Family & Relationships : Adolescence

The bestselling author of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents explores the phenomenon of the Latina ?sweet fifteen? celebration. The quincea?era, the fifteenth birthday celebration for a Latina girl, is quickly becoming an American event. This legendary party is a sight to behold: lavish ball gowns, extravagant catered meals, DJs, limousines, and multi-tiered cakes. The must haves for a ?quince? are becoming as numerous and costly as a prom or wedding. And yet, this elaborate ritual also hearkens back to traditions from native countries and communities, offering young Latinas a chance to connect with their heritage. In Once Upon a Quincea?era, Julia Alvarez explores this celebration that brings a Latina girl into womanhood. She attends the quince of a young woman named ?Monica? who lives in Queens, and witnesses the commotion, confusion, and potential for disaster that comes with planning this important event. Alvarez also weaves in interviews with other quince girls, her own memories of coming of age as an immigrant, and the history of the custom itself?how it originated and what has changed as Latinas become accustomed to a supersize American culture. Once Upon a Quincea?era is an enlightening, accessible, and entertaining portrait of contemporary Latino culture as well as a critical look at the rituals of coming of age and the economic and social consequences of the quince parties. Julia Alvarez?s dedicated fans will be eager to hear her thoughts on this topic. It is a great book for anyone interested in American youth today?parents, teachers, and teenagers themselves. more...

Price: $15.00

“My daughter used to be so wonderful. Now I can barely stand her and she won’t tell me anything. How can I find out what’s going on?” “There’s a clique in my daughter’s grade that’s making her life miserable. more...

Price: $15.00

An honest, intimate look at the lives of today's teens—told through the true experiences of friends at a New England prep school. Established in 1798, Milton Academy has a proud history of achievement. It has educated artists and CEOs; it has produced a long line of distinguished scholars and dignitaries; and it has shepherded students through the world of high-pressure academics for generations. Since its founding, the public face of Milton had always been one of integrity and pride . . . until a sex scandal rocked the campus and made headlines in the spring of 2005. The offense? Teenagers doing no more than what others had done before them—except this time they got caught. Restless Virgins is the riveting real-life story of a group of seniors who were there as the "incident" (as it came to be called) unfolded: Whitney, the athletic and sensual beauty every girl wants to be; Annie, who craves acceptance but is torn between the desire for peer approval and musical success; Jillian, the smart one who is sick of high school drama and desperate to go to college; and Reed, a "hockey god" who has it all but whose charisma masks a secret insecurity. From "friends with benefits" to STDs, today's teens face a wider array of social and sexual opportunities—and pressures—than ever before. Through its eye-opening yet sensitive depiction of a group of normal kids with normal struggles, Restless Virgins offers an important look at contemporary adolescence no teen, parent, or educator can afford to miss. And it is written by two recent Milton graduates who know this world—and these students—like no others. more...

Price: $10.99

What to do when a good girl falls for a bad boy? Here, at last, is a book that provides desperately needed help for anxious parents. It offers specific, usable tactics for confronting teen dating abuse, including: What to say to a daughter before she begins dating Twenty-three warning signs that a girl is in an unhealthy relationship Nine steps a best friend can take if dating violence is suspected Ten ways to intervene effectively and open up the lines of communication How to break the cycle of controlThroughout the book are the voices of girls and their parents, as well as the insights of psychologists who outline prevention strategies and discuss the most effective ways to communicate with a daughter when the last thing she wants is her parents' advice. more...

Price: $9.99

The Self-Directed Learning Handbook offers teachers and principals an innovative program for customizing schooling to the learning needs of individual students and for motivating them to take increasing responsibility for deciding what and how they should learn. Whether the students are struggling or proficient, the program is designed to nurture their natural passion for learning and mastery, challenging them to go beyond the easy and familiar so they can truly excel. more...

Price: $29.00