5 comments about Always My Child: A Parent's Guide to Understanding Your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered or Questioning Son or Daughter.

1. It was very informative, and accurate. I, who am gay and recently just came out, bought this item for my parents.



2. This book is a very important resource and source of information for a parent of a LGBT child. It provides insight and "answers" to many questions parents overwhelmingly have when told that their child is LGBT. It is an excellent book for both the parent and son/daughter to read. Thoughtfully presented and well written.



3. This is an honest and on the mark book for parents about LGBTQ children and teens. It addresses issues important to the LGBTQ son or daughter and gives practical advice to the parent about acceptance and understanding.



4. Kevin Jennings, Executive Director of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) has co-authored the definitive book on guiding, understanding, and - hopefully - accepting in love your GLBTQ child. It is primarily targeted toward parents struggling to help and deal with their questioning or coming out teenage child.
   This book is not specifically about dealing with transgender children, although there are about 30 pages devoted to dealing with issues and problems of Trans teens. It also talks to people of color and includes young peoples' input to parents. Cultural messages of gender and sexuality are discussed and techniques of dealing with these messages are offered for consideration.
   Many of the popular myths about homosexuality and transgenderism are analyzed, with facts presented to aid in accepting and understanding. Suggestions are provided for dealing with friends, your teen's friends, neighbors, and coworkers. Signs of trouble are discussed, along with suggestions for helping your teen deal with them.
   While the advice is directed toward sexual and gender diversity, the advice applies to dealing with any youth. The principles of dealing with children apply globally.
   So what is the secret? The title says it best - "Always My Child." Your child's needs come first, no matter what. Love your child; don't pressure them, but encourage them to discus their feelings, fears, and problems.



5. This amazing guide will help parents navigate the challenges of connecting with a GLBTQ child and becoming an integral and supportive part of that child's life. With chapters on school harassment, drug abuse, and depression, this book also addresses the negative and sometimes self-destructive behaviors of our youth, but gives hope and tools to help heal these wounds. "Always My Child" is especially notable for its chapters on transgender issues and multicultural issues that previous guides didn't include. I was also excited about the chapter on youth questioning their sexuality (straight and gay and in-between), and how parents can be supportive in that as well, because this isn't something many acknowledge. Jennings and Shapiro have created a marvelous resource that will help not only parents, but anyone interested in helping our youth, both queer and nongay, create positive lives.

1 comments about Your Pregnancy & Newborn Journey: A Guide for Pregnant Teens (Teen Pregnancy and Parenting series).

1. This book was a very easy to read guide on every aspect of pregnancy. Offered stories and insight from other pregnant teens and teenage mothers. It answered every possible question I could think of. Very helpful book.

5 comments about When Plague Strikes: The Black Death, Smallpox, AIDS.

1. I read this book in 6th grade when I randomly picked it up from the new books section of the library. Up to that point I was never interested in anything medical, but this book inspired me to look in that direction. I was absolutely fascinated, from learning about the actually biology behind the plagues, to disease's influence on history.
   
   Fast forward 8 years, and I'm abouto start college and work towords a Pre Med degree. I am so happy I found something I'm passionate about, and am so thankful I found this book when I did!



2. I read this book when I was in the sixth grade. While I read it for fun, it was also useful later in the year for school. Being an avid disease book reader, this is one of the best. It could have gone in to a tiny bit more detail on the the symptoms, but then again some people can't handle that much anyway.



3. As a 7th grader this book really helped understand a little more about the black death, small pox and AIDS. It doesnt go into much detail, but gives you a general feel.



4. The publisher says that this book is appropriate for grade 6-12. I disagree. While I feel the book is well written and informative - I strongly suggest that educators think twice before putting the book in an elementary school library.
   Perhaps have it available in case an advanced 6th grader has a need for detailed information regarding the topics.
   My 9 year old - 4th grade son brought the book home from school yesterday. While AIDS is an important subject for him to learn about - I do not feel that the details of specific high-risk sexual contact needs to be available to him at his age.
   I feel the book would be more appropriate for grades 9-12.



5. We read this book in class and it is an excellent source of information as well as interesting, and offers all points of view on each "plague" as well as the facts. Covers a lot on the little known parts, and victims of AIDS, and a short kind of Bio on Ryan White.

3 comments about Daily Life Strategies For Teens.

1. I am a counselor and I buy these cheap on Amazon and give them to clients. They LOVE them a learn a lot from them! Great book for any teen! I reccommend the workbook also!!



2. I am a counselor at a behavioral school and I decided to use this book, along with the workbook, to do several group sessions with my students. As I started to read the book, I was amazed by how well written it was. The language used is perfect for their understanding and uses lots of references that teens can apply! Great to use for anyone working with teens or for a teen to use on their own!



3. Life Strategies for Teens is a superb book. If you have to choose between this book and that one, go for that one.

   On the other hand, if you would like to reread the key ideas in Life Strategies for Teens, this book is a reasonably good resource for doing that. You would, however, benefit more by creating your own set of notes about Life Strategies for Teens that emphasizes that is most important for you to focus on. If that is hard for you to do, you could use this book as an outline from which you could abstract a briefer, and more relevant personal outline.

   Most of the entries are devoted to the 10 Life Laws:

   1. "You either get it, or you don't." January 26

   2. "You create your own experience." February 27

   3. "People do what works." March 16

   4. "You cannot change what you do not acknowledge." March 29

   5. "Life rewards action." May 8

   6. "There is no reality, only perception." June 2

   7. "Life is managed. It is not cured." July 9

   8. "We teach people how to treat us." August 29

   9. "There is power in forgiveness." October 4

   10. "You have to name it before you can claim it." November 15

   A section on the challenges of sex and drugs begins on December 11.

   As you can see, making this a calendar presents something of a problem. Buy the book much past January 1, and you will feel strange reading it unless you wait until 2003 to start. A better design would have been to let you start whenever you got the book, and write in your own dates. But obviously, you can just write in your own dates and start whenever you get it.

   I thought the better pages were the ones with questions to answer. Unfortunately, there were a lot fewer of these questions than in Life Strategies for Teens. You can find lots of good questions, however, in the Life Strategies for Teens Workbook, which I also recommend.

   Should you read this book? If that's your learning style, to glance at something each day to get a thought or two, yes. If that's not your learning style, refer back to the workbook questions instead -- one per day.

   May you find processes that help you build the most helpful habits that you want to establish!

No comments about Free from OCD: A Workbook for Teens With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Instant Help Book for Teens).

5 comments about For Teenagers Living With a Parent Who Abuses Alcohol/Drugs.

1. Just the thing my niece needed when dealing with her alcohol abusing mother. It has all the answers to the problem the child faced. I recommend it highly.



2. For Teenagers Living With A Parent Who Abuses Alcohol/Drugs by Edith Lynn Hornik-Beer is a very straightforward book written especially for young people, and offering direct answers to basic questions such as "What causes alcoholism?"; "What do I do about the abuse?"; "Where can I get help?"; and "Should I stay at home?". With information about Alateen and other helpful programs, sound and critical insights, and a down-to-earth style of narration that candidly presents much-needed facts and information, For Teenagers Living With a Parent Who Abuses Alcohol/Drugs deserves the highest recommendation and would be an invaluable addition to any school or community library collection.



3. This book answers those questions which teenagers in this situation have to know. Where can I get help? How can I stay in touch with a parent who is in prison? Is addiction hereditary? Why do some people get hooked and others don't? Every library, every self-help organization should have this book. And, every teenager who has come across such problems needs to know that the book is out there.



4. This book is a godsend for teenagers dealing with a parent who abuses alcohol or drugs. Edith Lynn Hornik-Beer provides tangible real-world solutions to specific questions and situations, and she does it with empathy as well as expertise. I highly recommend it.



5. Edith Beer gives all the answers in clear writing. Help is here for the teenager and for parents concerned about friends' children. This is a caring book with lots of practical help. Beer has authored other books about substance abuse and knows her subject well.

1 comments about Good Manners for Today's Kids: Teaching Your Child the Right Things to Say and Do.

1. Reviewed by Tiffany Schlarman for Reader Views (05/10)
   
   "Good Manners for Today's Kids" is a wonderful resource in teaching your child manners along with good conduct. The book discusses courtesy, respect, tactfulness, self-confidence, flexibility, understanding, and general good manners. It is written as a guide to both parents and children. The parental parts help explain why children need to know about the issues in the chapter, along with helpful tidbits of understanding so that you can be the most useful tool in teaching your children. The guide for children is written so that kids could read that part for themselves, or the chapter could be read aloud by the parents for discussion with children. It is written at the level of children for ease in understanding, with examples to go along. The book is a must have for any parent because it gives a fresh look at many topics that most parents wouldn't think of in regards to teaching manners. They are lessons you want to teach your children, but put in an understanding helpful way for the children to also understand these lessons. After all, how can you expect good manners and conduct if these lessons and rules are never taught?
   
   I found this book insightful. Thankfully, I have been blessed with parents who taught me many of the issues and lessons in this book. The book however, made it easier for me to understand new ways to help teach my daughters manners and conduct. My four-year-old is a huge fan of the question "Why?" I am not! It can be difficult for me to sometimes answer her question without saying "just because" or "because you should." She wants to know the reason behind it, not because she doesn't want too, but because she is curious of why we should do these things. I really enjoyed the kid to kid sections. I can easily read them to my daughter and she understands better why that particular manner or conduct is important. It helps to spark conversation and ideas in my mind to explain better to her.
   
   There are parts of the book that are updated to fit today's kids, such as cell phone use and computers as a way of communication. However, with this I think a few things were added that are not quite needed for today's kids. For example, there is a section on setting the table. This section is set for a high-class social function. It is outdated. While nice to know, it is very rare that the average person will ever sit down to a formal fancy dinner using all of the place settings. I'm pretty sure that not even my wedding reception had this fancy of a set up. Even though I do remember learning these skills in a home economics class, I do not remember any of them, because the skill is never used. It is not part of today's society. Overall, "Good Manners for Today's Kids" is a wonderful guide and tool for reference, as part of teaching your children manners.

4 comments about Looking Beyond: A Teen's Guide to the Spiritual World.

1. I am a Special education High School teacher, a hypnotherapist, Past Life Regressionist and like James Van Praagh, a psychic/medium. I have been asked by many parents and clients about their children and the subject of psychic abilities. I have found that many children are frightened by their innate abilities and so shut down or "vale over" denying their abilities. Often, I have heard them describe what most of us adults call "a gift" as a curse. James Van Praagh has written a very child friendly book, explaining a deep, complex and sometimes frightening subject in a very interesting way. If you have a child who shows interest in the field of Metaphysics, this is a good book to give them and you can gain good insight from it too.



2. I bought this book for my 15-year-old son who is entering the 10th grade. I wanted something that would explain spiritual concepts that aren't taught elsewhere. This book does just that.
   
   The layout and information will keep a teen interested. I would recommend this book to any adult or teen wanting to know how our spirituality and everyday lives impact and effect the other.
   
   James Praugh knows what he is talking about and he knows how to explain the information. More reading and studying will eventually be needed, but as a starting point, this book is an excellent introduction for anyone.
   
   I highly recommend.



3. Bought this for my teenage daughter whose father had recently passed away. She still carries it with her to read at her leisure. A great book!



4. I bought this for my child, but realized it was excellent, even for an adult. Some books can use terminology that is not always understood to a "newbie". This breaks it down in an elementary fashion, but was straight forward and not confusing at all...for the beginner at any age.

1 comments about Is it Weird in Here or is it Just Me? A Real-time and First-hand Account of Depression for Families, Friends and Carers.

1. This is the first time I've ever written a review for a book, let alone give it top marks, so that'll give you an indication of what I thought about this book called Is It Weird in Here or is it Just Me.
   
   I must have read hundreds of books on depression in an effort to try and help my son who's now in his early twenties and help me understand what's going on with him. This is the FIRST (believe me, it's true) book that has made such a big impact upon me and my relationship with my son, and it sounds corny I know, but it's also the first one where I've laughed, cried and learned so much all in one hit.
   
   The author said that his book is unlike any other book on depression and he's right. The perspective of one who is writing the book while he's suffering and hospitalised is just extraordinary. And knowing what my son has been through, I don't know how the author wrote it, but I'm extremely glad he did. When you read the book, it'll be almost like you know him, that's how personal it gets - but that's a good thing. In fact, I think it's necessary.
   
   This should be compulsory reading for anyone who's caring for someone with depression or a mood disorder. I'm not sure whether the author is marketing this book elsewhere, but if he isn't he most definitely should be, because everyone should read it, not just those of us lucky enough to have a Kindle or other ebook reader.
   
   I just can't get over this book - it's made such an impact on me... Trust me, if you're caring for someone with depression, this is the book you need to read. I stumbled across it, bought it `just in case' it was good, and it was brilliant. To the author, my son and I thank you.

5 comments about It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health (The Family Library).

1. Avoid this book. This book encourages your child to sexually experiment with other children. It is designed to sexualize your preteen. It demonstrates how and encourages masturbation. It encourages homosexual relationships.
   
   This books is filled with lewd and explicit sexual content. It contains fully detailed pictures of couples in sexual intercourse. There are about 50 total nude pictures in a 87 page book. This book should be classified as pornography.



2. The book talks about things that parents don't feel comfortable talking about. I would buy all three again.



3. The content was very self explanitory, almost like the content you would get from a class, but maybe it is not such a good thing. One of the first chapters was about attraction but it included male/female; male/male; and female/female. This book states the content is appropriate for ages 10 yrs and up. I didn't feel the subject on being gay is a topic to talk to a 10 yr old about. What I did was pick several pages at a time and made copies that I felt were appropriate and went slow. After several weeks (to let him process the information) then added by another talk with a few more pages. I also did not think that some of the pictures that were illistrated were necessary. There is a part closer to the end of the book that talks about love making ~~ after insertion you rock back and forth until it starts to feel good ~~ and then has a cartoonish picture of a male and female in a bed missionary style but with a blanket. All in all an okay book as far as information but for a 10 yr old a bit much. Please, please review on your own, then be you can be responsible what you "expose" your children to.



4. I bought this book for my 10 year old boy and it is wonderful. It discusses everything in a very open, non-judgemental manner. I read it first, then he read it, then we discussed what he had learned. A great starting point for many future conversations.



5. Yes perhaps there is a liberal bias to the book, but the bottom line is that for parents who are too nervous to be honest with their children about these issues, this book is a high quality alternative option. My mom bought it for me when I confessed my fears of puberty, getting my period, and the fact that girls I knew had been masturbating since the age of six. I needed to know that masturbation was not going to send me to hell, and my mother certainly wasn't going to broach that subject. I also appreciated the take on normalizing homosexuality, a subject I was exceedingly curious about at the time. I needed the information on contraceptives and it provided it to me. Is it better to be ignorant and then end up pregnant at 14 or to be given the relevant information before experimentation starts? Keep in mind most kids begin experimenting with sex in the 6th grade... Conservative voices should remember that their kids are at risk too, and their kids deserve to be informed as much as anyone.