Catch the Spirit: Teen Volunteers Tell How They Made a Difference (Single Title: Social Studies: Teen Issues) [Library Binding]

Susan K. Perry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2000 | Series: Single Title: Social Studies: Teen Issues

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Individual teenagers relate their experiences in various types of volunteer activities.

--This text refers to the School & Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9-With so many student groups requiring members to log volunteer hours and with service learning on the rise, this book may come in handy for ideas. Perry features 20 teens, all "remarkable recipients of the Prudential Spirit of Community Award." In first-person accounts, the students relate the stories behind their projects that led to national recognition. Lo Detrich, a teen with a life expectancy of 30 due to cystic fibrosis, has raised $150,000 to find a cure for her disease. David Levitt organized a local Operation Food for Thought program and collected over 55,000 pounds of extra school lunch food for the hungry in one year. Football standout Marcus Houston shovels snow to earn prize money for an essay contest open to local eighth graders on how to be successful. The common denominator for the stories is a young adult with an idea, determination, and heart. The accounts read well, and the appendixes provide excellent sources of information with steps to get started volunteering, over 200 project ideas, and contact information for organizations. Since the stories are personal ones from individual teens, readers will likely choose this book over the "Service Learning" series (Children's) or the "Community Service for Teens" series (Ferguson), which read like report books. The colorful cover, photos of the young people, and an attractive format are a plus.
Leigh Ann Jones, Staley Middle School, Frisco, TX
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 192 pages
• Publisher: Franklin Watts (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531118835
• ISBN-13: 978-0531118832
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 8.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,958,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan K. Perry has enjoyed writing her whole life. She began professionally by sending in a tip to a woman's magazine and receiving $3 in stamps as payment. While her sons were in school, she wrote heartfelt essays about raising them. Eventually she expanded her topics to cover anything The L.A. Times and regional magazines would pay for. As her passions coalesced a bit more narrowly into psychological subjects, she went back to school for a Ph.D. and began to write books. Playing Smart, Writing in Flow, and Loving in Flow are among her most popular.

She now blogs about "Creating in Flow" at Psychology Today's site, as well as offering love advice online for Netscape. She has taught writing online for many years, and continues to work as a consultant for several individual writers who are struggling with books. Her current project is polishing her novel about a rational woman who has to learn how to let go of everything she loves.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Examples to Inspire Volunteerism, November 5, 2000

By 

Tom Lagana - See all my reviews

This review is from: Catch the Spirit: Teen Volunteers Tell How They Made a Difference (Single Title: Teen) (Paperback)

Even thought this is a book of wonderful examples about teens who have volunteered, it's an inspiration for everyone -- whether they already volunteer or want to. I'm recommending this book to the thousands of people I network with while co-authoring "Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul."

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Have for Libraries, November 13, 2000

By 

Joyce Sweeney (Coral Springs, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Catch the Spirit: Teen Volunteers Tell How They Made a Difference (Single Title: Social Studies: Teen Issues) (Library Binding)

Every school library will want this book. Through diverse, inspiring examples Dr.Perry shows how teens all across America have made a difference by volunteering their time and passion to good causes. Each story is both personal and universal and brings home the point that nothing feels better than making the world a better place. In the back of the book are great suggestions for getting started with your own service project and special tips if you're shy or unsure what kind of project is right for you. This book would also be a great gift for service organizations to give to outstanding teens.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring and hope-filled, December 20, 2000

By 

Joan Mazza "Author, speaker, poet" (Mineral, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Catch the Spirit: Teen Volunteers Tell How They Made a Difference (Single Title: Teen) (Paperback)

So much of what is said in the news about young people today is negative and critical of them, highlighting disasters and tragedies. CATCH THE SPIRIT focuses on a few of the many teenagers who volunteer and make a difference in the world by giving of themselves and reaching out to help others. More important, they learn that confidence and self-esteem come from taking having purpose and taking action in their lives. How delightful to hear these stories in the words of these young, courageous, and empathic teens! I'd love to see some of these stories featured on TV talk shows.

~Joan Mazza, author of Dream Back Your Life; Dreaming Your Real Self; Things That Tick Me Off; and Exploring Your Sexual Self.