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Growing up by the book
What if a pimple pops up on a special day? Want whiter teeth? Books for teens and preteens are packed with answers to these and a thousand other questions.
By THERESA LINNERT
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 7, 2002
Do you ever wish you had a little help to get you through your preteen and teenage years?
Help -- lots of it -- is just a bookshelf away, at your local library or bookstore. There are books about relationships, school and friendships, and books filled with advice for those tricky situations you often find yourself in.
Tons of books have been written on such subjects, and more keep rolling off the presses, but how many of them really give you valuable advice? Here are reviews of some of the newer titles, including my rating on a scale from 1 to 10, the highest being 10.
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Growing Up -- What Kids Should Know Before They Leave Home, by Marilyn vos Savant, W.W. Norton & Company, Ltd., Castle House, 2002, $21.95
Summary: This is a checklist of what you should know by the time you're 18 and leave the house to live on your own. Topics range from cooking and cleaning to dating and dining.
Fave Part: There is some good advice, such as "Be able to postpone crying, even when it's tough. That's one difference between kids and adults." There is some helpful advice you'd never think of, such as "Be able to tighten a loose door knob before it falls off in your hand and you find yourself stuck in a room with no other exit." The illustrations are old-time (early to mid 1900s) black-and-white photographs that make browsing fun.
Least Fave Part: The book can get boring after a while, because it's just one giant checklist.
Rating: 6
This book is cute and easy to skim through, and it will make you remember the times in your life when you could have used the advice.
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Yikes! A Smart Girl's Guide to Surviving Tricky, Sticky, Icky Situations, by the editors of American Girl, Pleasant Company Publications, 2002, $8.95
Summary: This book explains what to do in situations such as: your ride doesn't show, your dog is lost, you're dressed all wrong for a party. The advice uses girl examples, and many of the subjects are strictly for girls, but boys certainly could find some of the advice helpful, say, if they lose their dogs!
Fave Part: The advice is useful, and many of the situations are those you're likely to come across every day. The book also has "Disaster Blasters," tips on how to prevent the bad situations from happening.
Least Fave Part: Some of the situations are not ones you come across every day, such as "how not to fall off a horse," or aren't applicable in Florida: "if you fall through the ice"! Rating: 8
This book kept my attention and gave me very specific advice. If you ever get a pimple on a big day, or if your best friend moves away, you would enjoy this book.
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Don't Sweat It! Every Body's Answers to Questions You Don't Want to Ask, by Marguerite Crump, Free Spirit Publishing, 2002, $13.95
Summary: This book for boys and girls gives you the facts about your body as you grow up. It covers such subjects as your hair, face, skin, mouth, feet and hands. It features quotes from preteens and teenagers and facts from experts. It answers questions such as "How do I get whiter teeth?" and "What can I do to prevent pimples?"
Fave part: The facts in this book are very interesting. For instance, I never guessed you could sweat as much as 2 quarts per hour, or that before napkins, people wiped their hands and faces right on the tablecloth!
Rating: 10
This book is great to pick up when you have a question about your body. It is easy to understand and fun to read. There are also humorous pictures. On almost every page, you will find a section of facts (antiperspirants don't cause cancer) and myths (George Washington's false teeth were wooden). I highly recommend this book!
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Boy V. Girl -- How Gender Shapes Who We Are, What We Want, and How We Get Along, by George Abrahams, Ph.D., and Sheila Ahlbrand, Free Spirit Publishing, 2002, $14.95
Summary: This book explains the differences and similarities between boys and girls, and how to deal with stereotypes, friendships, social rules and school.
Fave Part: There is a lot of information from teenage boys and girls. It is apparent the authors value the opinions of young people. This book deals with real situations, exploring questions such as: Do gender differences help or hurt us? Do boys and girls get equal treatment at home? Are teachers fair to students of both sexes?
Rating: 10
This book definitely did a good job explaining the issues and the expectations placed on us based on gender. I give it two thumbs up!
- Theresa Linnert, 12, is a seventh-grader at Westlake Christian School, Palm Harbor.
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