Pregnancy-and-Substance-Abuse Books

This excellent guidebook promotes respectful relationships! It contains both affirmations and explanations of hurtful interpersonal behaviors. Parents and teachers will become more skillful as they realize the importance of providing both realistic expectations (nurture) and sturdy boundaries (structure).

I have used this book for parenting groups, for high school students studying human development, and for individual parents trying to understand how their parenting styles affect children's behaviors. Two illuminating charts illustrate 6 parenting styles for care & nurture, and for providing structure. One of my favorite features is an "Ages & Stages" section in the appendix. Each stage roughly correlates to Erik Erickson's stage theory and outlines the developmental tasks for that stage, a list of helpful as well as harmful parenting behaviors, signs that the stage may not have been successfully completed and ideas for "re-parenting" yourself to revisit that stage. People cannot help but come away from this books with new insights into their own behaviors -- in parenting their own children or reflecting on how they were parented. The writing is engaging, not pompous or stiff. I'm a family therapist, and this is one of my favorite books -- one that I frequently recommend to parents.

This is the single best guide for parenting ever developed. As a retired school counselor, I continue to use this material when working with parents wanting assurance they are doing the best parenting possible.

This book is meant for those that need help to see what they are missing in their life and how that relates to how they parent. I like how they have redone the entire book and still kept the same excellent content. This a workbook type study manuel and it is worth getting. So many parents didn't have superior parenting and this helps fill in the gaps without making the parent feel worthless or stupid.

I picked up this book before having our first child thinking I would get some insights into how to raise our daughter. What I found was that the book was really for me. Through it, I learned about how I have some of the same needs as children--needs like recognition, feeling valued, loved for who I am, unconditionally.

What's more,it helped me understand better what my needs really are and how to get them met by myself and from others who love me. Most importantly I learned that in order to parent my daugther the I way I want her to grow up, I needed to parent myself and make sure my actions are congruent with my what I want for her. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants to create a solid, loving, nurturing environment for themselves and their children.

I've been through alot lately, and was looking for some comfort. This was too over the top - things can't possibly be this way. Way too corny for me. Too happy - whose happy to die and see their loved ones suffer???? The things that the angels "do" - are too far fetched. Sorry, this one went back and I don't send many back, but this was such a waste of money.

Angel On Board was a page turner of positive energy from start to finish. Even when it brought tears to my eyes, those tears were followed by a smile. Though a complete work of fiction, I still feel as if this is a MUST READ book for everyone who has or will experience loss. It lightens your heart and gives you hope. I truly believe in the author's experiences which led her in her journey to write this literary masterpiece. No one imo can write such a beautiful, emotional and heart tugging book without a divine hand of guidance. I applaud E.J. Thornton for giving readers such hope in the form of this fun read. With the world of darkness that surrounds us in these troubled times, more beauty in books such as these are desperately needed.

Most books are written from a first-person perspective. Not this book, it is written from the angel's point of view.

It's opening line alone will grab you and the rest of the book will keep you turning page after page. It is an unusual and fresh way to engage the reader. If you're looking for something original to read. This is it!

I recommend this book highly...

Of course they do! This book is one of them! Oh my gosh!!!

I loved this book. It took me to a whole new dimension of living. I could see the angels around me (not literally of course) just the presents they leave behind.

This is an inspired work of fiction! Everyone needs it! It's fun, it's tear jerking, it's thought provoking! It's AWESOME!!!

Read it - you'll be glad you did!

I read all this hype about taking the 'not' and 'no's out of this book. I was like - so what, but the way it read is hard to describe. It flowed so well and even though there was some negative things being depicted - like death, alcholism, infidelity, etc - I wasn't ever on edge.

Reading is always relaxing to me, but this book took that to a whole new level. It felt good to read. So, I've gotta give this book the thumbs up on the positive claim.

I highly recommend this book to fiction fans, angel enthusiasts and generally people who want to feel better and can easily imagine another beautiful plane of existence all around us. I sure hope I've got an angel on board!

Polly Greene is different from other seventh graders at Laramie Junior High. In fact, she comes from a long line of women who are different. She can see auras --- colors and shapes around people --- which Baba, her grandmother, says is a powerful gift. The night Polly's sister Bree disappears, Polly sees a "red glow swirling around her middle."

Baba also has a special gift: she can see secrets and pain. She is a healer, who uses plants and nature to mend bodies and souls, and believes that people are a lot like plants ("both do better with a little tending, both turn toward the sun, both grow together over time, and both die.").

Being different doesn't make for happy times at school, and Polly's life becomes even less pleasant after her sister disappears. In the hallways, classmates stare and whisper. At home, neighbors and strangers bring casseroles and fruit baskets and offer help, but their food and words of comfort don't bring back Bree. At first, the community is consumed with looking for the missing teen, but after it appears that Bree has run away, the search and the sympathy dry up quickly.

Laramie, Idaho, the setting for GIRLWOOD, is "a city of newcomers, a city of strangers." With the growing population, real estate developers see the potential to turn a quick profit. They bulldoze the forests to build homes and "hack up the mountains so a few people can enjoy the view." The developers' desire for money comes in conflict with residents who cherish the natural beauty of the woods.

Polly believes that Bree is hiding out in the woods, but with winter approaching, she fears for her safety and well being. One evening, Baba shows Polly a hidden path in the middle of the woods that leads to a beautiful place Polly names Girlwood. She is convinced that Bree has taken refuge there and she can rescue her. With winter approaching and the pending development threatening to destroy the safe haven where she believes Bree is hiding, Polly desperately tries to protect the woods she treasures while saving her wayward sister.

Each chapter begins with an illustration of a plant bordering a paragraph about the plant's origin, habitat and healing properties, which is a nice touch. The book's message, and the legacy of Baba, is to speak out for one's beliefs and take risks to protect those you love. The image of the heartless, greedy developer with no redeeming qualities is overdone, and Carly, the developer's daughter, is portrayed a bit harshly for my tastes. Overall, however, GIRLWOOD is a moving story about the fragile nature of family and the environment --- and how a lot of love and a little attention can save them both.

--- Reviewed by Donna Volkenannt

The story follows a number of themes, including the challenges of growing up in our complicated modern world, family loyalties, love of nature, and the environmental concerns that threaten our way of life. These real-life issues are told with an over-lay of fantasy and magic, weaving them together in a delightful book.

I was connected to this book through Roots and Shoots as a book club choice. The girls from my group loved reading it. It had great lessons about nature, plants, beliefs, and coming of age in modern day.
Great for a book club for girls 11-14.

Only three people see and understand the power in a grove of larch trees called Girlwood: the power that holds fairies, and that gives Polly the ability to protect her reckless teen sister Bree, who runs away from home. Can Girlwood protect against developers who want to cut down the forest? A fine story of magic and fantasy evolves in a fine read for young adults who want uplifting adventure.

With one foot in the modern world and one foot in a world of fantasy, Claire Dean's Girlwood takes us into the life of Polly Greene, who can see the colors that surround people, revealing their true selves. Polly's older sister, Bree, disappears into the woods one night, and Polly is the only one who believes she has not run far, that she's hiding nearby to heal her out-of-control life.

When Polly finds a magical clearing hidden among the trees, she's certain that her sister is close, and she determines to leave her food and clothing and healing plants to help Bree survive until she's ready to return.

Girlwood explores many themes as Polly enlists the help of friends and family in her mission:
What's the value of nature compared to development?
Why do girls sometimes subvert their own personalities when they start to date?
How does divorce affect family dynamics?
How can parents teach and protect their children while also allowing them to have independent thoughts?

The themes are woven into a story that is as enchanting as the magical clearing, Girlwood, itself. And by the end, you may even find yourself searching for your own Girlwood.

I have recommended this book to parents in our school system that I know need it. The problem is the kids continue to manipulate them and lie about their drug use. This book is a life saver! It takes you through the initial assessment of the problem, to teaching you how to live with it. It is easily readable and so much of it applied directly to our situation.

This book is replete with good quality advice and information, The short personal anecdotes compliment the central narrative convincingly, rather than as mere literary frills. It deals with the problem from both the drug user's perspective and importantly also from that of the family. Often overlooked in the whole troubling saga is the need for the family to continue functioning even without the presence of the drug abuser. The book is strong in this area and many parents will nod their heads in agreement with its points. All in all a very useful guide.

I can't say enough for this book! It was clear, easy reading that helped me to understand what it means to be an addict. I have recommended it to other family members who are dealing with just this problem. It has been hard watching them struggle with this problem. I truly believe that they can begin to empower themselves and help their addicted adolescent if they read this book. I think that they could eliminate a lot of the misery that they go through by learning about their son/daughter's addiction and how it effects all family members. I learned about the role I play as an extended family member and how not to be an enabler. I recommend this book not only to parents, but to grandparents, aunts, and uncles. This is the most important book they will read to learn how not to enable their loved one to continue their addiction. The resources are valuable to those who don't know where to turn for help in dealing with addiction. The author, Nikki Babbit, not only has professional experience and training in working with adolescence and families; she, also, is the mother of a recovering son. I would highly recommend this book to all parents, not just those who are dealing with a teenage addict, because it will help you to be aware of and spot the signs of drug abuse before it becomes a problem in your family. Like the book says, it can happen in any family. Once again, BUY and READ this book! You will be thankful you did.

Dr. Babbit's book for parents with children who have a problem with alcohol and drugs is accessible and comprehensive, covering the disease concept of addiction, nature of assessments and treatment for children, and tools for personal recovery for parents. The book's appendices provide an excellent overview of descriptions of drugs and their effects, along with a guide on resources for further reading. Babbit brings to life this roller coaster ride parents experience from having children who abuse alcohol and drugs by providing the voices of parents who have gone through it. Information is always essential for recovery, but the private hell parents experience often entails isolation, guilt, and despair. And there is nothing more powerful than identifying with others who have rode that same roller coaster-a crucial step for parents' own recovery in gaining the awareness that they are not alone with and not unique in their feelings. But why this book is a must for parents with or without children abusing alcohol/drugs is Babbit's insistence on parents taking care of themselves. This recurrent theme of taking care of yourself at the end of each chapter is the constant reminder needed to parents that getting off the seemingly unstoppable, uncontrollable roller coaster is possible. Babbit's book is empowering to and breaths hope for parents in knowing a new freedom and a new happiness.

In a nutshell, this book was one of the elements that SAVED MY SON'S LIFE!! If I hadn't read about the stages of addiction (easily described and organized within the book for quick intervention)I wouldn't have realized how serious a situation he was in already. There he was, crashing through the wall to the final stage (despair/suicidal)of addiction and, because he had woven such a web of chaos (balls in the air for me to keep busy catching)I was totally missing the desperate truth, that he was going to die if he wasn't stopped! If I hadn't reacted quickly I truly know he would not be here today.

Babbit describes the ways addicts and abusers foil our best efforts to find out what they're up to. Our kids are experts at manipulation, and will go to great lengths to "protect" their addictions. They distract us from our instincts, avoid our attention, and unfortunately can plummet downward in a deathly spiral, under our very noses. Babbit describes ALL THE POPULAR DRUGS, the corresponding paraphernalia that can identify each one's use, and the symptoms displayed by someone using them. YOU WILL BE SHOCKED as you read the myriad of ways our children have found to get high! Have you ever grabbed a can of whipped cream out of the fridge only to find it's gone flat?? (they "huff" the gas out of the can!)...some even unscrew the gas cap and huff gas fumes right out of your car (keep a locking cap on yours!)

Nikki Babbit's well written, non-judgemental book is an ESSENTIAL primer for Parents of substance and alcohol abusing teenagers!! This is NO-NONSENSE, "IN YOUR FACE" information, effectively organized for quick reference to deal with your individual situation (stage of chaos) quickly! I am ordering several copies now to distribute to those is immediate need, and to display while speaking at parent's groups/community outreach, etc. Sometimes the despair and pain we parents go through is best channeled back into the world by sharing a story or insight or knowledge. Once you've "interrupted" their progression and gotten them help, your kids basically have a long process to recovery and have to work their programs on their own. If parents then try to channel their pain and worry back into community involvement it helps keep you a little more sane and helps the effort to reduce the distribution of drugs. God bless, and good luck to you!

This book is chalked full of the information about FASD! From the beginning of awareness in the public till now! Reccomended reading for all who deal with FASD.

Dr. Streissguth is one of the pioneers in the identification and treatment of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the entire spectrum of congenital damage arising from in-utero exposure to alcohol. 25 years after the identification of this common and devastating disability, most efforts in the academic community still focus on definition and diagnosis, with relatively little attention paid to treatment. Dr. Streissguth stands atop the heap in extending her basic science research into the actual lives of affected individuals, their families, and the communities in which they live. I consider her the foremost authority in the academic community on exploring pragmatic options for helping affected individuals, families, and community.

This little volume is jam packed with useful information.

After reading Dr. Streissguth's book on fetal alcohol syndrome, I feel this book should be given to every parent or caretaker who receives this diagnosis about their child. This is the most thorough book I have found on this subject. Dr. Streissguth's knowledge in this area is so extensive and her book offers a step by step approach and guidelines on what you will need to know to in raising a child with FAS. I truly recommend her book and am so grateful for her insights.

Written by one of the leading behavioral experts in the field. A must for anyone with a problem child, in medicine or psychology, social or justice work...it is a recognized primer for the topic of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Dr. Streissguth's Book is the best explanation of the effects of alcohol on the unborn child, that I have ever found. For years, I did not know what was wrong with the beautiful little girl that my husband and I adopted. Twenty-seven doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, school counsellors, guidance counsellors, religious leaders, police or addictions counsellors over the past 16 years never once, suggested that FAS/E was the problem. For every person in those positions dealing with troubled children, "Fetal Alchohol Syndrome: A Guide for Families and Coommunities" should be compulsory reading!
I cried over and over while I read the book when I saw how my community, my family and I had let my daughter down, because we didn't know. I wrote to Dr. Streissguth and thanked her personally, and I am doing my best to help my daughter and to educate others, so no one has to fail their child the way we did. Thank you again, Dr. Streissguth!

This book is so amazing and has helped so many parents I know deal with the everyday trails of teenage parenting.

You owe it to your children to buy this book and learn from knowledge of P.H.D. experts in the field of potential Teenage Dangers.

See for yourself!

As a Parent Advocate, this book has extremely valuable information for any parent that may be struggling with their teen. The authors take an approach that is easy to understand and offers insights to today's generation of teenagers.

Every parent should read this book and then keep it on hand for the inevitable day when the book will be needed as a resource. It is well written, well organized, contains believable excerpts from real experiences, and informs the parent/caregiver in a way that is understandable, albeit terrifying, on what our teenagers face and how they cope.

At last, a book written to help parents and those who work with TEENAGERS understand what is going on in those adolescent brains. I now have a much better understanding of what emotional changes my two teenagers are going through, what behavior I can expect, and what to do if some of the trouble signs clearly outlined in the book start to appear in their behavior. I know that this book has helped me understand them and relate to them with new insight that can only help. Thanks for writing this!

A beautifully written book that allows you to truly understand the perspective of those struggling with adolescence in our present age. Necessary for all who wish to further understand the psychology behind troubled teens and how to prevent their rebellious nature.

Drug use among children and teens is a leading national health concern. Henry David Abraham's text is an accessible "how-to-guide" for parents, which not only educates parents on the facts of drugs and alcohol, but more importantly provides them the tools necessary to be their own researchers of the ever changing drug culture. This text does not merely inform the parent on the current drug epidemic, but more importantly teaches parents on how to inform themselves.

Dr. Abraham first provides parents the framework for understanding the factors that often lead to substance abuse, and then provides a no-nonsense discussion on the substances commonly used by children. Drawing from his extensive clinical experience, the author illustrates the potential consequences of each drug with heartbreaking stories of children affected by drug-induced disorders. A very novel and powerful section of this text is an easy-to-follow guide on how to understand the significance of scientific studies: a parent learns that not all drug facts they encounter in the media are equal. The author explains how to interpret the implications of the various forms of reported scientific research - ranging from single-patient case stories to well designed research studies- allowing a parent to make their own educated judgments on the importance of the drug information they come across in the media.

For parents who feel powerless approaching their children on the topic of drugs, Dr. Abraham provides, in a very straight forward way, the important facts on the newer, exotic drugs children are taking. Additionally, Dr. Abraham examines the often overlooked, but serious consequences of hallucinogen use.

As the President of the National Organization on Drug-Induced Disorders, and also an administrator of a support forum for individuals with hallucinogen-induced disorders, I have heard hundreds of stories from teenagers and college students affected by rare and underreported drug-induced disorders caused by hallucinogens. This is the first text I feel comfortable recommending to parents of these individuals, as it is the first to accurately describe and address these disorders.

"Healthy kids are experience seekers," declares Dr. Henry Abraham, author of What's a Parent to Do?:Straight Talk on Drugs and Alcohol. An experienced psychiatrist and drug researcher, Dr.Abraham points out the difference between drug use, drug abuse and drug addiction. He gives straightforward advice to help the parent prevent drug abuse before it starts and how to proceed if it already has. Examples drawn from real life bring credibility to the advice offered, and huge motivation to follow it.

This very readable book is a well-organized manual highly recommended for parents and others responsible for the well being of children, adolescents, and teenagers. Well-off suburban kids are more likely to abuse some substances than inner city kids, and this book presents all parents with risk levels and danger signs for each category of substance.

There is much in this book that can be easily and effectively shared with young people. Some of the information presented in list or chart form is a prime candidate for refrigerator-posting to help stimulate discussion and remind kids of stark realities. One such chart is on page 184: the top 15 reasons to stay off drugs. While this book has no index, the table of contents is very clear and easily directs the reader to appropriate chapter. Each chapter ends with a concise summary of its most important points. This is a work that parents will want to revisit over time.

After reading this excellent book, every parent will be much better informed about the entire range of substances subject to possible abuse, some of which their child will inevitably bump up against. This book equips the parent with the tools and techniques necessary to help their child avoid becoming a statistic in the all-too-nearby world of drug abuse. It is a hopeful and positive book, grounded in experience, expertise, and a genuine desire to help kids benefit from the most powerful tool at THEIR disposal: their parents.

Part I identifies in five chapters what parents need to know to prevent kids from going down the slippery path of drugs and alcohol, BEFORE it happens.

Part II devotes ten chapters to as many categories of potentially abusive substances: tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, acid, ecstasy, hypnosedatives (Valium and other anxiety-reducing drugs), anabolic steroids, psychostimulants (coke and speed), narcotics (opium, codeine, morphine, Demerol, heroin and others), and other miscellaneous substances (inhalants, PCP, GHB, designer drugs, and exotic plants). Each of these chapters is studded with facts about the specific substance, what studies have shown, what motivates kids to experiment, what the potential consequences are, and what a parent needs to do to confront the possibility of use, or abuse by their child.

The four chapters in Part III give straightforward advice on what to do if your child is already using or abusing drugs, and the conclusion encourages parents to take the steps necessary to begin to make the drug epidemic history.

Dr. Abraham's lifelong experience, his concern and his realistic, down-to-earth views regarding the substance abuse epidemic confronting our society are evident throughout this clearly and concisely written gem. His motivation is quite evident, namely to educate and to empower the reader. His style is straightforward. In brief: this is not a tome meant to impress the reader with the erudition of the author. Rather, it is a handbook, written to inform and, hopefully, to heal those suffering from and to prevent the spread of destructive behavior rampant in our country.

In the "Forward," Dr. Abraham plainly informs the reader of the goals of the book. And from chapter to chapter, in a very readable style, the reader is exposed to a great deal of information and knowledge, without being overwhelmed or overburdened. One of the treats of this work is to experience such an expanse of knowledge and good sense delivered in such a "user friendly", personal manner. It is as though Dr. Abraham is sitting in your living room, chatting about the personal cost of and the public policies driving this modern plague of substance abuse.

More importantly, from my perspective as a parent of a middle school child, I not only gained knowledge, but I gained parenting skills and insight reading Dr. Abraham's book. So, the next time I am asked or hear someone exasperate, "What's a parent to do?", I will answer: Read Dr. Abraham's book and become a "heads-up" parent.

Written by a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, What's A Parent To Do? Straight Talk on Drugs and Alcohol is a no-nonsense self-help guide to the extremely difficult task of preventing and dealing with epidemic drug abuse among children. Drawing heavily from the author's thirty years of experience treating substance-abusing young people and their families, What's A Parent To Do? covers how to protect one's children from drugs ranging from tobacco, alcohol and marijuana to acid, anabolic steroids, narcotics, psychostimulants, and other unsavory body- or mood-altering chemicals. Written in plain, non-judgement terms that focus primarily on helping families stay clean and healthy, What's A Parent To Do? is an absolute "must-have" for any parent or caretaker in today's unfortunately drug-saturated culture.

This book is filled with comprehensive, up-to-date information about every possible harmful substance your child might come across - including tobacco, alcohol, and steroids - in language that's easy to understand, with case studies illustrating the type of damage caused by each drug. The author's compassion for his previous patients and their families is moving, and his tips for preventing substance abuse, as well as his advice on what to do if your child has already begun using drugs, is incredibly valuable. It's not a quick read, but in today's complicated world, the time parents spend reading this book would be time well spent.

I think everyone should read this book especially every teenager. The wrighter of this journal went through just about everything. I could only imagine how it felt. Some of my peers at school read some short segments of Go Ask Alice and they couldn't believe how true and explictedly described it was. I also think this book could wake up some teens in this world and it could let them know that no matter what some of their peers may say drugs are not cool and they can ruin everything you want and everthing you have going for yourself just like it did for the writer of Go Ask Alice.

This book fills a definite need for adolescents. It presents the facts, not fallacy, to all of the questions they have that parents and other caregivers may be too embarrassed to talk about. It is from an extremely reputable source (Columbia University), and is readable and accessible to the average teen. Kudos to the people who put together "The Go Ask Alice Book of Answers".

The review dated May 9, 1999 is not germain to this book, having a similar title to an earlier fictional book simply titled Go Ask Alice.

This book illustrates and discusses issues regarding healthy practices on many levels.

At www.goaskalice.columbia.edu, there is one of the best sources for advice on sex, relationships, and health for people ages 14 and up. This book is the print version.

It has nothing to do with the adolescent potboiler written by Beatrice Sparks; its information on drugs and sex is technical, explicit, and meant to give answers, not scare people. The gamut of advice given runs from flirting to penis size to the effects of various drugs on the body to urinary tract infections, and it's delivered with humor and understanding, without the judgementalism that seems to be the case in many more traditional books.

While I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who hasn't hit their 13th birthday yet, this book is an antidote for prudishness and the information vacuum far too many young people live in, and in a world where basic information on sex and life can often be hard to find or heavily polluted by unnecessary moralism, this book can help ease fears and educate the uneducated in a way that scare stories and sermons can't.

I wish someone had given me this book when I was raising my children. Although I was not a single mother, the wise advice to be gentle with yourself and take care of yourself are issues for every mother trying to balance many demands in her life. The practical pointers on parenting, rethinking family and creating community are useful for all parents. This wisdom is delivered with warm support, compassion and gentleness. It feels like a hug from the mother/grandmother we all wish we had.

I have also worked with single mothers who struggled under a great deal of stress. They would have found this book a welcome resource for making decisions, solving problems, finding support, developing confidence and building relationships.

My waitress saw me reading the book and introduced herself as a single mom. When I told her what it was about - taking care of yourself - she got tears in her eyes. She began telling me of her week. She had two little boys and a hectic schedule. "Could this have been written for me?" Yes, it was, and is written for all single mothers. I applaud the author. Her sensitivity and heart-felt honesty laced with humor, make this helpful tool a must read for all parents.

Every single mother struggling to affirm the validity of a single parent family should make this a "must read". The author includes personal and humorous anecdotes as well as suggestions and illustrations from professionals who deal with children and mothers in one parent families. I particularly found the sections dealing with children in schools helpful and practical. Extending the book to today's realities of caring for aging parents adds an interesting dimension. The myth of the "Beaver Cleaver" family is dissolved, and in it's place, author Cynthia Orange creatively paints a picture of a positive and healthy family made up of a mother and her children.

I'm usually not a big fan of self-help. In fact, I usually consider self-help to be an instrument of the Devil or, worse, the Republicans. Yet I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Cynthia Orange's prose is without the preachiness and dogma usually associated with self-help. This is a smooth, colorful read, well-written with lots of stories about the experiences of individual women. What I like is that the writer isn't portraying herself as some pseudo-expert, but merely conveying the tales of others in a non-judgmental, peaceful and uplifting manner. It helped me get a profoundly better understanding of what my wife has experienced in her life, and at this price, it's a helluva lot cheaper than therapy.

I have purchased all kinds of books on parenting,most recently on the teen years. This is the first book that I am having a hard time putting down. It is surprising how young kids are today when they are getting into alcohol, sex, drugs, etc. I thought that I was pretty on top of these things - boy was this book an eye opener. It has been helpful in facilitating some good dialogue with my teenage son and preteen son.

Reality Gap gives the parents of teens important information and insight. Foremost, Reality Gap provides a window into what teens are up to these days. Wallace delivers compelling research data from the field combined with personal accounts. The resulting landscape of behavior described in Reality Gap will be of great interest to any parent, regardless of their individual views on drinking or sex.

Few parents will fail to pause when reading about personal cases of teens who wished that they had talked with their parents before making choices they now regret. Peer pressure to drink early, to become sexually active - the list goes on. Without lecturing, Wallace's accounts remind us of the associated consequences whether it is the onset of lifelong battles with addiction or the regrettable occurrences of sexual diseases such as herpes.

Wallace's message is that parents can help their children through the teen years. Reality Gap provides parents with tools for approaching these issues and Wallace's encouraging message is that parents can help their children make better, and safer, decisions if they talk with them - and do so early.

This book offers a critical insight into the discrepencies between what parents think their teens are doing and what they are, in actuality, doing. Teens speak freely to Wallace, revealing what are the most pressing issues facing teens today. The book offers helpful strategies and tips for parents, coaches, educators and anyone who works with teens on a regular basis.