No comments about Psychology a Way to Grow.

5 comments about Rainbow High.

1. after coming to terms with my own sexual orientation, i read this book. what a mistake. the writing is simple and stupid. the characters are gay stereotypes (the flamboyant femme-fatale, the shy flirt, and the not-so-straight jock.) and they are extremely two dimensional. the plot went nowhere. this book had so much potential but fell flat on it's face.



2. This is the second novel in the "Rainbow Boys" triology, and it's as great as the first. Author Alex Sanchez has created three such distinct and likable characters who you can relate to and sympathize with, and enjoy their triumphs. He treats the many issues caused by their homosexuality with great care and honesty. I was particularly impressed with how Sanchez dealt with the issue of coming out as a member of a team sport, not with just one character but two, and with two sports that carry very different dynamics (Jason on the high school basketball team and Kyle on the swim team). This is a book that does a great service for gay teens, and it's eminently readable for people of all ages. It's compelling and inspiring, tender and fun. It's also upsetting at times--there are a number of situations caused by homophobia that stir genuine outrage. But it's these situations that cause the boys to grow--and their handling of the situations cause the readers to love the characters all the more. "Rainbow High" is another gay coming-of-age classic. And I'm looking forward to finishing the trilogy as I dive into "Rainbow Road."



3. This is a fantastic book. I found it very moving and it shows what we have to go through in life. It talks about being yourself and hiding because that is what all of closeted cases tend to do. I have discussed this with my friends and family and they still care about me no matter what my sexual orientation.



4. This book started off slow really. Then it got really good in the end. I was happy I kept reading it because the ending was so good. Jason comes out to his team and the school loves him for it while Kyle's life in school is the total opposite from his boyfriends. Nelson is thankfully over Kyle and he has a boyfriend. But as we all know, life isn't perfect now that you have a boyfriend. It was really good just not as good as the first book.



5. Finally, a story about gay teens, while told with honesty and realism, where no one dies. Author Sanchez has a great feel for teen language and motivation. He is also spot-on with the parental and other adult characterizations. The plot teaches without being pedantic and without ceasing to entertain. There's also a couple of scenes that steam lightly with the mildest, yet warm eroticism, but it's certainly not gratuituous in the least and written tastefully and without prurience. As a former young adult librarian, I've so often needed gay fiction to recommend to struggling teens for a bit of bibliotherapy. Until Sanchez, there's been a definite dearth of such literature. Looking forward to reading his other books and highly recommend this one. The eye candy covers are fun, but the content is far more than fluffy hotties looking bored.

5 comments about Beauty Queen.

1. Wow this is a good read I did it in one setting. A young girl gets involved in drugs and her life spirals out of control. It is her diary and parts can move you to tears.



2. I couldn't stop reading this book, it was extremely captivating how one girl can go from an innocent life working at a fast-food joint like most teenagers do, to working at a topless bar in hopes of making more money for acting classes. Everything spirals down from there, yet she is so naive and believes that it is all for the better.
   I highly recommend this book! Not only for teens, but for adults as well. It takes us into a world that not many of us can experience firsthand.



3. I wanted this book for so long. I was so excited to finally get it, and I wound up being pretty disappointed with the outcome. For me, it was too quick. I read the book in about 3 hours (with breaks). There wasn't enough detail about the characters or what they were going through. If the author would have put more time into it, this could have been a really good book. It seemed as if the author was rushing through the writing, and just wanted to be finished with it.



4. I've read a lot of heroin memoirs/novels, and this is the absolute worst. Sam starts doing heroin so she break through her shyness while stripping. How cliche can you get? This book just feels like it was written by a high school student trying to make an after-school special. She even calls heroin her "magical potion." And is not at all freaked out by shooting up, because her CAT is DIABETIC so she's cool with needles. The real problem is that she's totally an idiot. "Everyone says bad stuff about my new boyfriend, but they must be wrong, because I can look in his eyes and see innocence." Basically I enjoyed reading it for the comedy.



5. There are almost 70 reviews that precede mine, so the reader already knows what this story is about! What drew me to this book is the unusual task that the author, Linda Glovach, stated on the back jacket of this book that she undertook to author this novel: "Writing the book, I saw my old dope dealer and bought $1,500 worth of pure heroin-Brown Gold-and started shooting up ten times a day to get the feel of the book. Well, I did, all right. I ended up in Glen Cove General, almost dead. In truth, you make a deal with the devil. He takes away your pain, but he owns you. You live for the next fix. After awhile, it's totally physical, your body has to have it. But I'm off it for good". I Want My Life Back How many authors would do this to prepare themselves to write? Personally, this story touched so many topics that I finished the last pages with a multitude of thoughts on various subjects. I noticed how Glovach set up the protagonist, a 19 year old woman named Sam, as a prime target for an eventually fatal heroin binge with initial and constant references of low self esteem and self put downs. Glovach has Sam assert: ""But who would love me, right? I don't even have the brains for college" Even worse, "I feel awkward and gawky. I wear a banana-boat size shoe (an enormous 11) and they used to call me the "Jolly Green String Bean" in high school. What's worse, I feel depressed and nervous most of the time. A mess, right"? Low Self-Esteem Misunderstood & Misdiagnosed Sam also is a child of a broken family (her father was a professional hockey player that deserted the family when she was young) and her mother is a full blown alcoholic that is irresponsible, sloppy and neurotic. Adult Children of Alcoholics With Sam being so depressed, self conscious, and anxious, the reader wonders how she will be able to bare herself when she is introduced to the sordid world of adult night clubs and strippers. With the promise of fast money and financial independence from her dysfunctional mother, Sam gets a job as a dancer in a strip club. Dancing for Dollars and Paying for Love: The Relationships between Exotic Dancers and Their RegularsGlovach writes about the usual regular that frequents a strip club: "Most of them have bad marriages, pressure at work or home, are lonely, or just want to have fun". G-Strings and Sympathy: Strip Club Regulars and Male Desire How will a girl so self conscious be able to bare herself in front of strangers? Introduced to heroin by a fellow dancer, all of her shyness is solved, albeit temporarily. Heroin: A True Story of Drug Addiction, Hope and Triumph Initially, Sam describes heroin as the "perfect comfort drug". Her fears are gone, and she paints a euphoric picture. Glovach writes about Sam: "It's so simple. I just do a shot and, in a few minutes, my pain and fear go away and I feel incredibly beautiful, like a real movie star. From the whole inside of my being I felt tranquil, like maybe I touched or found God-or he let me know everything was and always had been O.K. I was happy at last. In fact, I wasn't ashamed to be a topless dancer". The story continues to talk about Sam's descent into an ever increasing habit of heroin abuse. However, while Glovach goes on about how wonderful the "Fugi Powder" or "Magic Potion" makes Sam feel, there is very little mention of the negative consequences of heroin addiction. When Painkillers Become Dangerous: What Everyone Needs to Know About OxyContin and Other Prescription Drugs Absent are known aftermaths of heroin addiction such as abscesses, aids and sexually transmitted diseases from risky behavior, negative legal consequences, or the ultimate and final fall of anyone on drugs:jails, institutions and death. Narcotics Anonymous The novel chronicles how Sam meets a suspended cop, Blaine, who is accused of raping a woman who called 911 for being raped herself. All of Sam's friends warn her to stay away from this man. Giving her a wedding ring and a plane ticket to San Diego, Blaine promises a a trip to paradise.Confessions of a Womanizer The story ends when Blaine doesn't show up the day of the flight and Sam takes a fatal overdose of heroin. She is found dead on the floor by her best friend, with the journal that this novel is composed of on the kitchen table. Obviously, Glovach wanted to show that this is a bad road to go down, that one has to learn how to ask for help when in trouble, and that taking drugs to dull pain is never the answer. While the story was flowing and ultimately the lesson of "drugs kill" is communicated to the reader, I felt that the euphoric effects of heroin were over-touted and the negative and horrible side of the disease of addiction scarcely received it's due attention. Regardless, a very worthwhile read!

No comments about AIDS (Opposing Viewpoints).

4 comments about Forbidden Fruit: Sex & Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers.

1. This book breathes facts and points and clarifications, but it is among the most dull books I have read on this topic and in some parts some of the detail could have been omitted.
   
   I disagree with others who think this will be an enormously useful book to parents and educators. While there are points that can no doubt be applied to talking with children about sexuality Regnerus does not provide any insight into what could be done better. He lacks detail on why children who place God's word above their parent's word are less likely to have early sex. He lacks information on why LDS children are so much less conformed to the rest of teenagers in this area. So although you maybe able to make some conclusions or inferences, they won't rest on much factual basis from this book.



2. I took Dr. Regnerus's class in the introduction to religion (a sociology course) when I read this book. I was shocked to learn about how ignorant and unintelligent these teenagers are, especially when you realize just how little they know actually about their religion. Interestingly enough, it inspired me to learn more about my religion.
   
   As "obvious" as a previous reviewer may have thought the book was, I think they are terribly mistaken. Sure, we know some teens have sex and are religious, or have sex and are not religious, etc. but Regnerus does a great job of trying to understand why they chose what they chose. As an engineering major, it was important to me that it is also well-written and easy to follow.



3. Regnerus makes a huge contribution in this book to our understanding of religion and sex in the lives of American youth. Forbidden Fruit is built on solid social science research and is highly informative and challenging. I recommend it to anyone who has, works with, or cares about teenagers.



4. Forbidden Fruit asks questions about the connection between religion and sex among American teenagers, and the answers Regnerus finds are neither simple nor straightforward. In fact, the author concludes that simple and straightforward answers to questions about sex (like, avoid sex before you're married) have largely fallen flat among American teens, Christians included. There's new material on emerging sexual norms, masturbation, homosexuality, virginity loss, post-virginity sexual decision-making, etc. For these reasons, I think the book could be considered as a standard in the study of adolescent sexual behavior, independent of its illustrative emphasis on religion.
   
   Forbidden Fruit is broad in its analyses of nationally representative survey data and rich in its conversations with real people. The writing is clear, crisp, and engaging, and should appeal to parents and educators alike. It's also fun to read but avoids a frivolous or overly playful tenor. There are many refreshing turns of phrase in the presentation of arguments that make this book enjoyable. In sum, the author talks about serious matters in a disarming way, one that is respectful to religious traditions, and doesn't lend itself to easy politicization or demonizing. The stories about evangelical youth (who seem sexually "traditional" in word more than in deed) and the emergence of a "conservative" middle class sexual morality that has little to do with religion are fascinating. I think the author is right: most religious groups in America don't know how to address adolescent sexuality; in turn they hold out no compelling vision for their teens in how to be both devout and sexual. In sum, it's an outstanding contribution.

3 comments about Uncensored--Dating, Relationship, and Sex: You Think You Know, But You Have No Idea.

1. I was introducted to this book by a Youth Pastor and read it with alot of knowledge in each area. I learned a great amount of knowledge in each subject Mrs. Mayo discusses. I recommend this book to parents, adults, and youth to get a better understanding on the uncensored truth that youth of American faces everyday. This is definitely on my top 5 books I use to help minister to youth!



2. I'm a youth pastor and recently took my youth ministry through this book and they loved it. I love that it is not black and white list of guidelines in dating, but rather gets to heart of the issues that each of us deal with emotionally in relationships. Jeanne's writing style is easy to follow and it is an easy read for even your none-reader teens. Parents loved it as well!



3. I think this book is one of the best out there for teens and for youth workers. For the teen she speaks straight to them and does it in a loving way, but also says what needs to be said. Jeanne isn't afraid to tackle the tough subjects and handles them very well. If you are a youth worker, this book helps you better understand the world your teens are in; plus you can learn how to approach the subject with them. The way Jeanne approaches each subject is a lesson we can all learn from. This book is a definite must buy!

3 comments about Far and Beyon'.

1. I read this book to learn more about women's rights issues in Africa, and I think in a very subtle way it is a great learning device. It really humanizes the struggles women in rural Botswana go through and places the reader inside an often unfamiliar culture. It is particularly interesting to see how local customary beliefs try to explain AIDS. A good read if you want to understand Africa.



2. Oh, Stan, I am just tired of feeling like I am being taken over by all kinds of forces: teachers, men, foreigners, other students... I need a way to survive the pettiness around me. (p.115)

   Far and Beyon' is, for me, in the first instance an exposition of the plurality and pervasiveness of power. Although domestic violence, corporal punishment and other forms of force feature in the account, Mosa and her family are not merely oppressed by brute force. Mosa's life is, instead, structured by a series of complex, contradictory rules, norms, expectations, and sanctions. Family relations, for instance, are guided by overlapping but mutually incompatible systems: Social norms determine social standing, tasks, responsibilities, acceptable behavior; a closely connected but less pervasively understood body customary practices (which itself has diverse interpretations, see p.151) regulates familial and gender relationships. Somewhere in the distance is the specter of a complex and cumbersome system of formal legal rules based and the Botswana state. Yet, as Mosa's attempt to help Cecilia shows, this recourse is often ineffective, formalistic and impotent (see: pp.172-8).

   Contradictions pervade the novel. Botswana, as nation-state, rarely features in the lives of the Selato family save from a devious police officer, a school system, and a formal visit from the education minister to a prize giving ceremony. Neither traditional healing nor modern medicine provide viable solutions to the AIDS crisis, while social norms and customary practices encourage male promiscuity. In her attempt to get an education, Mosa has to contend with an institution operating with Victorian British practices, teachers who seek to forge patron-client relationships with students, and pervasive forms of misogyny. Mara maintains a "female headed household" (p.87) but is confronted with practices, customs, and rules than undermine women's self-sufficiency and access to the most basic rights and resources. Moreover, the contradictions and confusion of modern, post-colonial existence is born out in every aspect of the identity of each character. Mosa initially curses her unglamorous, non-English name which, to boot, means woman (pp. 76-8), while American teachers take it upon themselves to elongate and abbreviate their students' Anglo-Saxon names (p101). Mosa is acutely aware of the disciplining power of language, accent and syntax: "you have to remember to say 'Koki and I' at school and 'Me and Koki' at home" (p.88). The constant clash between competing cultures and values results in a kind of cultural bilingualism. Mosa instinctively knows when her definition of family is incompatible with her English teacher's. Stan patiently avoids his white benefactor's intrusive questions and attempts to hide his ritual-induced scars.

   Ask your know-it-all Mr Mitchell how much family counseling costs where he comes from. (p.108-9)

   Far and Beyond is a reflection on contemporary Southern African society. It is also a powerful commentary "what makes the world hangs together". For better or worse, ideas, myths, rituals, stories, implicit agreements and strategic silences are the glue of all nations, societies, groups and families. When Stan voices discomfort at a cow slaughtering ceremony, Mosa challenges him by comparing it to western ways of coping with grief. Partly aided by her geographic and cultural distance, Mosa's comparison highlights important parallels between the grieving rituals of western and "traditional" societies by stripping the former of the taken-for-granted esteem and authority that "scientific," institutionalized, and professionalized western practices are often afforded.

   Fiction, ultimately, does much more than shed light on what is often left undocumented or underreported. It can also help us understand the urgency and humanity that is at times masked by academic terms and political buzz words like "development," "sustainability" and "equity." Mirroring Mosa's angry confrontation with "reality" which ultimately spurs her agency, novels like Far and Beyon' provide a bridge between education and understanding by drawing parallels between "us" and "them," and by inspiring anger, hope and action.




3. Mosa is an intelligent girl who grows up in a traditional village community in Botswana. Two of her brother die of AIDS, a disease that is widespread but hardly mentioned. Her mother tries to get her life back on the track with the advice and actions of traditional diviners, her brother Stan is caught between cultures when he has to find a way to mix his African background with the western background of the teacher in whose house he lives. After an abortion Mosa has to fight hard, first to get her place back at school and to get her family back together after years of sorrow, than to fight for her rights in an environment where teachers can do pretty much everything with their female pupils. Using a mix of social skills and cunning ideas she ends up as the glorious winner of the fight.

   This book, written by an African woman who is a judge at the high court of Botswana, is a monument for the strength of African woman: the way in which they run society behind the scenes and in which they have to cope with sexism in order to survive. It is also a strong plea for openness about HIV/AIDS. And most important of all: there is an engrossing story to get the message across.

5 comments about Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely (TrueColors Series #1).

1. Jordan and Kara have been best friends since Kindergarten, but after becoming a cheerleader, she ditches Kara to be with her "popular friends". This leaves Kara feeling horribly lonely, and often times, feeling like she wants to die. In art class, she makes a new group of friends; Felicia, Edgar, and Amy. They often have interesting conversations. Through this time of horrid depression, Kara finds a true best friend, one who will never leave her.
   
   I was inspired by this first-person novel. This has alot of deep meaning in it. I like how it was written. And there are some entertaining humor moments. My favorite character is actually Amy Weatherspoon, the goth girl. I like her personality. Anyway, this novel really made me think. I've had a period of when I felt lonely, but I realized Jesus really is the most best friend you'll ever have. Ever since I read this book, I consider no human friend a best friend, only Jesus, and for those who are close to me, I call them closest friends instead.
   
   I admit, I didn't think much of it the first half when I first read it, and didn't really get pulled in until like halfway through. However, read it a second time, especially aloud, and the entire book is amazing! It's one you can read again and again, without getting sick of it!
   I really wish there was more, though. I think Edgar and Kara should get together, they'd make a cute couple (I know, you probably think I'm crazy! LOL).



2. The lead character, Kara Hendricks, in this novel is extremely negative, insecure & suffers from low self-esteem through much of this novel. She calls herself lame, stupid, loser and worse over and over again that it gets old very quickly.
   
   Kara Hendricks is depressed over losing her best friend to the popular in crowd & suffers from depression & low self esteem for this reason. Kara doesn't make an effort to try talking about her suffering to those who reach out to her or attempt to move on with her life.
   
   Suddenly, Kara Hendricks reads a book about the Christian faith and attends a youth group where she finds herself magically transformed into a happier person due to accepting Jesus in what seems to be a rather sudden leap of faith.
   
   I am not saying that people aren't transformed spiritually by which ever faith they subscribe to & become better and happier people because of this experience... I am just saying that I thought the author's way of expressing things was hokey.



3. Kara Hendricks and Jordan Ferguson have been best friends since kindergarten, but that all changes during sophomore year when Jordan becomes a cheerleader and dumps Kara for more popular friends. Feeling betrayed, all Kara can do is sulk, hoping Jordan will take her back, but after a few weeks Kara realizes that this will not be the case. Kara starts eating lunch with an outcast, a goody-two-shoe, and a goth, all who are art geeks, but still feels the pain of losing Jordan. Then, through this unlikely bunch, Kara is introduced to the one true friend who can fill the hole in her heart, God. Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely, by Melody Carlson, was an awesome book that I would recommend to all Christian teen girls.
   This wonderful page turner was enticing and a fast read. Because it was filled with so much drama, this book was never boring. Also, this book is made up of many short chapters, so each chapter leaves the reader at a place where they just can't stop reading. For example, towards the middle of the book, a chapter ends with Kara running into her room, sobbing, and wishing everything could just end. The beginning of the next chapter explains why she was crying in order to keep the reader hooked.
   Reading this book taught me a lot about my relationships with other people, as well as my relationship with God. I have learned to value my friendships more and make the most of everyday. Also, although Kara, the main character, only represents one way to live for Christ, I think she sets a good example. From her, I realized that I should pray all the time, not only when something's wrong. I think anyone who reads this book could learn something about relationships or God.
   I found the characters in this book easy to relate with. I think anyone who has lost a friend or felt lonely or betrayed can relate to Kara. Others, who have lost parents, may be able to relate to another character named Edgar. There are other characters too who have assorted issues, so no matter who the reader is, he or she will be able to relate to some character in someway. I think this make the book more meaningful, enjoyable, and interesting.
   Dark Blue, by Melody Carlson, is a five star book filled with life lessons. Also, it is a fast read and easy to relate to. Dark Blue is the first book in the Truecolor series, which now has eleven books. Each book in the series is about a different girl and touches on a different issue faced by teens today. I recommend that any teen girl read Dark Blue, as well as the other Truecolor books to learn how to deal with any problems they might have.
   
   S. Leser



4. In this tepid novel two teen girls, Kara and Jordan, go from best friends to opposite ends of the pecking order at their high school. We get to hear Kara's side of the story as she drones on and on about how she has no life, no friends, no personality, etc. The book consists of an inordinate about of filler consisting of such sentences as "I took my shower. Then I brushed my teeth. Then I ate a sandwich. I thought about how great my life used to be when I had Jordan. But now she's popular. Then I watched T.V. Then I...." Unfortunately, I am not exaggerating. The many times Kara mentioned that she might as well jump off a bridge or get hit by a bus, I wanted to tell her to go for it. Never, in all the hundreds of books I've read, have I met a character who I so desperately could not bring myself to care about even one iota.
   
   The author, Melody Carlson, tried early on to connect with the teens presumably reading this book by using words like "crap" and "lesbian" and other such utterances that are sure to make your fine Christian parents gasp. I think this was her idea: Use borderline words and concepts such as these at first to draw the kids in and make them think they're reading something "cool" and "exciting" and "edgy."
   
   Unlike some of the other reviewers who spoke badly about this book because of its Christian aspect, that is not where I find fault. The problems with this book are as follows: average writing, atrocious character development (see above), and a terrible plot execution.
   
   Let me explain about the plot. It was a good idea. It is a plot that nearly 100 percent of teen girls have experienced first hand at some point in their lives. But Kara was such a bloody boring character that by the time she developed half a personality, I didn't care. I spent the first half of the book wanting to smack her upside the head, and the other half rolling my eyes at how absurd the climax and conclusion were.
   
   Kara of course, in pure Christian fashion, discovers that Jesus Christ is her one true best friend and her life turns around. She starts eating better, exercising regularly, going to church, standing up for herself, being friendly, having a personality and having self-confidence. Oh, and of course all of a sudden her now popular former best friend wants to be friends again. Hurrah! And this all happens in the course of a week.
   
   Now, I'm not saying God can't do all of that. Because I know from personal experience He can. My problem lies in the fact that the book seemed to imply that every single aspect in your life will improve IMMEDIATELY if you just say the magic words "Jesus I want you in my life." I'm sorry, maybe it works that way for some people. But for those poor teen girls reading this book and expecting some miraculous life altering experience to happen overnight for them just like it did for Kara, they are in for a rude awakening.



5. I read a book called Dark Blue: from the True Color series. It starts with a girl named Kara. Her best friend named Jordan joins the cheer team and doesn't hang out with Kara. Kara feels so lonely. Kids from her art class invite her to have lunch with them in the art room. She makes a bond with them and Jesus.At the end, Jesus becomes her best friend.
   
   I liked how Jesus becomes Kara's best friend. I also liked it when Kara defended her friend when some cheer leaders were being mean to Kara's friend. Some of the cheer leaders were Jordan's friends. I liked the part when Kara was telling Jordan she was best friends with Jesus,but Jordan didn't care. Kara was really strong when Jordan left her.
   
   I thought it was a really good book. It was more of a Christian book. The other True color books are Christian books. If you like books about God and Jesus,I think you should read this book.

5 comments about Bee-Wigged.

1. All Jerry Bee wants is a friend. But everyone is terrified of him because he is an enormous bee. They are afraid he could sting them. Jerry tries to change the way he looks by wearing a wig that he finds on the sidewalk. And it works! No one is afraid of him anymore. By the end of the day he makes friends with everyone at school and the kids adore him. They like him because he is helpful, funny, artistic, and generous. He's a good friend! The wig changes Jerry's life. But one day the wind blew Jerry's wig off. Everyone immediately runs away until.....the wig starts talking. Turns out the wig is a squirrel who saves the day by reminding everyone of Jerry's many positive qualities. This book cracked me up the first time I read it. I love sharing it with the students. I also like how the "wig" character stands up for Jerry Bee. Good life lessons in this one. And the whole squirrel/wig thing is kinda funny. I'm an elementary school counselor and really appreciate books like this one that teach about differences.



2. I'm a pre-school teacher who just read Bee Wigged to my class - not only did we all laugh out loud at the surprise ending, but when we made a "B is for Bumble Bee" project later that day, the children all wanted to name their bees "Jerry." I wish every book I read in class was as smart and funny.



3. This is a funny, heart warming book. I read it to my five year old, but my older kids and their friends were listening and loved it so much they asked me to read it again. It is one of my five year old's favorite books. It has a very nice message and the illustrations are great!



4. "Bee-Wigged" is a delightful story about accepting people for their hearts and their character, not what they look like. The difference between Jerry being accepted and loved by his school mates and feared as a giant bee is whether he's wearing a wig.
   
   The illustrations are bright and brilliant, and it's a lovely read. I read this over and over with my daughter, and we just love it. Highly recommended.



5. Cece Bell has done the near impossible task of creating a book that is equally loved by children, parents, teachers, and (I suspect) really big bees. The story of Jerry Bee and his heroic bid for social acceptance teaches (without being all "teach-y") young readers to look beyond the stripes on someone's outside to find the bee-auty within. I'll be very surprised if Ms. Bell doesn't win an award for this funny and socially relevant book.
   
   Heartwarming, quirky, and profound. Not to mention hilarious!
   
   This is one your child will want to read again and again -- and so will you!

5 comments about Barron's AP Psychology (Book & CD-ROM).

1. My son just finished the 10th grade. Midway through the year, he registered for an online Psychology class, not AP. We decided that it would be worth it to register for the AP Psychology test in May, knowing that his AP result could not hurt him and might help. Perhaps a month before the exam, we ordered this book.
   
   There are two sample tests on paper and two on CD. These were great, because there was a table to key the missed questions to the subject areas. This helped to identify strengths and weaknesses. It is certainly easier to do this using the CD test, since the program tabulates that information for you; it is much quicker than manually scoring and matching up paper test results. If he uses an AP review book for any future classes, I would certainly pay the difference and get the CD.
   
   The bottom line: he passed the AP exam. He was the only student in his online class, so no study partners, no class discussions, and not an AP course to begin with. I'm certain that taking the class was important, and provided the volume of information tested. But I think that this book helped him prepare to be tested, helped to fine tune areas where more study would help, and even provided some useful strategies (this was his first AP exam).
   
   It was well worth the purchase price.



2. I bought this book for a an AP Psychology class I was taking that it was required for. Perhaps the most impressive thing was that I ordered this on a Friday from amazon while on a trip out of state. I needed it the following Tuesday and despite using basic shipping for $4.00, it was at my door that Sunday. I had expected to not receive till that Monday or Wednesday at least, so I was relieved.
   
   The review book itself was informative and thorough. I was glad that my teacher had picked such a comprehensive text as a review, because it did helped me study and feel comfortable taking the AP test. Nothing really notable stands out about the book, other than that it is dry. I will not hold this against the authors, because for the quantity of information it packs into relatively few pages, this book is a gold mine for test takers.
   
   To close up, the CD enclosed does work, and on Mac OSX (if you have Flash player), but I did not use it. Upon trying it, the test taking experience on the CD seems sound, so if that's what you want go for it. If you are just looking for an AP Psychology review book though, this is it.



3. STILL DID NOT RECEIVE MY ORDER AND THE ESTIMATE WAS BY APRIL 29TH! I DONT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON!!!!



4. While the content is beyond that about which I was curious, the style and arrangement of the book are both very easy and helpful.



5. The fourth updated edition of AP PSYCHOLOGY provides the latest practice tests and reviews available, offering two full-length practice exams with all questions answered and a full-length diagnostic test to help target areas needing more study. A comprehensive review of all test topics and analysis of free-response questions and answers makes for a powerful presentation recommended for any studying for the AP Psychology test.