My Crazy Life (Library Binding)

~ Allen Flaming (Compiler), Kate Scowen (Compiler) "Families can really make you crazy..." (more)
Key Phrases: Looking Back

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-Up This collection of narratives compiled by two social workers describes family life for 10 teens trying to cope with divorce, addictions, abuse, or neglect. The intent is to offer comfort and inspiration to readers who may be experiencing the same problems. Chapters alternate between boys and girls, beginning with Cassandra, a 13-year-old whose mother left the family for another woman. She loves both parents but finds herself in the middle of uncharted territory. Maria's story tells about her father's death from AIDS and Randy writes of being neglected by his mother and has memories of sexual abuse. The teens' situations are encapsulated in a paragraph at the start of each story. The language is plain and direct, as though transcribed, with the narrators often assessing their own behavior and quoting parents or siblings. Comments at the end of the selections explain how the young people rose above the "crazy" times to face a brighter future. Their advice to others is to trust their feelings, make friends, and seek outside help. An afterword suggests local community services, school counselors, national hot lines, and Web sites. This volume will interest a general audience and be useful as a counseling resource. -Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 8-12. Compiled by two experienced Canadian social workers, this book contains 10 personal narratives of teens who found ways to survive their dysfunctional families. Narratives include a "Look Back" section, in which teens reflect on their pasts and offer survival tips that worked with their family situations. The stories are gritty, funny, sad, and even heroic, and readers will be easily drawn into the stories, which speak frankly about abuse, divorce, homosexuality, illness, and addictions. The wild title and a cover resembling an authentic teen journal will definitely attract attention. An earnest afterword offers advice on where to find help for family problems. A few helpful Web sites for Canadians and Americans round things out. Jean Franklin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Library Binding: 144 pages
• Publisher: Annick Press (March 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550377337
• ISBN-13: 978-1550377330
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,873,954 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)