Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Insightful & Written for Teenage Girls, February 19, 2008
Adolescence for those who can remember, is a difficult time of life, and having worked with young adults for some time now, as a secondary school teacher, more often, it is the teenage girls who have the toughest time. This is not to say that boys have it easier, simply girls mature faster, and the decisions they have to make are never easy. Dudum has written something that is quite unique. His prose is directly written for his intended audience, teenage girls, and he pulls it off beautifully.
Dudum's advice is simple and, as the title states, is a "Survival Guide" for teenage girls.
As the cliche goes, "hormones are in hyperdrive"; it is a time when decisions, big decisions have to be made. "Should I follow my friends and have sex though I don't want to?" "What is sexual assault, harrasment and rape?" Who am I, really?" One of the main issues I've come across is self esteem; some young women, although they FEEL it's wrong, that is to say, having sex because her friends are all doing it and drinking, too...will go along (to be accepted) and after the deed is done, plunge into depression, leading to the worst thing you can imagine.
Dudum has covered alot of poignant and relevant issues concerning teenage girls, and in some cases, has hit the nail right on the head.
The most important chapters in my humble opinion are: 9,"Find out Who you really are...Not"; 41, "The Media Hype"; 43, "Manipulative Boys" and, 57, "Hang in there and Go for It."
From my experience, you can never order a teenage girl, "Read this because you need it!" She'll simply will not because you ordered her to; keep it around and she'll eventually, because it's her "choice", pick it up and read it.
And, to be sure, the book is written in such a way that it will at least get her thinking, reflecting about her life...and making (hopefully) the right decisions...and that in itself is a great thing.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
What Your Mother Didn't Know, February 26, 2008
It IS a different world out there from the one today's mothers and grandmothers grew up in. Girls today are more liberated and independent, but their increased independence, mobility and access to media and the Internet make them more vulnerable to dangers and predators -- at a time when their immaturity and inexperience mean they are not fully equipped to deal with the dangers and temptations.
From a mother's perspective this book is a must-read. It gives valuable insights into the world your daughters (and sons) inhabit, and invaluable tools to helping them handle that world in a responsible way.
The language is frank but, frankly, not as nearly as "colorful" as some reviews suggest.
From a daughter's perspective, I wish a book like this had been available when I was a teenager. it would have helped me immensely deal with some of the challenges of growing up, and I believe it also would have made it easier for me to communicate with my mother.
Thanks, Richard, for a really worthwhile read.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Providing her with the tools she needs, March 4, 2008
Ah, the teenaged daughter. They are a wonder. I have my own and feel qualified to say this. I want to be everything I can for her, but we all know that this isn't possible. Providing her with the tools she needs for life is important. For this reason, I am ever grateful to Richard M. Dudum for authoring "What You Mother Never Told You." I could have used this book when I was a teen and I still appreciated the reminder of certain passages. Get a copy for the teenaged girls in your life, or get one for yourself if you fit that demographic. You'll be glad you did.
Your mother might have sat you down for "the talk" and you cringed, and she cringed. Likely it wasn't enough to answer all of your questions but maybe you couldn't stand it anymore. Maybe you were lucky enough to have a really open mom who you could talk to about anything, but I'll bet there were still a few things that didn't get covered. "What Your Mother Never Told You" covers everything. Yes, everything...from how you are perceived in high school - as a snob, slut, show off, or shy girl - to how you will be remembered at your twentieth reunion, from accepting compliments and gifts from a guy to what you should not feel obligated to give him in return, from telling your parents that you are embarrassed by their behavior, or even appalled by it, and everything in between. What should you do if a friend seems to have an eating disorder, or you think that you might? What can do for a friend who is cutting herself? How can you be supportive of a friend whose parents are getting divorced? What if you need that support?
Discovering who you are and who you aren't is part of being a teen (and an adult!) and this book can help sort things out. It's like having this really cool parent to guide you, but not tell you what to do. Robert offers his advice and readers are free to take it or leave it, but reading it is the way to make informed decisions. Information is an important tool to have, and the best possible tool any parent can hope to give their daughters.
Written in a no-nonsense, straight talk manner, "What Your Mother Never Told You" is right on target with today's teen. Each topic is covered succinctly and with care. In between are pretty images of floral designs, speaking to the femininity of its readers. Used as a tool for parents to broach topics with reluctant-to-talk teens or as a guide for them to read on their own, this book is sure to touch lives, inform minds, and even make you smile as you read about how "you don't owe him Jack..." It is "the talk" on subjects that might make you blush, but are the must have tools for today's society. Bravo!
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