Customer Reviews

Bring Them Back Alive: Helping Teens Get Out and Stay Out of Trouble

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Nominally I would take at face value and trust the review given by Publishers Weekly (above). IN this case though, I believe the public would be given a disservice if some of the finer feautures of the book were not pointed out. PW might be too myopic about writing style rather than a concerted focus on the issues this book tackles. I would wholeheartedly recommend 'Bring Them Back Alive' to any person involved in youth advocacy, for any parent concerned with their teen in any way, for any person who seeks to understand the state of mind of todays disenfranchised youth. It is ironic that as the use of the Internet adds a dazzingly real and potentially profound twist in the stages of development for teens as a potent force of influence, that there would seem to be no main throught stream in juniour adult psychology yet to address this burgeoning issue. Perhaps it shows how little we know. This, in fact, has always been the case of we representative adults and always been the main gap between adults and teens. How little we know and how much we choose to selectively forget about our own formative years. This has been the focus on this book. i.e. How to better understand and overcome that gap. The book doesnt use complex jargon based on demographics and studies and analysis or heavy wording or flow charts, but nor does it waver towards the overly simplistic. It cuts across and dissects both to reveal a mosaic look on the complexities of the problem of teens gravitating towards trouble in our society, and suggests that the best way to tackle the problem is to have your tack motivated from an angle of understanding first. It does not offer easy solutions or "tough love" type geared answers and anyone reading it should be prepared to roll up their sleeves a little. It is too bad that Publishers Weeekly ignored the real and complex elements this book tries to tackle and its tantamount importance to society. It is a formidable effort to treat one of North Americas most neglected and underscored issues with intelligence, respect and know-how. Perhaps Publishers Weekely feel this type of book is not worth its time nor do they feel the effort towards the problems it attempts to assuage are worth sustaining. Like a teen itself, this book deserves a good chance at understanding as long as you dont overlook the complexity of what it tries to tackle and you are prepared to take a little bad mixed in with the good. Anyone who works with youth or intends to , any parent, any person with disenfranchised youth living in their community, or any one person who seeks to read a book by an author with his finger gently on the pulse of todays youth should read this book. It is a must have for your library. Thanks to Amazon for allowing readers to post reviews and accolades to this book! - Max Stelmacker, BC, CANADA