Description:
According to authors John C. Friel and Linda D. Friel, all that is confused and painful about being a teenager today is captured in the "struggle to join grace and power." Through stories, examples, and carefully researched therapeutic techniques and theories, the authors write convincingly of teens' ability to succeed in today's world. They offer seven tips for young people--and those who care for them or work with them--to ponder and learn from: become competent, master your feelings, break the silence, get healthy power, face the serious stuff, find an identity, stake out the extremes. Never patronizing--on the contrary, at times the writing seems almost too sophisticated for younger readers--the authors are thorough and thoughtful, presenting teens with options and offering tremendous support for some of the most difficult years. They address such heavy issues as abuse, eating disorders, depression, suicide, and violence, as well as the somewhat more abstract (yet no less critical) concerns, such as shame, power struggles, and the relative risks of the self-esteem movement. An interesting and possibly life-altering read for teens and those who know and love them by the authors of the national bestseller, The 7 Worst Things (Good) Parents Do. (Ages 12 and older) --Emilie Coulter
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