the biggies, like www.amazon.com (every book, plus toys, music, and, of course, power tools) and www.yahoo.com (a really easy-to-use search engine for all the stuff we didn't cover--aardvark fans, for example, are going to be disappointed with our guide). And you may know that you can get free e-mail (the biggest is www.hotmail.com). And of course there's www.ebay.com (online auctions of everything from computer games to, and we swear this is true, dog hair).

We're pretty sure you know that each of these sites has a ton of lesser-known competitors, and that every channel you watch on TV, and every movie you go to see, and pretty much every store you shop in has a site.

In fact, you can probably tell us a thing or two about cool places to go to on the Web. So do it in an e-mail (send it to purple@scholastic.com). We want to know what's going on in your cyberheads for the next Purple Pages. :)

a

activism

www.citizenphoebe.com

This site for teen activists is run by 15-year-old Phoebe, who explains, "I'm totally devoted to politics. I've been organizing, protesting, and bringing people together to change things since kindergarten." Covers issues that affect teens, such as curfews, drinking and driving, and the presidential election.

www.greenpeace.org

Become a cyberactivist for Greenpeace, the international environmental organization. Learn about controversies and send e-mail to environmental villains.

www.hungersite.com

Every 3.6 seconds, someone in the world dies of hunger. Every time a country dims on the site's world map it means a person there is dying from lack of food, most likely a child under 5. What can you do? Just click on the `donate free food' button and a business will donate 2 1/4 cups of food. On some days, the site raises over 1 million cups!

adland

www.adbusters.org

Picture a slick fashion ad featuring sheep instead of supermodels. The tag line reads: "Tommy Hilfiger: follow the flock." Dedicated to fighting the power of American consumer culture, Adbusters creates cool and cutting "uncommercials" and ad spoofs -- all thought-provoking and funny.

www.adcritic.com

If you've been saying "wazzzup?" because of a certain beverage commercial, you'll want to check out this site, which lets you watch the funniest and coolest commercials around.

b

buff & tuff

www.asimba.com

Even the most inactive among us might be motivated by this fitness Web site. It has everything from free personal training and weight-loss plans to info on sports and exercise programs.

c

cash for college

www.theoldschool.org

Getting into college is one thing, paying for it is another This site has a huge amount of financial-aid information, plus comprehensive links to other relevant sites.

www.finaid.org

This award-winning site may be the most comprehensive annotated collection of information about student financial aid on the Web. You can even fill out those horrible, tedious forms online. And it's free!

celebrity thangs

www.celebhoo.com

Discover juicy tidbits and fun facts about your favorite supermodel, actor, sports star, or band. Links to thousands of celebrity Web sites.

www.celebrityemail.com

Over 18,000 celebrity e-mail addresses. Plus you can chat with other fans. You never know, someone might answer you. After all, even the most fabulously famous like to hear, "You've got mail."

critters

www.411pets.com

Did you ever wonder what breed of dog would be perfect for you? Are you searching for a Gila monster to call your very own? Can't decide between a hamster and a gerbil? Get all your animal needs together at this pet site.

d

doctor is in

www.kidshealth.org/kid/ normal/acne.html

Practically a pimple portal. This site dispels acne myths (eating French fries and pizza doesn't cause it) and gives you advice about what to do if a zit pops up (don't pick it).

http://library.thinkguest. org/29500/

Teenage Health Interactive Network is a teen-made site with all the health and wellness information you could possibly need. Topics include addictions, diseases, fitness, and personal care. You can also e-mail any question and it will be answered by a health professional.

www.caringonline.com

If you or a friend is suffering from an eating disorder, this is a great place to get information, help, and support. It includes tons of questionnaires, special areas dedicated to guys with eating disorders, and comprehensive links.

www.saddonline.com

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) is an organization dedicated to preventing underage drinking and drug use. It focuses on the potentially life-threatening consequences of not wearing a safety belt, smoking, steroid use, violence, sexually transmitted diseases, and suicidal depression. Join a chapter, start a chapter, or get more information right here.

e

e-eating

www.olen.com/food/

Nothing fancy here. Just good old-fashioned nutritional information on your favorite fast food. The search tool allows you to look for the lowest-fat items or the highest.

www.topsecretrecipes.com

In a bizarre twist on the idea that anything homemade is better, this site reveals the secret recipes of your favorite junk food. Freak out your friends and family by making an exact replica of a Taco Bell chalupa right in your own kitchen. Then complete the feast with homemade Girl Scout cookies for dessert.

f

fashion

www.delias.com

Now you can go to the mall without going to the mall. Not just clothes, but the scene. Will three-quarter lengths be in this summer? Ask the gurls in the lounge.

www.bluefly.com

Guys normally get shortchanged on the fashion circuit, but not at bluefly. Name...