From School Library Journal
YA?An important book for teens, their parents, educators, and anyone else associated with the sometimes unfathomable adolescent years. Beginning with an explanation of healthy versus destructive behavior, Ponton makes it clear that taking risks is an important part of the developmental process. However, unhealthy or self-destructive risk taking is another matter, and teens must understand the causes of these behaviors in order to change them. In a series of case studies, the author/psychiatrist introduces teens she has counseled who exhibit a variety of dangerous behaviors, including running away, unprotected sex, self-mutilation, eating disorders, pregnancy, and bullying. Issues involved in the mother-son and father-daughter relationships are clearly explored. Divorce war dilemmas and their possible effects on a teen's actions are explained. The importance of familial influence, of the provision of healthy role models and open communication lines is ably demonstrated. Although adults will find this an illuminating book, it will appeal to YAs as well. It is readable, the case studies use teens that come from various backgrounds and have different abilities, and the behaviors are clearly explained. Many adolescents are likely to find a deeper understanding of their own actions or those of their friends. Notes for each chapter provides access to additional reading on the subjects covered and the complete index makes research on a particular issue easy.?Carol DeAngelo, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Ponton, a San Francisco psychiatrist who specializes in treating adolescents, asserts that risk taking is a normal and even essential part of the teenage years. Unfortunately, when positive risks aren't modeled by a teen's family or peer group, negative and dangerous risk taking is often the result. Ponton describes several case studies of adolescents who have opted for dangerous risks such as running away, taking drugs, having unprotected intercourse, getting involved in gang activity, and even raping and terrorizing other teens. All the case studies presented go into detail about the family or social dynamics that have contributed to the teen's negative risk taking. Despite a de facto fictionalization?Ponton has changed all identifying characteristics, added made-up dialog, and sometimes morphed two or more people's stories together?the author has put together a work that delves deeply into why teens take dangerous risks. Not really a parenting book so much as a work of analysis, this is suitable for medium and larger public libraries.?Pamela A. Matthews, Univ. of Maryland Lib., Baltimore
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
