Freeze Tag (Point) Review

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Freeze Tag (Point) Review
At the heart of this book is an odd girl, Lannie, who has the ability to literally get people to freeze during Freeze Tag - or any time she wants. Lannie is not a nice girl but I hope you'll feel as I did, oddly intrigued and drawn to this child (as the book opens) and then the teen she becomes.Lannie loves West but West's heart is drawn to another person, Meghan. That sets up the main plot and tension in this one. I'd argue that this is really only a way to focus on the REAL subject, unwanted or neglected children.
It doesn't take a huge leap of imagination to see the symbolism here between the teen with the lack of empathy, the hunger for love, the evil that seems to rest in her soul...and the detached family that seems to pay little attention to her. But the connection isn't heavy-handed and the author of this book balances that point with some fine characterizations, ones that teens and adults should find compelling.
There are also other aspects of teen life that are clearly delineated. First loves. Being accepted or being an outsider. Happy families and those that simply don't care about their children - or never think of them much.
This book moves along quickly,making it fine for reluctant readers as well as any teen. From the perspective of this adult, I couldn't help thinking about how often we fail our children, intentionally or not. After finishing this one, I went off to find my son and give him an extra hug.
IMPORTANT: In reading other reviews, people seemed to have problems with the ending. I did not. I do understand why it left readers wanting a sequel. I'd make the case that the author wanted the reader to imagine the ending. Some may see this as a cop-out but I saw it as a sign of hope in a book with plenty of darkness.Freeze Tag (Point) Overview

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The Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries about the Teenage Brain Tell Us about Our Kids Review

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The Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries about the Teenage Brain Tell Us about Our Kids Review"They'll grow out of it", said Granny. "Don't give up on them", says neuroscientist Jay Giedd. Between these two admonitions, Barbara Strauch vividly relates how old ideas of brain development have been overthrown by recent research. Her judgement of "recent" is expressed with the dismissive comment that any source found prior to 1996 was "too old". She thus adds another brick to the edifice being constructed in cognitive sciences. The studies have gone beyond research in human cognitive studies to include other primates - chimpanzees and monkeys in demonstrating the roots of human behaviour. These findings are providing a wealth of new insights into our evolutionary roots. Strauch has contributed much in our knowledge of who we are in the animal kingdom. Although the studies are new, and further research is necessary, Strauch explains the patterns that are emerging. Further work can only provide more enlightenment.
Although her research covers many fields and countless workers, the key source is Jay Giedd. Giedd was prompted by data showing how adolescent brains exhibited unexpected changes. "Gray matter", that term we so often blithely use to indicate the brain and mind, was expanding in teens. It actually grows beyond that of the average adult, then "dramatically thinning down" some time later. This find suggested many changes are occurring in teen brains - making them, in Strauch's estimate, "a bit crazy . . . but crazy by design". She reminds us throughout the book that while teenagers may appear physically mature in stature, what is going on in their brains is unfinished. They may look like us, but their behaviour is generally radically different. Incomplete brain development is the root cause of these departures from what we consider "normal". It was Giedd's research that sought to provide a baseline of what is "normal" for our children in those tumultuous years.
With the wide-ranging sources she uses, Strauch takes us through all the problems parents face in trying to comprehend the vagaries of teen behaviour. Sex, bizarre sleeping patterns, drugs and alcohol use by teens all have come under new scrutiny by various research teams. They stress the vulnerability of the teen brain to nicotine, alcohol and other toxins. While this may seem obvious, the mechanics of why teens engage in heavy drinking bouts, for example, show how important parental knowledge of the background and impact of these events can be to teen health. Parents shouldn't dismiss such behaviour as "something they'll grow out of" since damage to brain structure can be permanent. Although the evolutionary roots are becoming clear, parental concern remains a major factor in assuring teens don't stumble into damaging behaviour.
As one of the first "popular" books in this emerging field, Strauch's sources are almost entirely academic journals. We rely on her reputation as a New York Times health section columnist to have "done her homework" and there's little doubt she's done so. However, her own role as a mother of teens provides additional enhancement to her reliability. If she has an axe to grind, it is purely one of informing us on topics of concern to us as parents. While this book may be a "first" and may be modified by later studies, the information presented is far too important to ignore. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]The Primal Teen: What the New Discoveries about the Teenage Brain Tell Us about Our Kids Overview

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Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church Review

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Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church Review*****
This wonderful book is based on the National Study of Youth and Religion conducted from 2002 to 2005. It is a fascinating analysis of teen religious practice, which is a bellwether of the faith of us all. Teenagers are practicing the faith that we are teaching them, not what we say we believe, but what we actually believe as evidenced by our actions. All of this could be dry and boring, but in "Almost Christian" it is not! This is a truly fascinating exploration of what makes faith vibrant, what makes faith "consequential". As such it is important for everyone to read, not just those interested in teens and youth ministry. Much of the book describes real faith--a faith rich in holy desire and missional clarity--and explores ways that we as a church can experience and model this in our lives.
Most teenagers today practice an "imposter faith" what the author calls "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism"--"the new mainstream American religious faith" in which God is seen as a butler or a therapist rather than (as the approximately 8% of youth that are "highly devoted" do) as a "divine swimming instructor" who is down in the water with them, leading and instructing them. The book also explores the faith of these "highly devoted" youth and what makes them different from their peers.
The scope of this book is limited to Christian ministry and formation and does not include Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or other faiths. There are helpful appendices and an index, and the book is written in a somewhat intellectual style and at the same time a very moving style---very readable and pragmatic--not academic.
I read this book not because I had any interest in youth ministry or teenagers in particular, but because of the title--"Almost Christian"--something in it resonated with me, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. This book made my life richer, and gave me an appreciation both for young people and for my faith that I did not have before. It's really important to me to not be an Americanized Christian with a watered-down faith, but rather, someone who reflects the love of Jesus Christ and real faith in all I do. I found myself enlightened, inspired, and encouraged.
Highly recommended.
*****Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church Overview

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