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News & Views - Nov,
1999 Issue #63
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A Reading List About Struggling Teens
A few months ago, Woodbury Reports, Inc. asked the Educational Consultants
listed in our directory, PLACES FOR STRUGGLING TEENS:
“If you had to recommend only one book to help professionals working or
planning to work with struggling teens and/or their parents, what would be that book?
This resulted in a total of 15 recommended books, roughly divided into two
lists, one seemingly helpful for parents, and the other, for professionals.
[If anyone wants to write a review of these or any other books that you
think are especially helpful, please call Woodbury Reports, Inc. at 208-267-5550 for the payment schedule.]
They Recommended…
Reading list For parents:
Back in Control, By Greg Bodenhamer, July 1992 (Prentice Hall). [Available
from Woodbury Reports] [“One book comes to mind immediately, one that I have used
for the past 19 years. Its understandable and its just plain common sense.” -Dave Gaerin, Del Mar, CA, 619-794-0896] [“A pragmatic,
specific, concrete, ‘How to’ book.” -William Morse, Westport, CT, 203-222-1066]
Children of Fast-Track Parents: Raising Self-sufficient and confident
children in an achievement oriented world, By Andree Aelion Brooks, March 1989 (Viking Press). [“Speaks to my clients!” -Paula
Feldman, Corona Del Mar, CA, 949-759-0330]
Getting a Head Start in school: A student’s book about learning abilities
and learning disorders, By Mel Levine, M.D., Reprint July 1991 (Educators Publishing Services).
[“I believe that Dr. Mel Levine has the most comprehensive understanding
of both normal perimeters of development and learning and “abnormal” perimeters of any of the experts in the field of “underachievement.”
This is an easy-to-read positive explanation of learning differences and what to do about learning differences. A Junior High Student
or older could read and relate (if reading is at grade level). A harassed parent could read in a day for an overview and perspective
on a child’s learning problems.” -Marlyn Doan, Mercer Island, WA, 206-232-3991]
Maybe You Know My Kid: A Parents’ guide to identifying, understanding
and helping your child with attention-deficit- hyperactivity disorder, By Mary Fowler, Revised November 1993 (Birch Lane Press,
239 pages). [“I would recommend this book as a way of developing an understanding of this disorder.” -Imy Wax Deerfield, IL, 847-945-0913]
The Nurture Assumption: Why children turn out the way they do (parents
matter less than you think and peers matter more), By Judith Rich Harris, September 1998 (Touchstone Books, 480 pages). [“I
recommend this for parents and professionals. It talks about how much the credit parents recieve when the children turn out well and
the blame they receive when they turn out badly, etc.., exploding some of the beliefs all of us have carried about relationships with
children and parents. It gives us all something totally new to think about. So many professionals and so many parents tend to feel
guilty and unhappy and thus are not able to create some distance. I think this kind of understanding is enormously important. She
demonstrates the power peer groups have in shaping the lives of children. The message is a good one which brings together insights
from psychology, sociology, anthropology, etc., etc., and offers a really solid new view of who we are and how we got that way. It
is truly well done. All of it remains unproven, but it offers great food for thought. I feel it is something truly new which can work
well for everyone in understanding that each of us can only do what we can do to the best of our ability and that blaming oneself
or someone else is not helpful.” Phyllis Steinbrecher Westport, CT 203-227-3190]
Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls, By Mary Pipher,
April1994, Ballentine Books, 304 pages). [“For parents of girls, thoughtful, practical, insightful” -William Morse, Westport, CT,
203-222-1066] [“Helpful for parents of girls” -Diane Rapp Scarborough, NY 914-945-0630] [Also recommended by Lori Waldinger, La Crescenta,
CA 818-957-0332]
The Turbulent Teens: Understanding, helping, surviving, By Dr. James
Gardner, reissue: September 1993 (Jalmar Press). [Recommended by Sandy Driver-Gordon, Los Angeles, CA 310-836- 1019]
Reading list For Professionals:
Bringing Up Moral Children in an Immoral World, By Lynn Scoresby,
May 1998 (Shadow Mountain Publishers - Deseret Book Co, Salt Lake City, 350 pages). [“Thought provoking – not preachy” -Paula Feldman,
Corona del Mar, CA 949-759-0330]
Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with attention deficit disorder
from childhood through adulthood, by Edward Hallowell & John Patey, Reprint: March 1995 (Simon & Schuster). [“Since adolescents
are really “adults” where underachievement is concerned, this book provides clear information for a parent trying to understand an
adolescent with ADHD.” Marlyn Doan, Mercer Island, WA, 206-232-3991]
The Parent’s Handbook: Systematic Training for Effective Parenting,
By Don Dinkmeyer Sr., et al., February 1997 (Random House, 138 pgs). [“about parenting in general, not parenting of stuggling teens.
The best kind of book is one that explains parents, so that the professional knows how to work with them. Understanding and collaborating
with parents is the surest way to “save” a struggling teen. I would want a book on the “games parents play.” To save a teen, the most
effective strategy is to “enroll” the parent in the entire plan. When the parents are not united or convinced themselves, the probability
of success is decreased, so I would want articles and books on “How to work with parents” to involve them in the total plan and process.”
-William Morse, Westport, CT, 203-222-1066]
High Risk Children WIthout a Conscience, By Dr. Ken Magrid & Carole
A. McKelvey, June 1990 (Bantam, Doubleday, Dell) [Rec. by Sandy Driver-Gordon, Los Angeles, CA 310-836-1019]
I hate you, don’t leave me, by Jerold J. Kreisman, M.D. & Hal
Straus, reprint February 1991 (Avon Books, 207 pages). [“Helped me personally, but deals specifically with borderline personality”
- Diane Rapp, Scarborough, NY, 914-923-1416]
Residential Treatment a Tapestry of Many therapies, By Vera Fahlberg
(editor). [Out of Print; amazon.com will query used bookstores upon request. Rec. by Sandy Driver-Gordon, Los Angeles, CA 310-836-1019]
The Shelter of Each Other- Rebuilding Our Families, By Mary Bray Piper,
reprint, April 1997 (Ballentine Books, 282 pages). [Rec. by Lori Waldinger, La Crescenta, CA 818-957-0332]
Copyright © 1999, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced
without prior approval if the copyright notice and proper publication and author attribution accompanies the copy.)
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