What Are My Rights?: 95 Questions and Answers About Teens and the Law (Paperback)

by Thomas A. Jacobs J.D. (Author) "Did you know that 189 countries, including the United States and Canada, have signed a Declaration of the Rights of the Child?..." (more)
Key Phrases: Supreme Court, United States, Rosen Publishing Group (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 6 Up?An attorney with extensive experience in the area of law as it applies to youth has assembled 95 questions and answers into an exceptionally solid guide for teens. Recognizing that society has grave responsibilities toward young people, Jacobs voices the need for legal systems to guide and protect them. The scope of information is comprehensive, including issues of family, school, employment, the body and growing up, crime, punishment, and the legal system. Jacobs addresses the basics: the authority of parents, the right of children to be free from abuse, what to do when parents divorce, the need for children to be educated, the rights of employers as well as their teenage employees, and health issues, including substance abuse as well as the legal ramifications of HIV infection. In addition, he deals with issues that kids face everyday: "Can my locker be opened and searched?"; "Can I be made to undergo drug testing to engage in school athletics?"; and "Can I get my own apartment?" Every chapter ends with a list of questions and thought-provoking activities that encourage readers to examine the relevance and the ethics of the law as it affects them. Charts and inserts that contain real-life examples, compelling data, and other information enhance the text. A list of books, organizations, and Web sites germane to the questions are included. This current and comprehensive book is an important inclusion for collections serving teens.?Sylvia V. Meisner, Allen Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 7^-12. Like the more specialized ACLU Handbooks for Young Americans , this one also uses a question-and-answer format. But unlike those books, it generally steers clear of legal specifics and extended discussion. In clear, everyday language, with just a sprinkling of legal terms, Jacobs presents useful guidelines and background on a variety of topically organized concerns related to teens' rights within the family, at school, on the job, in the community, and within the legal system itself: "What will happen if I get caught shoplifting?" "Can I get an abortion without telling my parents?" "What rights do teen parents have?" Jacobs is not overly judgmental, though he occasionally supplies some stern examples of consequences, as in his response to a question about the legality of sniffing glue or paint thinner. Also, when discussing thorny issues, he sometimes suggests that teens consult trusted adults before making big decisions. "FYI" sections following each discussion question steer readers to additional resources, and "Think about It, Talk about It" sections following each chapter are ideal for teachers. Stephanie Zvirin

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing; Updated Edition edition (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575420287
• ISBN-13: 978-1575420288
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #522,437 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best Teens Guid In the World, January 7, 2003

By	Cortni Tyler (Boston,Mass) - See all my reviews

This book was basically adout a teen's life and what main thigs go on. This book has alot of the bad things that teens think adout doing or have done and the consequences of getting caught.This book also gives good advise about everything from being adopted to having sex.

I liked the book because I learned a lot of facts about my life as a teen that will be helpful to me.

I would recommend this book to all of the teens that want to know the limits that they can go in life; good and bad. I would also recommend this book to the parents so that they will have some idea of how to better deal with teens that are out of control and not out of control.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Offers nothing more or less than plain honest truth, without preaching or moralizing, in simple question-and-answer format. , December 9, 2006

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Now in an updated edition, What Are My Rights? 95 Questions and Answers About Teens and the Law presents Judge Tom Jacobs' matter-of-fact answers to common questions than teenagers have, from "If my parents get a divorce, will I still get to visit my grandparents?" to "What do I do if I'm being abused or neglected?", "What does emancipation mean?" or "Can my juvenile record be destroyed?" Though written especially to help teens stay out of trouble, What Are My Rights offers nothing more or less than plain honest truth, without preaching or moralizing, in simple question-and-answer format. Enthusiastically recommended for public library collections.