Youth Books

Fantastic. Buy this book if you deal with kids at any age group. Answers questions that even burgeouning adult Christians may have. A must read for any Christian evangelist, and anyone trying to spread the Word. Transcends its target audience, high school teens, indeed the toughest group going.

Written in a lively style, this excellent book provides answers to the most common arguments for not believing in God. Short and easily readable, this book is ideal for teenagers or adults that question their faith.

Drawing from Welborn's experience as a teacher, she tackles statements such as:

-I don't believe in God because no one can prove he exists. -I don't believe in God because people could have just made the stuff in the Bible up. -I don't believe in God because people do such horrible things in the name of religion. -I don't believe in God because innocent people suffer.

Welborn provides clear, solid help in answering the important questions of life, such as does God exist? What does God want from me? Does it matter if I'm Catholic or not?

Each chapter includes a summary. This book could easily be used with teenagers, or as part of religious instruction or CCD classes.

This book is the first in the Prove It! series.

I bought this book for my teenage daughter, who had a lot of questions.
I pre read it before giving it to her and was quite pleased. The reading level was not to advanced or overly simplified. Amy Wellborn did a great job of taking some difficult concepts and explaining them very clearly.
Even if your kids are not into reading this book will give y ou a lot of information to explain things to them, or it can be used for just about any CCD/ Religious Ed class.
Keep in mind that this is not intended to be an all encompassing tome like the Summa Theologica of Aquinas, but for the average teen and pre teen this does a great job.

My teen enjoyed this book. And even though I am in my 40's, I thoroughly enjoyed it also. I found it to be insightful and simply explained some concepts that can get confusing when confronted by a nonbeliever. Highly, highly recommended!

This book is fabulous! i strongly advise you read this! it is a mother-kids bond like no other! it just touched my heart! and i know martha payne personnally, we are very close! anyway, this book is soo AMAZING! you should definately read this for the crisp writing and SPECTACULAR baseball..(and gymnastics/soccer)!!!!!!

In "Put Him in Coach" every word has been carefully weighed, every line polished. I'm not a fan of baseball, but I am a fan of fine writing and devoted mothers. Sam is a character you won't soon forget, and Martha Payne is nothing short of legendary. These characters breathe.

A book that just about anyone (mothers, fathers, coaches, grandparents) who has ever spent a Saturday in April sweating or shivering on a metal bleacher will relate to. The author's observations and experiences as an "over-the-top" little league mom are often hilarious and always honest. Her love for her son and family is evident on every page, and the book is a refreshing look at a real American family that most of us will recognize and appreciate. I can't wait to give this book as a gift to all of the coaches and little league parents in my life!

Martha Payne hit a home run with this book. The tongue-in-cheek approach to the world of little league through the eyes of a competitive mother blinded by love rings crystal clear to anyone who's ever had a child in sports, been a child in sports, or known a child in sports. Mrs. Payne is vulnerable, hysterical, and fresh. Her dry wit compliments the underlying tenderness of a devoted mother's heart to create an endearing glimpse into the uncharted waters of young parenthood. I sniggered, smiled, and laughed out loud at the perceptions and predicaments played out between the pages of this book. I only wish it had gone into extra innings.

Great book to keep the focus on the "mitzvah" (good deed) and less on the party not only from a theoretical standpoint but a practical and logistical planning view as well.

The attitude in the book is decide what is important to you as a child reaching the age of bar/bat mitzvah and your family then work together to weave that into your thinking and planning.

I think the book takes the approach that the young person is stepping through to young adulthood and it is a process to grow up and become a "good" person or Jew - perhaps it is a lifelong event. The book seeks to make the occasion mindful of what the young person and her or his family values.

Suggestions abound in the book as to how to incorporate these values into the whole event - before, during and after.

The book covers all angles - relationship of bar or bat mitvah child to self, family, friends, community, humanity, spirit...cynical or devout children.

My suggestion: read it cover to cover, discuss it then make judgments.

By the way, "God" has many different meanings depending on who one speaks to...

I just gave the book four stars due to "God" in the title which was a turnoff if one doesn't open the book and read it if the potential reader is not from a traditional background. In our intermarried family, I am a somewhat secular Jew and my husband evolved into an atheist who was raised as a Catholic. He had trouble with the title having "God" in it.

However, we both agree on "Jewish/human" values which are common to many cultures not just Jews: caring for the environment, kindness, compassion, helping fellow humans by visiting the sick/elderly, helping animals, eating with consciousness and so forth.

I did like the way Salkin addresses the "God" issue and skeptical children (you'll just have to read it yourself with an open mind...).

I particularly liked the section on mitzvahs (usually translated as "good deeds" and literally "commandments") in the ceremony itself...
This was especially relevant to me as I volunteered on my shul's environmental committee. My child volunteered at an animal shelter and his Torah portion had to do with the ten plagues which he related to modern day ills such as pollution, clearing of forests, global warming, animals on the brink of extinction such as polar bears and so on.

This book inspired me to make a tallit (prayer shawl) for him from fabric made of reclaimed wood, with designs incorporating trees, water, stars and sailboats. Growing up, our family did not attend a synagogue but stayed close to nature by sailing.

Also, much thought was given to the party afterwards as a result of this book - location was accessible to walkers as well as those who use public transportation or are physically challenged, carpools were set up, Kosher fair trade coffee was served, vegetarian food was served (even the carnivores liked it), tried to obtain local produce (try that in winter in New Jersey!), recycled/recyclable paper/plastic ware ware was used - then recycled again, decorations on the table consisted of framed certificates re donations to Jewish National Fund planting trees in Israel, leftover food was donated to local food pantry serving homeless and so on...

I would recommend this book to anyone or any family, regardless of Jewish denomination: secular, reform, reconstructionist, Conservative, Orthodox, Conservadox, Modern Orthodox, unaffiliated, Secular Humanist, interfaith, intermarried, other...

Again, read it in its entirety while keeping an open mind then make judgments and plans.

Post Script: the funny thing is now that our son is post bar mitzvah, he describes himself as an atheist Jew, but he maintains a strong connection to Judaism and Jewish/human values by volunteering to help elderly folks by clearing snow from driveways without pay, teaching computer skills, visiing the sick, caring for animals, putting together Purim baskets, joining Jewish teen group based on Israeli style youth groups, singing Jewish songs in Yiddish or Hebrew, helping others improve their Hebrew (like his mom, now studying with her B'nai Mitzvah class), studying at the Jewish Theological Seminary and at shul, discussing what it means to be a (G-d optional) Jew...

When I told a friend that my son was preparing for his Bar Mitzvah, she handed me the greatest gift, Rabbi Salkin's book, Putting God on the Guest List. While financial security is a wonderful thing it has also given rise to unforeseen consequences in my opinion. Case in point is what has happened to Bar and Bat Mitzvahs in the last 10 years or so. Since growing up in the 50's when I attended many Bar Mitzvahs, I have watched in utter amazement how this seminal event has turned from an obvious cause for family and friend celebration into 3 day gatherings that you'd expect to see only on "The Rich and Famous." When did Bar and Bat Mitzvahs turn into storybook weddings and is this all really necessary or desirable? I knew in my heart it was not. Fortunately, reading this book gave me the conviction and inspiration to take back the reins and create a celebration that had all of the magic ingredients that worked for our family where I focused on keeping the meaning of the event central while still providing a space for true joyful celebration. Thank you Rabbi Salkin!

This book should be read by every parent whose child is approaching bar/bat mitzvah. Too often, the significance of the occasion is lost in the "big party". This book focuses on what is important about the bar/bat mitzvah-about accepting responsibilities such as study and performing mitzvot, about the service and about keeping the celebration in perspective. It focuses on the spiritual as it should and helps pull away from the social aspects that often overwhelm the true meaning of bar/bat mitzvah.

There are any number of books which are designed to help you plan the logistics of a bar/bat mitzvah. This book's main purpose, however, is not to be a party planning guide. Instead, this book reaffirms the important commitment a bar/bat mitzvah makes to Judism. A party is fine but truly connecting with God, our people and our ancestors is what the experience is all about. The bar/bat mitzvah experience is explored in a very spiritual, meanful way but not necessarily from the orthodox standpoint. Indeed, the authors are non orthodox. I recommend this book to all who wish to make the bar/bat mitzvah a meaningful means to grow as a Jew rather than as an end in itself.

Again, Jane Berstein has done an incredible job describing the challenges of raising a child with a disability and the struggles of transitioning that child to the adult world. The roadblocks she faced and overcame demonstrate her true love for her daughter and her determination to give Rachel that best possible life despite her disabilities. Thank you Jane for chronicling these challenges so that others may learn from your experience. I have recommended this book to colleagues and other families.

I so admire this book and author. There hasn't been enough written about the transition to adulthood for people with cognitive disabilities. Here we get an honest, incredibly well-told story of a complex, ever-shifting mother-daughter relationship. The book has room for ambivalence, contradiction, determination, despair--all of the things that make life, well, life. If, as the parent of a child with a disability, you find yourself stretching to the point of elasticity, giving even beyond the fact of total depletion, and then, the very next moment, wanting more for yourself, not to mention more FROM your child, this book is for you. It's lyrical candor will disarm you exactly as it provides the only solace that is credible.

I've long been a fan of Bernstein's work, from her novels to her scorchingly brave memoir about her sister's murder, Bereft. Rachel in the World shows the same kind of bravery. This is no treacly feel-good tome about what it is like to raise a special needs daughter and send her out in the world. Instead, Bernstein shows both her love and her irritation, and her anger at a system that doesn't exactly make it easy to do what is best for Rachel. Beautifully written and filled with photos that are like prose poems.

Once again Jane Bernstein has achieved a remarkable portrayal, adeptly balancing her intensely personal feelings with an objective view of Rachel, her mentally retarded daughter (a description Bernstein sometimes finds more appropriate than the more politically correct euphemism of "intellectually impaired"). The Rachel we met as a little girl in Loving Rachel, Bernstein's moving account of discovering her daughter's mental and physical liabilities, has grown into a young adult, craving freedom and independence in the "real world" beyond the safe haven her mother has spent years developing. Bernstein's experience of wading through the labyrinth of "the system" in order to achieve her goal of finding the right living situation for Rachel proves to be confounding and frustrating, and as social services cuts become more frequent, even scary. Add to that Rachel's own conflicted emotions, along with her constant chattering and insatiable demands, and it seems inevitable that Bernstein will succumb to the overwhelming pressures of her role as Rachel's protector and provider, while at the same time trying to maintain her own sanity. But in her own inimical fashion, and written with the honesty that she is famous for, Bernstein proves that she is up to the task, even if at times she doubts her own strength and fortitude. On the surface a story about a young woman facing a life she may not be ready for, Rachel in the World is really about the love of a mother for her daughter. And I can't wait for Rachel to grow older so Bernstein can write the next chapter in their lives.

Rachel Joy Scott was a 17-year-old girl from Columbine High School. She was one of the 13 people killed in a tragic killing spree on April 20th, 1999. It is told that Rachel was a sweet soul, just trying to make a differnce in the world...that, she did.

Rachel Smiles is the 3rd book of a 3 book series. It was written by Darrell Scott with Steve Rabey. It tells stories of peoples' lives which Rachel has been a part of and touched.

One very interesting thing happend to Rachel's family, and Darrell talks about it in this book, is a dream that a man named Frank Amedia had. Frank was a total stranger to the Scott family. He lived in Ohio, and he had watched Rachel's funeral on CNN. He called Darrell, and wanted to know if he knew anything about his dream. The dream was a vision of Rachel's eyes crying a stream of tears. The tears were watering something, but Frank didn't know what. Darrell said he didn't know what the dream meant. About a week later, the police station called to say that the Scotts could pick up Rachel's backpack, which was being hed as evidence. As Rachel's family went through her bag, they found Rachel's latest journal, with a bullet hole through it. The last entry was put in 15 minutes before Rachel Scott was murdered. It was a drawing of eyes crying 13 tears (the number of people killed that day) watering a columbine flower, that was dripping blood. Mr. Scott immediately thought of Frank Amedia.

Personally, I think Rachel Smiles is a great book. After reading it, I feel like I know Rachel Scott. It's an uplifting, non-fiction book, that seems to pull you in as you read. This amazing book can be found on www.amazon.com . You may also visit the web-site to find out how to purchase any other books written by Darrell Scott: www.rachelscott.com . I highly recommend this book t anyone wanting a refreshing, uplifting, all-around good book.

I think that this is an excellent and touching book about the impact of Rachel's life and of her beliefs. I don't agree with certain things that was said in the book(specicially about Eric and Dylan and their impact[as someone who looked into what happened extensively, their impact is more than Rachel's father says, or more accurately, does not say, in the book]), but I think that it's a great book for anyone who wants to know about Rachel's impact and legacy.

"Rachels Smiles" will sure make you smiles while reading. Its amazing how many lives were touched by this wonderful lady. If you enjoyed reading "Rachel's Tears", you'll sure enjoy reading this. Darrell Scott is an amazing writer and really brings out her story in its true colors. When I read this, I felt as if Rachel and I had been best friends before! This book will encourage you to continue the Chain Reaction!

From the author of the best-seller "Rachel's Tears" comes a book not about the life of Rachel Scott, but about the lives her story has changed. It isn't surprising that this book is touching and impactful. Rachel Scott's dad is a wonderful writer, and the other books her family has written are just as touching and impactful. This one especially impacted me because I am one of those who was deeply touched by Rachel's death and life story. Although I was not featured in the book, it was totally inspiring and encouraging to hear how other people were touched by her as well. This world is a hurting world, and sometimes we feel there is no hope and it seems there is no hope. The stories in this book give me hope. They show me that God really CAN work miracles, and that people really can be transformed. Rachel Scott wanted to start a chain reaction, and she wanted to be used to reached the unreached-- God answered those prayers, and through her family and her own stories being published, Rachel Joy has done just that! We need more people like her in this world! If Rachel Scott or the tragedy at Columbine touched your life in any way, you should read this book.

This isn't your ordinary coffee table book. Jim Goldberg delves into the lives of homeless kids living on the street, cataloging and following two kids through his collage of pictures and stories. Although it's hard to resist just leafing through it's pages, the real message and story is in reading the book from cover to cover. Jim Goldberg ties the pictures together with stories, giving you a real sense of what these kids go through, what their motivations are, what their daily lives are like.

I volunteer helping out homeless kids in Seattle, and from what I've seen this book does a good job of accurately protraying these children, including why they're on the street. He's unbiased and uncensored in his view, I think echo's review reflecting this (one of the kids followed in the book) only stands as a testament of this.

This is an eye-opening book full of amazing photographs that will leave you FEELING what these kids and adults are and have gone through living on the streets of San Francisco. Not too often are you experiencing so many emotions as you will when you flip page through page through this book. I can't say much more but it is worth the money...you will experience something that many of us are fortunate to have not experienced.

Accurate and thourough- Jim Goldberg told our stories truthfully, and lets you draw your own conclusions. - echo

Goldberg documented street kids of San Francisco and Hollywood over the course of ten years. His work reflects the effort and emotion of that period. Unlike previous attempts to document homeless youth, Goldberg never sensationalized or objectified the kids he worked with. The text maintains individual voices, never judging, never interpreting, simply transmitting narratives that mainstream society would otherwise never hear. His photography radiates relationships of trust: he allows kids to illustrate their issues and amplify their voices, sharing their stories, artwork, and writings, without ever speaking for them. Such justice is rarely provided to an oppressed population. "Raised by Wolves" incites the reader's tears, anguish, and outrage - but also joy, that someone was able to successfully provide a platform for such truths to be heard. Goldberg more than did his part in attempting to educate America. The greater issue is, will we listen?

I think this book is very good. It has helped me as a worker in youth ministry and also my thesis that I had to write for Bible College. I have read other books on youth ministry but have never saw any like this. It shows you most problems that would rise in ministry,and it also gives good guidance for a leader in this ministry. Every youth worker should have one in their library.

I ran across this book in the campus bookstore when picking up some other books for class. After glancing through it I was intrigued. Practical advice, theory that was useful, models laid out so you could see how they worked out on a day to day basis. I found myself taking notes and getting ideas for things I could put into practice.

Senter and Dunn have done a fabulous job compiling data from a number of key youth pastors. The insights I gained from this book were fantastic. Dunn's explanation of the millennial generation's needs, and how to reach them is fantastic. Great reading. This book is a must for youth pastor's everywhere.

Senter provides one of the few treatments of Youth Ministry that is can serve as an college/seminary textbook and still provides practical insights for practicing clergy. Unlike several other popular titles, Senter takes the time to develop a biblical, sociological, and historical framework for youth ministry. He also provides the best overview of the various models for youth ministry that have been popular among evangelicals for the past half-century. Some may find the depth of the book overwhelming in places. It also suffers from weaknesses typical of using a variety of authors to contribude individual chapters, in that not all chapters are equally valuable. Overall the book should serve as a standard text well beyond the turn of the century for those serious about understanding and practicing effective youth ministry.

Awesome book for an inside look into youth culture. Parents and youth workers should read this book.

George Barna has written plenty in the realm of Christian ministry that pastors and other Christian workers ought to read. In "Real Teens," he hits another home run as he describes the "Mosaic" generation, utilizing a number of polls and other research to show just where this generation has been, where it is now, and where it is going.

Having worked with teens for the past decade, I believe that I need to continue to keep up with sociological research such as this. And Barna makes it quite easy to do, incorporating easy-to-understand explanations with numerous charts. (In the wrong hands, this would be a "boring" book, but if you like stats and facts, you'll be enthralled.) Much of this information will be considered as I continue to do ministry among this generation. (If I didn't listen, then I am not taking advantage of making my ministry the best it can possibly me, and that would be a shame.)

One fact that I just didn't realize was how religious this group is. One-third of the generation attends youth group, for instance, though it's not always for the spiritual benefit but rather for the social interaction they receive. This is a generation that desperately craves truth yet embraces many moral relativistic ideas. We Christian adults need to help these young people develop their Christianity so they can be of benefit to the next generation that comes along, whatever its name will be.

If you haven't noticed, my recommendation for this superb book is a big thumbs up. Barna at his finest.

This is not a book that will necessarily tell you "how" to program effective youth ministry. Nor, does it try. Rather, it is a book that gives you the background on what youth are thinking. As well, Barna gives some clues as to what might be expected from youth in the future. I am so thankful that I purchased this resource.

I always appreciate Barna's fine research, though I sometimes disagree with his conclusions and suggested responses to data. But Barna not only provides us with a wealth of information about modern teens, he offers solid direction for church leaders or parents as well.

Today's teens are generally more positive and cheerful than teens were just 3 or 4 years ago. In many ways, they are a breath of fresh air when compared to the past two generations.

On the other hand, today's youth think less logically and more emotionally than previous generations. Using the "four personality type grid," Barna reveals that 45% of todays teens are Influencers (Sanguines), compared to 30% of the adult population. This section alone is worth the price of the book.

Barna tells all: their spiritual beliefs, their mode of thinking, and their views of church. After a thorough analysis of all the data, he urges church leaders and youth groups to concentrate more on ministry to teens and less on marketting (real ministry as opposed to merely drawing large numbers through entertainment).

The seven chapters are titled, Lifestyles and Influences, What They're Thinking and Feeling, Matters of the Heart, Inside the Heads of Teens, White/Black/Hispanic, Faith and Spirituality, and Challenges on the Road Less Traveled.

Anyone who is concerned about youth ministry (youth pastors, sponsors, senior pastors, board members, teachers, parents of teens, etc.)simply must read this one!

Senator Smith's book is an easy, well written read about a wonderful son, a close knit family and the joys and heartache of life. The overlay is realizing that ones child is battling mental illness before you the parent fully understands. Senator Smith lovingly talks about Garrett's "angel mother" and his self doubts (and guilt) about what he should have realized; what he could have done better. The book ends with a reach out to encourage others in the same situation to recognize the signs of depression and to get help early. By telling his family's story Senator Smith honors Garrett, travels the road of healing, and brings compassion to the thousands of families that find themselves in the same boat after a precious child's suicide. You really don't want to miss this book!

This was a heartfelt telling of one family's struggle with coping with their feelings of guilt in missing the clues to their son's severe depression, which ultimately lead to his taking his own life. It shows us how easy it is for those closest to someone to not see how much that person is struggling with their depression, and how a family can heal after the loss of that child. Keep the tissues nearby, but no matter your politics, you have compassion for the depth of dispair this family reached in dealing with their loss. For a public figure such as Sen. Gordon Smith , writing this book exposing their heartache, took a great deal of courage, but was a big step in their healing.

The book was excellent. Very well written. An excellent story and eye opener of where depression and mental illness can lead if unchecked. I thouroughly enjoyed the book and will re-read it many times. cp

I must admit. I didn't vote for Gordon Smith last time around. As a "dyed-in-the-wool" Democrat, I usually support my party candidates. Yet, he was re-elected, and is currently serving as a Republican senator from Oregon. In 2003, his son Garrett committed suicide, ending a long struggle with depression. Immediately my interest was peaked, as someone who suffering from episodic depression from time to time. With his usual composure, Senator Smith remained quiet about this intensely personal matter. And now, a few years later, Gordon Smith has written a book about his son, a stunning, personal memoir, "Remembering Garrett".

The book is partially a recounting of the amazingly normal life of Garrett Smith, the struggles he had with dyslexia, and the few brief successes he had with his church. Smith writes as lovingly and honestly as any parent could; reflecting upon his son's life with a familial quality that is pleasing to read. What even surprised me more about the book was how Smith wrote about questioning himself after Garrett's suicide. Smith has always appear strong and resolute; this event clearly shook him to the core.

Much too often, it appears that our politicians act without much forethought of the consequences of their actions. Clearly, this has changes Senator Smith's thoughts and actions as he has become a tireless advocate for the prevention of depression. While clearly parents who have suffered the loss of a child will relish every page of this book, most everyone, especially those of us who experience depression, will find some gems of wisdom in this beautiful tribute to Garrett. This book is a must-read.

Exceptional. The author has such a masterful command of language that finishing the book hurts. Believe me, I have zip interest in sheep, and I was left gripping the book until done. The ending had me medicating myself with cookies--such a sharp use of English, when aimed toward the melancholy, cuts deep. I recommend oreos.

A poignant memoir of experiencing Welsh sheep farming with two-mis-matched parents. Clare's description of his life on the farm, the people and his parents made me feel as though I were there with him. He has an excellent descriptive ability that draws one right into the story. Having been brought up in sheep country in West Texas, I related to some of his
experiences. Bettye Johnson, award-winning author, Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls.

I could not put this book down once I began it, but also, did not want it to end. The detail and creativity in describing his incredible childhood and his mother brought back memories of my own Welsh summers. I originally bought this book for a friend, but decided to keep it for myself, and have since ordered three more to share with family and friends. Absolutely lovely writing---

This is the first book that has pushed me to sing its praises in a review at Amazon. It has to be the unique combination of wonderful humor, insight and great storytelling. There a passages contained in this book that have the resonance of the best from Cormac McCarthy. I might be more affected by them due to my similiar upbringing as the author, but his description of the natural world around him, it's rythmes and rules are spot on and will ring true to anyone who has grown up abiding to the forces of nature. Well done!