Publisher's Synopsis
This book is designed with the with age range of readers in mind called "Teenagers," approximately fourteen through eighteen, a time of tremendous growth in mental acuity, physical strength and motility, social awareness, sexual expression, self-assessment and the beginning of self-actualization.* It is also a time of many bumps, detours, and falls; marked by the teenager-turning-adult learning to navigate the world at large. The stories describe triumphs, challenges, downfalls, tragedy, and joys. This book is intentional in the thought to also provide, when possible, not only entertainment, but a moral in all its complexity, that the reader can work out for themselves, or with the guidance of the significant others in their lives. Because of the intended age range, some stories may prove problematic for the younger readers, but may also prove to be of guidance to them as well. This book is also unique in that it provides sections of commentary and information critical to a greater understanding of this viable period of transition, as well as a segment of inquiry questions that can be referenced as guides to personal guidance and processing. It is also written with current values (even when the story seemingly appears to come from a previous generation), and with this generation of youngsters, kept with their experiences, faults and challenges in mind. We should never underestimate what they go through, especially in their secretive world undisclosed to the adults around them. They are not as innocent as we might hope for them to be, nor as experienced as we think they are. Unique to this book, is a complete series of relevant questions in the appendix that can be used as guides for self-exploration and/or classroom discussions. They are purposeful and clear offering suggestions for writing, reading, and developing a clearer expectation of the teen world and character development. I should warn that some stories are blunt and speak to harsh realities. Some may find them revolting and difficult. To say these are beyond the experiences of kids is to not recognize the real truth of what kids go through, really live through, or in many ways know about. I wish it were not so. *A term first coined by Abraham Maslow in his incredible work about human development.
