Keepin' It Real: A Young Teen Talks With God [Paperback]

Sandra McLeod Humphrey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0788019538 | ISBN-13: 978-0788019531

Anyone who is (or who ever has been) 13 will identify with Leslie's struggles to make sense of her family, her faith, her own thoughts, and the world. Through her letters to God, Leslie deals with questions as big as the very nature of God and as small as why Mom gets so bent out of shape about how the bathroom towels are folded. Sandra Humphrey has done a beautiful job of not only creating a very believable character, but more importantly, of showing young readers how inextricably faith is linked to the issues of everyday life.
Lynn Gilliam
Associate Editor, Pockets

Leslie has just turned 13 -- and she is having a very bad year. Not only is she stuck in a new school where she doesn't know anyone, but she's also stuck in a life group at her church where the leader of her small discussion group asks tough questions that she can't answer. Come along and join Leslie on her faith journey as she writes letters to God, and in the process begins to discover answers to some of her problems.

Keepin' It Real is sassy and sensitive. It's an honest look at a young girl's struggles -- and insights -- as she faces puberty and searches for faith.
Mary Lou Carney
Editor-in-chief, Guideposts for Teens

Warm, witty, and real, these true-to-life prayers offer delightful windows into the heart of God and every girl who prays to him.
Lois Walfrid Johnson
Author, The Disappearing Stranger and the Adventures of the Northwoods series

Keepin' It Real will help young people all over the world love themselves and God -- and have light and hope in this wild, confusing world.
Troy and Genie Nilsson
Christian Songwriters

Sandra Humphrey takes on all the trials of teenagehood -- pimples, dates, gym class, even parents contemplating divorce -- and gives her readers an idea of just where to turn for help.
Rick Hamlin
Managing Editor, Guideposts

Sandra McLeod Humphrey is a retired clinical psychologist with over 35 years experience working with young people. She is the author of the best-selling volumes If You Had To Choose, What Would You Do? and It's Up To You ... What Do You Do?, and is a regular contributor to My Friend, the Catholic magazine for young people. Humphrey is also a writer and consultant for the Heroes and Dreams Foundation, which supplies character education materials to elementary schools throughout the United States.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Deals with tough topics as the reader joins Leslie on her quest to find answers to some of her questions." -- Arden Leali, Minnetonka SunSailor, 2/6/03

"No thee" and "thou" in these letters. No formulas for prayer. Just stark honesty. -- Leader in the Church School Today, Spring 2003

"Takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery as we join 13-year-old Leslie on her own faith journey." -- Alan Caruba, Bookviews, February 2003

"This book will encourage kids to develop a personal relationship with God through prayer in their daily lives." -- Sr. Kathryn James Hermes, FSP, Managing Editor of MY FRIEND, the Catholic Magazine for Kids

"Witty and true to life. A wonderful book for all teens to help them better understand their relationship with God." -- Christina Lewis, KidsBookshelf, March 2003

"Young teens will find comfort as they realize that they are not alone in their search for answers." -- Tammy Moore, Christian Bookshelf Book Review, March 2003

Not a typical book on spirituality for kids. It is casual and realistic and amusing. Highly recommended. -- Anne E. Neuberger, Christian Author and Columnist

Warm, witty, real. These prayers offer delightful windows into the heart of God and every girl who prays to him. -- Lois Walfrid Johnson, Author, The Disappearing Stranger and Adventures of the Northwoods Series

Will help young people everywhere love themselves and God--and have light and hope in this wild, confusing world. --Troy and Genie Nilsson, Christian Songwriters

From the Author

I have dedicated this book to all the young men and women with whom I have worked, both professionally and as a volunteer, and who have taught me far more than I could ever teach them.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 92 pages
• Publisher: Css Pub Co (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0788019538
• ISBN-13: 978-0788019531
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #850,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sandra McLeod Humphrey is a retired clinical psychologist, a character education consultant, and an award-winning author of eight middle-grade and young adult books. She's also the recipient of the National Character Education Center's Award for Exemplary Leadership in Ethics Education (2000) and the 2005 Helen Keating Ott Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children's Literature. You can learn more about her books by visiting her Web site at www.kidscandoit.com and her blog at www.kidscandoit.com/blog/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Teens will find an empathetic voice within these pages, September 11, 2006

By 

R. B. Salonen "book mama" (Fargo, ND) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keepin' It Real: A Young Teen Talks With God (Paperback)

As a mother of five children, one of whom is coming up on the teen years, I found Keepin' It Real a good reminder of the deeply-felt concerns of those no longer children but not yet adults. This is a genuine glimpse into the thoughts of a young person struggling to sort through some of life's toughest questions. It highlights the importance of the journey itself, and of keeping God always in sight. As I read it, I felt I easily could have been reading my own diary from my growing up years, when emotions were high and confusion an everyday feeling. Both parents and teens will benefit from a read-through of this sensitive approach to growing up in today's world.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for teens!, February 26, 2003

By 

Christian Bookshelf "Christian Bookworm Reviews" (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keepin' It Real: A Young Teen Talks With God (Paperback)

Do you remember being in junior high and all those changes? Or are you in junior high and wondering if you are the only one with all these thoughts and conflicts running around in your mind? This book is a junior high girl's diary of her talks with God. She talks to him about her new house, new school, new church group and how frightened she is with all these changes. We read her thoughts as she handles her feelings that a new teacher doesn't care, and that her parents' rules are too crazy. We watch as she shares with God her fear about her parents' pending divorce. We see her mature in her strength in God as she goes through this school year. This is a nice book that a teenager should find comforting by realizing that they aren't the only one dealing with feeling that their legs are too thin, nose is too flat, that they are too shy or wondering if God is real and answers their prayers.

--- Reviewed by Tammy Moore for Christian Bookshelf

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for helping teens learn where to turn for help, January 13, 2003

By 

"jadesholty2" (Editor, Metro Lutheran Newspaper, Mpls) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keepin' It Real: A Young Teen Talks With God (Paperback)

This book takes on all the trials of teenagehood--pimples, dates, gym class, even parents contemplating divorce--and gives her readers an idea of just where to turn for help.