Real Lives: Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go to School [Paperback]

Grace Llewellyn (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up–In this updated edition of the 1993 publication, the author has added information to the original essays about what these teens are doing today. Some have followed academic careers, while others have blossomed in small businesses and independent endeavors. All are articulate and passionate about what they are doing. Kyla Wetherell rode her bike through the mountains in South America; Amanda Bergson-Shilcock went to the University of Pennsylvania–without taking the SAT. Kevin Sellstrom attends college and plans to be a special-ed teacher. Llewellyn includes a fairly long preface and introduction as well as two appendixes that give additional information. This book is a must for any family considering homeschooling and should be read by high school teachers who wonder why their students lack motivation.–Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

It is estimated that today there are approximately 150,000 to 300,000 children being homeschooled in the United States. This book is different in perspective from those published over the past few years, such as Borg Hendrickson's Home School: Taking the First Step ( LJ 3/1/89); Jane Van Galen's Home Schooling: Political, Historical and Pedagogical Perspectives (Ablex, 1991); Michael Farris's Home Schooling and the Law (Home Schooling Legal Defense Assn., 1991); and Christopher Klicka's Home Schooling in the United States (Home Schooling Legal Defense Assn., 1991). Here Llewellyn, author of The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How To Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education (Lowry House Pubs., 1991) has edited rich in-depth biographical and philosophical essays solicited from 11 teens who tell why they made the decision (with the help of their families) not to be "tamed" or stifled by traditional schooling methodologies and regulations. The essays shed light on what happens during a typical day in the lives of homeschooled individuals, how the teens became as educated (and self-confident) as they appear to be, what motivates them to learn, their views on homeschooling versus traditional education, hopes for the future, etc. Many misconceptions about homeschooling are debunked. This is essential for all collegiate teacher education collections and for those public libraries where interest in the topic abounds.
- Scott Johnson, Meridian Community Coll. Lib., Miss.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Lowry House Pub; First Printing edition (May 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962959138
• ISBN-13: 978-0962959134
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,805,664 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Real Lives : Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go to School, March 26, 2000

By 

Mary Jamba (Cleveland, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Real Lives: Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go to School (Paperback)

This book is about the daily lives of 11 teenagers who are currently unschooled. Some had attended public or private schools in the past and some have been life long unschoolers.

I found it facinating to read about what teenagers are capable of when they are not stuck in a typical school setting. It reinforced my decision to not send my own children to school.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Real Lives, September 20, 2001

By 

Bintalla "bintalla" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Lives: Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go to School (Paperback)

The teens profiled in this books are effective living advertisements for the 'unschooling' lifestyle. I was impressed with the book, which I read after "The Teenage Liberation handbook."

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, March 14, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Real Lives: Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go to School (Paperback)

I read this book when I was just starting my high school years as an unschooler and was considering public or private school to continue my education. The teens in this book were inspiring and to this day if I ever hear an insulting comment about my choice of education, I think of what these teens have done and how I want to be just as much as an inspiration to my younger unschooled friends. I recommend this book to ANYONE!