From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7 Zimmerman surveyed over 500 boys, ages 9 to 13, and offers their insights in this benign collection of tips for success. Organized into six sections You, Body and Mind, Family, School, Relationships, and Future these bits of wisdom generally boil down to being true to oneself and acting with personal integrity. Unfortunately, they are spooned out in platitudes, like Communication Is Important, Friends and Family Can Mix, Do What's Right for You, and Explore Your Interests. Zimmerman includes numerous quotes from his survey results and boxed items such as A Guy Like You, Take Action!, Fact, Check This Out, and Tips to beef up the once-over-lightly text with some actual details and empowering suggestions. Cartoon drawings decorate the pages, with spreads of Guy Comix illustrating the text with situational scenarios. The net effect is not unlike reading a collection of brief self-help articles from a teen magazine.
Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
“A snappy self-help guide with enough of a comic-book flair to appeal to guys.”—School Library Journal
“Boys will find this fun guide, with its myth-debunking comic strips, easy to relate to and full of helpful hints. The hip layout of the book, coupled with its use of quotes from real guys, helps to ease the embarrassment of addressing troublesome issues such as body changes, new social demands on a young teen, and divorce. Infused with character-building messages and advice from Zimmerman, 100 Things is a helpful and accessible resource for young men.”—Youth Today
“Great for the guy who needs to know what other guys are thinking, trying to figure out, mad about, glad about, feeling what, getting along, and needs to know about family, friends, being themselves.”—Children’s Literature
“A positive, practical, and affirming look at what it means to be male these days.”
—Curriculum Review
“As you prepare for a new school year, you may want to scan the new 100 Things Guys Need to Know—and leave the book handy for the boys in your life.”—Parenting Press
“Everything about this book is for and about guys. Graphic-novel-style illustrations engage even reluctant readers. Quotes from real boys, results from a nationwide survey, stories, and facts keep them interested. Prompts invite boys to think about each topic and what it means to them from family life to fitting in, showing emotions, bullies, school, peer pressure, failure, anger, and more.” —The Cracked Spine blog
“Zimmerman dispels myths about macho responses and offers sound advice about school, relationships, health and plans for the future.”—Patriot-News
“Truly a gift to boys and parents. . . . Buy this book for your pre-teen and buy one for the school library where he attends. ”—Eccentric Observer Newspapers
