Life Happens: A Teenager's Guide to Friends, Failure, Sexuality, Love, Rejection, Addiction, Peer Pressure, Families, Loss, Depression, Change, and Other challenges

Rating:
Summary: The Title Says It All
Review: "Life Happens" is the title and the theme of the book itself. Dr. McCoy with her degree and implied treasure chest of knowledge and experience did not really give practical, helpful advice. Most of the time, "bad things happen to good people" was all that could be understood from the chapters. The "letters" that open each chapter do seem authentic but do not seem to have any real purpose. I've read other works that made better use of anecdotal passages such as Bev Cobain's book on depression. The authors, however, did have great organization. The "common crises" generally covered almost all of the problems teens face today. However, some chapters such as that on parental abuse or homosexuality received too little attention. In addition, again, the advice offered by the doctor all seemed redundant and unhelpful. Overgeneralizations seemed to be the sticking point here. Also, the issues of hospitalization or medication were not covered in depth. The book isn't a guide but more like the somewhat helpful ramblings of two individuals who should have offered more information. Finally, the dearth of information on mental health resources was troubling. However, I give three stars because any attempt to inform the world about the dangers and severity of adolescent mental disorders is one step forward for society.

Rating:
Summary: The Title Says It All
Review: "Life Happens" is the title and the theme of the book itself. Dr. McCoy with her degree and implied treasure chest of knowledge and experience did not really give practical, helpful advice. Most of the time, "bad things happen to good people" was all that could be understood from the chapters. The "letters" that open each chapter do seem authentic but do not seem to have any real purpose. I've read other works that made better use of anecdotal passages such as Bev Cobain's book on depression. The authors, however, did have great organization. The "common crises" generally covered almost all of the problems teens face today. However, some chapters such as that on parental abuse or homosexuality received too little attention. In addition, again, the advice offered by the doctor all seemed redundant and unhelpful. Overgeneralizations seemed to be the sticking point here. Also, the issues of hospitalization or medication were not covered in depth. The book isn't a guide but more like the somewhat helpful ramblings of two individuals who should have offered more information. Finally, the dearth of information on mental health resources was troubling. However, I give three stars because any attempt to inform the world about the dangers and severity of adolescent mental disorders is one step forward for society.

Rating:
Summary: Unrealistic
Review: Being a teen myself I couldn't help thinking that, like, this so isn't how it is. The author seemed to think that teenagerdom is like this sort of ten year long bummer. All the talk is about depression, abusive parents and rejection. It just didn't click with me. I thought that being a teenager is about getting loaded and making out with the chicks who come out to California looking for film careers and modelling contacts. Okay, so it isn't all great, like that time when I totalled my Jaguar, like, the day after Dad gave it to me. And my dad's like, "No sense of responsibility" and I'm like "Hello? Does the word 'square' mean anything to you." And I had to, like, get my lawyers make him buy me a new car. I mean, talk about abusive parenting.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Helped me out alot! I had troubles and all the other books I could find were for parents dealing with teen problems and they where not very useful!

Rating:
Summary: Like every other
Review: This book is like everyother how to get through life books. It was more like a text book. It got a little boring and was a little stupid.

Rating:
Summary: Copy Cat
Review: This book was just like all those other "growing up books for teens". I have to give it some credit for having information, but the text was very small and the book was kind of confusing.