Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Laurie Halse Anderson’s book Speak is a really great book. There is a movie about this book. The movie is a little different than the book, of course, but the book and the movie are both very great. 


This book is about Melinda Sordino, who is known as the party buster. Everyone hated her because at the end of the summer everyone had an end of summer party and she decided to call the cops. Her friend hates her and so does everyone else in the school. But at the party something happened. Something that no other girl would want happening to them. She was scared and she didn't know what to do. She can’t tell anyone about that night because she is scared about what might happen.

Melinda has no friends just because she called the cops about the party. If she told them why she did it, they probably wouldn't believe her and hate her more. Melinda is in a tough spot. If I were her I would at least tell someone because I wouldn't be able to just keep it to myself. I would be scared, worried, upset and wouldn't be able to sleep and wouldn't want to step foot into school. 

Melinda tried to go to her old friend, but she wouldn't believe her. If my friend came up to me and told me what Melinda told her then I would find a way to believe her over my boyfriend. In the end some girls found out what happened and Melinda told her mom about that night. 

I think this book is a really great book. I suggest people read this and possibly watch the movie. Read the book first, however, and then watch the movie. If I had to rate this book I would give it five stars.

Taylor M.

Impulse by Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkins' book, Impulse, is a fiction book about three teenagers whose lives intersect at a psych hospital. Whether on purpose or by accident, each of them has done something to try and end their life. Conner tried to put a bullet through his chest even though he had the life most kids dream of having. He had money, he got what he wanted when he wanted it and he was popular. But his mother was cold and heartless and never around. Vanessa lived with her nurse grandmother after her mom was put into a psych hospital. When she started to hear the demons her mom always heard, she got into the habit of cutting. Well, she accidently cut too deeply once and it landed her in the psych hospital. Tony grew up in too many places, all of which were bad. He’s gay, trying to get by and he was abused by many of his mother’s boyfriends, so he ran away. When he had nothing left for which to live, he tried to overdose. They all have a challenge to get through and that is to survive. If you have a difficult life just remember there is always someone who cares. This book though is a great read for anyone.

Emily A.

El Que Diran by Beth Goobie

      Beth Goobie's book, El Que Diran or "what they say”, is a work of fiction. El Que Diran is a book about Jujube's difficult times in high school. If you are a female, an adult to be specific, you can easily relate this book to your experience in high school. But, on the other hand, if you are a teenager and are experiencing high school at this moment, this book is a great guide that shows you what to do and what not to do while in high school.

          Jujube gets betrayed by the love of her life (her crush since third grade). He is judged in high school due to her crush and lies about them having sex on the first date. She gets called a "whore" and people constantly mistreat her. Eventually, she gets tired of everything, so she decided to fight fire with fire. She decided to lie too. She told the school she was pregnant by Brent, her crush. Brent immediately reacted to her lie because he knew they had not had sex and there was no possible way Jujube could be pregnant. Brent is worried about what would happen if his parents found out so he told the truth about them never having sex and Jujube gained respect in high school again.

          Unfortunately, it was not too long after her bad experience with Brent she found out her father had returned after leaving her at the age of two. To make matters worse, her father had kids with another woman and one of those kids was Brent. Do you want to know what is going to happen next? Do you want to find out the end? Read El Que Diran. I guarantee you will love it.

Katia H.

Teen Issues: Addiction

Most people think of drug and alcohol addiction as a bad habit or a form of weakness but according to Teen Health and Wellness addiction should be thought of as having a chronic disease or illness such as adult diabetes or high blood pressure.  Are you at risk? Dr. David Sak has put together a list of high risk factors that you should know. There is also another type of addiction called cross addiction that replaces one addiction for another as described in this cross addiction article on Teen Health and Wellness  If you are facing an addiction please seek help from our social workers and counseling staff. WEGO is a community of teachers and support staff willing to help you.

Health Guru on this You Tube video offers some helpful suggestions for parents to get involved and teen information about addiction and its relationship to self esteem.

From Our Library Shelves: Here are three well written books about drug addiction from very different points of view

Augusta Gone by Martha Dudman (Written by a mother about her addicted daughter)

Tweak: by Nic Shelf (Author writes about his addiction to methamphetamines)

Crank by Ellen Hopkins (Fictional story that reads true about addiction to cocaine)



Today's post is the last in a series on Teen Issues. If you would like to see Teen Issues or another Teen Series return next fall let us know by posting your comments below.

Teen Issues and Teen Pregnancy

"Teen Issues" offers resources for teens, parents and teachers at CHS. Over the past semester we have covered issues concerning our teens such as: Coping with Divorce, Anxiety and Stress, Body Image & Eating Disorders, Bullying, and today's topic Teen Pregnancy. 

"If you're a child born to a teenage mother, you are more likely to become a teenage mother, and you're more likely to live in a resource-poor setting."  Melissa Gilliam University of Chicago has devoted her professional life to research.

WEGO counseling staff and social workers are willing to help you. Below are reliable resources available online and from our library that may also help.

Teen Pregnancy Interview-Good Morning America on You Tube

LRC Resources

Database: Teen Health and Wellness This database offers information on Sex and Reproduction, Sexual Choices and Birth Control along with Ten Great Questions to Ask Your Doctor

From our Book Shelves
Non Fiction Books
306.8743 JOH  It couldn’t happen to me: Three true stories of teenage moms by Beth Johnson
306.8742 TRA  Reality check: teenage fathers speak out

FictionThe Test by Peggy Kern  Liselle Mason is in high school and learns she is pregnant. This is Liselle struggle with what to do and who to trust.
After by Amy EfawThis straight A high school student and awesome soccer player is linked to an abandoned baby found in the trash and is accused of attempted murderDatabase

WebsiteOur Health Futures: A project by and for adolescent girls sponsored by the YWCA and Smith College

Teen Issues: Body Image and Eating Disorders

Welcome back to another segment of Teen Issues.
Today's topic looks at body image and why its important for teens to have confidence in the way they look. Teens under go many body changes including weight and height fluctuations due to hormonal changes. Add these natural hormonal changes to constantly being bombarded with images of famous actors, singers and models who are thin, gorgeous, fashionably dressed and perfect looking, teens are fighting an uphill battle with reality.  Often teens develop an unrealistic image of what their own body should look like, leading to eating disorders.

Many successful, intelligent people have issues with their body image, you are not alone.Take a look at the video below by Teens in Action: Body Image and Eating Disorders found on You Tube and listen to what teens think about body image.

We have a wonderful counseling staff and social workers willing to help answer your questions or find solutions. Below are resources from our library that will help define an eating disorder or distorted body image and how to seek help.

Online Database: Teen Health and Wellness

ABC’s of Eating Disorders: This article helps to identify eating disorders. More information is located to the left of this article that may be of interest to you, especially “Ten Great Questions to Ask, When You’re Asking for Help”

On Our Shelves

Non Fiction:  Body Image

No Body’s Perfect: Stories by teens about body image, self-acceptance, and the search for identity by Kimberly Kirberger  # 158.1 NOB

When the Mirror Lies: Anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders by Tamra Orr # 616.8526 ORR

Fiction Books:

Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
This isn't the easiest story to read because of the content but it is one you won't want to put down. Eighteen year old Lia struggles to come to terms with her best friends death consumed by anorexia as she faces the same disorder.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green

One of the Will Grayson’s in this story has a best friend named Tiny.  The irony in Tiny’s name dusts the surface of the larger than life character portrayed in John Green’s novel. Tiny has been called “big boned”, “chubby” while some of his peers tease him about being fat and gay. Top it off with Tiny always falling in love with the wrong person.  Read this book to find out how Tiny not only gets out of bed in the morning but makes his world shine. 

Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee
At 16 Rosemary is tired of being overweight, getting mocked at school and even at her part time job at Heavenly Hair. The cheek salon in town where all the locals go to beautify themselves is owned by her mom. Feeling out of control Rosemary decides to change her life and slowly loses weight but along the way she discovers her inner beauty.

Teen Issues: Coping with Divorce

Divorce is scary because it means life as you knew it has changed forever. The uncertainty is scary and its often a lonely time since one of your parents has already moved out and your other parent can be too sad just coping with the emotional turmoil of divorce to notice you.  This can lead to anger and often times depression. What are you to do with all these feelings?  Divorce is never easy and you need to know it's not your fault. Our social workers and counselors have been trained to help you.  Resources on this page can also help. Whatever you do, you don’t have to do it alone.   

LRC Database  

Teen Health and Wellness, Dealing with Your Parents: Single Parents

Books

306.89 CAL  No Easy Answers:  A teen guide to why divorce happens by Florence Calhoun Tackles what’s to be expected when your parents decide to divorce.

306.89 ISL  Caught in the middle by Claudia Isler   Teens guide to divorce, custody and how it will impact your life

 306.89 BIS Family breakup by Keely  Bishop  Offers suggestions for teens in dealing with the changes of divorce

 F Rienhardt, D   How to build a house by Dana Rienhardt   Last year's Abraham Lincoln Award nominee.  Harper Evans wants to escape the effect of her parents divorce and volunteers to help rebuild a house devastated by a tornado in Tennessee.  She learns what it takes to build a house but also how to rebuild her life.

Bibliography

"Dealing With Your Parents." Teen Health and Wellness. Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2012. Web.   
       26 Oct. 2012 <http://www.teenhealthandwellness.com/article/112/dealing-with-your-parents
Skills for Healthy Living: Coping With Change Discovery Education,  2006 .
      Discovery Education. Web. 25 October 2012.<http://www.discoveryeducation.com/>.
Teen Advice: How to Deal with Parent Divorce and Funky Family Stuff. You Tube. N.p., 22 June 2009. Web. 26  
      Oct. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=4RMGb-ktV10>.

Teen Issues Featured this Fall

Every other Thursday our library page will be featuring books, and links to information related to teen issues. Various teen related health and wellness issues will be explored such as bullying, eating disorders, body image, teen pregnancy and others. If you would like us to cover a specific topic please post a comment and your request will be taken under consideration.

Today’s post is all about making changes to become a more successful teen. Success looks different to all of us and making a change could be difficult. Have you ever wondered how to set a goal and actually achieve it?  Start with the Making a Change Guide from Kids Health to create a personal plan for positive change.

Here are four books from our library about teens and change.

 

The 7 habits of highly effective teens : the ultimate teenage success guide by Sean Covey

Describes seven habits teenagers can cultivate to help them improve their self-image, build friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve goals, get along with parents, and make other positive changes in their lives.

Whale talk by Chris Crutcher

TJ is a multiracial adopted teen and not one to get involved in teen sports actually he shuns them and doesn’t like the supremacy attitude of the “jocks” and coaches at his school. He decides to get even by accepting the challenge of starting a new swim team at his high school and he thinks this may be the opportunity to get even with the schools snobby athletic department but TJ gets more than he ever realized.

Artichoke's heart by Suzanne Supplee

At 16 Rosemary is tired of being overweight, getting mocked at school and even at her part time job at Heavenly Hair. The cheek salon in town where all the locals go to beautify themselves is owned by her mom. Feeling out of control Rosemary decides to change her life and slowly loses weight but along the way she discovers her inner beauty.

Of beetles & angels : a boy's remarkable journey from a refugee camp to Harvard

by Mawi Asgedom.

An autobiography in which Mawi Asgedom tells the story of how, at the age of three, he fled civil war in Ethiopia by walking with his mother and brother to a Sudanese refugee camp. He was later moved to Wheaton Illinois to attend public school and later earned a full scholarship to Harvard.