Rating: 
Summary: Thoughtful, hard edge realism
Review: I purchased this Chicken Soup book for my eight year old son, although the book states 9-12. The younger version for kids seemed too "slight." And his teacher had read a few stories from this version, so we decided to buy it for him as an Xmas 2000 book. I have found it riveting, and many of the stories can bring tears to your eyes. The stories are concise. The writing is fluid and easy to understand. I was struck, however, by the intensity and hard edge realism of some of them. There is a section on death and a number of the other stories touch on grief, divorce, loss and death. My son just lost his grandmother in March (my mom) so I believe some of these tales will be helpful. They touched my own heart. Parents should be aware however that there is a heavy dose of despair--albeit overcome by strength and love. Also some nine year olds are more mature, wiser and perhaps less innocent than others. A nine year old from an otherwise happy, intact family who has yet to face a great deal of loss or grief may be taken a back, perhaps even a little frightened. This is a good work that should be reviewed first by a parent. Certainly consider the age prescribed. Also examine your own views on death, dying and marriage dissolution. These stories may helpfully support them, or they may not. As a consultant in the child and youth development field, I would be more likely to steer the 11-13 year old grappling with specific issues to this Chicken Soup.
Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful, hard edge realism
Review: I purchased this Chicken Soup book for my eight year old son, although the book states 9-12. The younger version for kids seemed too "slight." And his teacher had read a few stories from this version, so we decided to buy it for him as an Xmas 2000 book. I have found it riveting, and many of the stories can bring tears to your eyes. The stories are concise. The writing is fluid and easy to understand. I was struck, however, by the intensity and hard edge realism of some of them. There is a section on death and a number of the other stories touch on grief, divorce, loss and death. My son just lost his grandmother in March (my mom) so I believe some of these tales will be helpful. They touched my own heart. Parents should be aware however that there is a heavy dose of despair--albeit overcome by strength and love. Also some nine year olds are more mature, wiser and perhaps less innocent than others. A nine year old from an otherwise happy, intact family who has yet to face a great deal of loss or grief may be taken a back, perhaps even a little frightened. This is a good work that should be reviewed first by a parent. Certainly consider the age prescribed. Also examine your own views on death, dying and marriage dissolution. These stories may helpfully support them, or they may not. As a consultant in the child and youth development field, I would be more likely to steer the 11-13 year old grappling with specific issues to this Chicken Soup.
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I thought that the Chicken Soup company has certainily met all audiences now...including all kids in the middle. Even though this book is magnificent, I still think that the kid's soul is slightly better. I recommend both.
Rating: 
Summary: What An Awesome BOOK!
Review: Loaded with fun-filled to tragic stories, Chicken Soup for the Soul is a great book to offer.
As some may say, "Life is filled with happiness"... When you are in your teen to pre-teen years... life doesn't seem as happy. Chicken Soup provides stories that relate to your problems and may be able to help you. But it's not just filled with stories that are sad and gloomy. This book has funny, interesting stories, too. It even provides poems!
I feel this book should be read by students in the pre-teen, to teen years. It's interesting and gives you some facts of life.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: Recently I purchased Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul. I have just turned 11 years old. So far, I have enjoyed my newest Chicken Soup book. I have already received Chicken Soup for the Kids Soul as a gift, but now I believe I am growing out of it. I am almost a teenager who is going through her preteen years. This book has helped me find myself inside myself. I really love the authors who write Chicken Soup and the contributors who send in their funny, sad, and meaningful stories. This book talks about changes in life, getting older, the tough stuff we go through as preteens. My favorite stories are the ones of the people who are actually in their preteen years and how they deal with this tough time in their lives. Overall, I enjoy the book very much.
Rating:
Summary: Awsome stories
Review: The book contains loads of stories of tennagers who survived all this stuff, and acomplished dreams. It's really cool that such book exists that we can read stories of all these adolecents who want to share a storie with us. Some are funny, some are life learning. There are mostly sad stories in the book than anything else, but there good ones! Justdont get me rong, they dont soak the book. It's a nice book and I thing all the teens should read it, to know that there not alone.
Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: this a very good book to read if you're having issues and you don't think that anyone could possibly understand. but after reading some of these stories you realize, "geez, i'm not the only person with problems!"
Rating: 
Summary: touching but ....
Review: This book has a lot of touching stories. But after reading a while, I got fed up because most of the stories can be put into one formula: death + love.
Rating:
Summary: This book haz all of the stuff a preeteen needs 2 know
Review: this book has everything from tragic happenings in family to your first kiss i think every preeteen should read this
Rating:
Summary: Great for preteens that need to find out who they really are
Review: This book is great!! The stories are about many different things like death and dieing etc. I love it and so does my sister, who is nine. Even if you are 8,7,13,14, etc. you will still love this book. I guess you could say that this book is for all ages.
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