Month: October 2017

 This parenting title was first published in 2015. “The Collapse of Parenting: How We Hurt Our Kids When We Treat Them Like Grown-Ups,” is a modern day primer about how to raise children with integrity and respect. Dr. Sax’s view is that one of the main problems with American children today is that they turn to their peers too often and not enough to their parents. Sax believes that we are living in a culture of disrespect not seen in most other countries. Children in the USA most often will listen to their friends and peers instead of their parents. The first half of the book discusses what the issue stems from. The second half discusses solutions. He argues that American parents are often caught up in making their children happy and therefore give in to their demands and desires too easily because parents want their children to love them. Sax believes parents’ beliefs and expectations should be adhered to. Instead, children most often consider their friends opinions instead. He examines the over-prescription of medications and the fragility of today’s teenagers. Recommended. Also available in audio.

 

I’m sorry, but this book was terrible. Bleed Like Me by Christa Desir was recommended to me by a Teen who described it as “a book full of drama”, but I just found it to be unrealistic, unnecessarily morose, and frankly very annoying. Reviewers described it as “edgy and heartbreaking”, and although it is slightly sad at the end: it is not edgy.

“Seventeen-year-old Amelia Gannon (just “Gannon” to her friends) is invisible to almost everyone in her life. To her parents, to her teachers-even her best friend, who is more interested in bumming cigarettes than bonding. Some days the only way Gannon knows she is real is by carving bloody lines into the flesh of her stomach.
Then she meets Michael Brooks, and for the first time, she feels like she is being seen to the core of her being. Obnoxious, controlling, damaged, and addictive, he inserts himself into her life until all her scars are exposed. Each moment together is a passionate, painful relief.
But as the relationship deepens, Gannon starts to feel as if she’s standing at the foot of a dam about to burst. She’s given up everything and everyone in her life for him, but somehow nothing is enough for Brooks-until he poses the ultimate test.”

Gannon thinks that she cannot share her feelings or depression with anyone in her life. She thinks she is too good to share with her best friend. She resents her parents so much that she doesn’t accept any love they send her way and she irrationally latches onto a boy that she KNOWS is evil and throws EVERYTHING IN HER LIFE AWAY for him.  I’m sorry but this book has no redeeming qualities except something to read when you need to feel better about your own life/decisions. That is all.

Scrawl: Rockland Teens Write 2018

 

The Teen Librarian Division of the Library Association of Rockland County is proud to announce that they will be publishing their third collection of fiction, non-fiction and poetry written by teens in Rockland County. Submissions are open to anyone in grades 6-12 that lives in Rockland County. Submissions may be no longer than 2500 words in length.  Graphic novel pieces may be no longer than 5 pages. This will be a juried publication featuring published guest editors! The book launch will be at a Rockland County Library (tba) in May 2018.

The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, January 16, 2018. Please submit entries to rocklandteenswrite@gmail.com

 Mary Berry is the former host of the “Great British Bake Off.” This is a reality show on British TV that can be seen in the US on DVD through our library system.  Having enjoyed watching Mary Berry judge the chefs, she has not returned to the show this season due to contract disputes. Many of her cookbooks are available. Although many of her household hints you’ve already thought of, I like the comments she inserts in between hints:

“For many people, the television is the focal point of the room. Try to choose one that doesn’t get Channel 4. It’s gone downhill dreadfully recently and features programmes with that awful, money-grabbing Paul Hollywood.“

“When baking, don’t use any of Prue Leith’s cookbooks. She really doesn’t have a clue what she is doing.”

I am hoping that she returns to TV soon in another venue as her proper, upper crust English ways are entertaining to watch.