Youth Books

Insightfully written by Frank Mercadante (whose experience in youth ministry training extends to being the executive director of the not-for-profit corporation Cultivation Ministries), Positively Dangerous is ideal means to help spread the passion of faith among teenagers today. Stressing love for God, love for one another, authenticity, integrity, and making the most of evangelistic opportunities, Positively Dangerous is an enthusiastic guide incorporating mentoring, peer training, and small-class activities. Ideal as a manual for adults working with youth, Positively Dangerous is especially recommended reading for young people seeking to embracing and sharing the Good News within the context of the Catholic community.

We've all heard the expression, "You have to walk the talk." In other words, practice what you profess to believe. I liked the book because Mercadante makes a good case in Chapter 8 on "talking the walk," reminding us that evangelization is an important part of the Christian life. Too many of us are 'closet Christians' afraid to let our faith show in even the smallest ways, like praying before meals in restaurants. I like the book because it challenges us to talk the walk, and gives guidelines on how to do it.

While this is a book directed at teens, it offeres a strong reminder of what anyone can do to be a person of faith whose faith will make a difference in the lives of others. I was particularly taken with the chapter that reminded me that in order to have a strong personal relationship with the Lord that I needed to spend more time in prayer. I would strongly recommend that anyone who is interested in strengthening their faith read this book. It is a quick, easy read that will make a difference in your life and the lives of those you give a copy to as a gift.

This book will inspire you to live the great, impactful, positive and giving life all of us of faith believe in. It inspires the reader to strive for great things. It also shows us how that life is a collection of small, wonderful choices we make in every day, and every interaction. Upon reading this book you will want to share it with all your friends of faith. I ordered several copies for friends after reading only the first 3 chapters! I especially liked the fact that it's stories apply to people of faith across many religions.

I read Positively Dangerous because it claimed to offer a chance for teens to live a passionate and committed Christian life. And I was delighted to discover that Frank Mercadante has written a book that appeals directly to young people's innate desire to find an ideal that they can devote themselves to. But I was also pleasantly surprised that the book also spoke to me, a sixty-two-year-old grandfather, and challenged me to renew my commitments and revive my disciplines. Frank has a way of speaking personally and directly to the heart of his reader. He writes well, gives practical advice, and uses many examples to illustrate his points. Young people and older folks like me will take away great benefits from Positively Dangerous.

Every teenager needs to read this book. I wish I could have when I was younger. I buy this book for all my kids in my ministry if they agree to read it.

I have had all three of my teenage sons read Joe's book before they started dating. All three enjoyed it and really benefitted. It is a great preparation tool for teenagers. Thanks Joe!

I read this book a few years back when, as a Christian, i was really struggling with with keeping my mind off of girls and sex. After reading this book it totaly changed the way i look at girls. It kinda gave me a discust for premerital sex. As a result i was able too treat girls like real people, and not objects. Now when i began to think of girls as people i was able to have awesome friendships with them.
My thanks to Joe White and all the teens who shared thier stories in the book.

This book is absolutely amazing! It contains all sorts of advice for teenagers on sex, love and dating--in a Christian context, which is the best part. It is so hard to find a book that looks at teen relationships from a Christian point of view, but this book is a great one. It contains all the advice you'll ever need to know on how to make sure your love life is what God wants it to be. This book is a must-read for all Christian teens!

As far as books that help you, this is my favorite and I have read MANY! This book gives it to you straight. Bottom line is that if you want an AWESOME marriage, you better stay away from all this junk the world puts out. I have a hard time in that and this book was excellent in that area. I reccommend it to all teens that have this problem as well as any who don't have to worry about it. IT'S AWESOME and really gets into scripture to see what it says about sex and all.

Being a Med student myself, I was particularly intrigued by the Masai method of suturing a wound. Amazing! Also, Doc Forbes is a great character. Another age - another time.
Mr. Gill's childhood was one we can only look back on with a certain longing for the past. His school years provided many a laugh and my house mates are waiting in line to read my copy.
I have started his 2nd book, Rollicking Recollections, and it also promises to be a real treat.
I can only hope to read more from this author.

This fast-paced and very well-written memoir is a joy to read. The young life of Mr Gill must have been a wonderful time - a time we can never experience again. The historical and entertaining characters that he and his family met during these first approximately 10 years, provide a glimpse into history in a very funny, interesting and enlightening way. We learn a bit about Masai medicine, a wonderful visit from the Prince of Wales, and young Len's howlingly funny early school days.
I've also had the pleasure of reading Mr. Gill's 2nd book, Rollicking Recollections and will be giving copies of both books for Christmas as well as every other gift-giving occasion.

What fun this one is to read. It provides the reader with an insight into what it was to grow up in an Africa that is no more. I especially enjoyed the prologue-don't usually read them, but this one was full of information. I'm sure the story about the visit of the Prince was retold many times in that household. I liked the story about when he cut his arm and the Masai "doctored" it for him and his father's attitude about the treatment used. How many would be that accepting now? It really is a great book and hope he will have much success.

Surprisingly refreshing in its humor and sensitivity, this author takes us to a time when the world was a much safer place. The writing flows so easily and is so readable, I couldn't put it down. I hope to read a lot more by this author.

A highly readable and entertaining insight into life in colonial Kenya.A brief,but informative introduction sets the scene, historically and geographically,for the childhood memoirs of the author, which take the form of a series of illustrated anecdotes, populated by memorable characters, ranging from Masai tribesmen and so called 'white hunters'to the one- time Prince of Wales, cane- happy school masters and various family members, not forgetting the confidant, Joe the dog!
Interspersed with the occasional tale of a more sobering nature, the stories are , for the most part, very amusing and will make you chuckle out loud as the author looks back on his childhood exploits with humour and affection.
We learn many intriguing things on the way- how to heal a wound using ants- what is a 'pombafu'??-and the word 'livery' takes on a whole new meaning.
The book ends with the suggestion that there might be more tales to follow. Hopefully this is the case!A very enjojable read!

If I had known how to write a resume and balance my checkbook at 18, I would have been much better off. This book tells you how to do those things and more--there's even dating advice! This is definitely a book that fits a need--so many college students don't know the basics of survival. I strongly recommend this book to anyone graduating from high school! It's fun to read!

This book is great for high school graduates! It tells you everything you need to know to survive the real world--how to do banking, how to cook, get a job, make friends, fix up your apartment. It's fun to read--I would definitely recommend it to everyone trying to make it on their own!

I just bought this book for my daughter who will soon graduate from high school. I've been trying to give her all the advice she'll need next year when she goes away to college, but I know that she'll forget most of what I've said. This book with all its practical and clear advice will be a great guide for her as she navigates life away from home.

This is a great book to help anyone who is starting out on their own, whether they are just graduating high school, or just leaving home for the first time. There is a ton of great advice and tips - I wish I had this book a few years back when I left for college. I have already bought family members and friends each a copy. This is a great wedding gift also! Don't let your child, sibiling, niece, nephew, grandchild or friend leave home without it!

Leaving home for the first time and going to college is a huge time of transition, and it can be very hard. This book helpss with so many things girls have to deal with at that time, and it can prevent so many difficulties they might have.

This is a tremendous book for the beginning soccer referee. Like a mentor, Jeffrey Caminsky does an excellent job of letting the new referee know what to expect, how to be a referee, and all the other things that they don't teach you in class. This book is full of good advice and addresses a lot of the situations that I had been unclear or unsure about during my first twenty-five matches and had to learn the hard way. This book is also very readable; not a dry treatise on Laws of the Game. Caminsky has a sly wit that he reveals on occasion to keep things interesting.

For the intermediate referee, there are some "best practices" that can be drawn out; for example, the section on match control or some of the nonverbal communication techniques for use with ARs.

Advanced referees would be better suited with Evans & Bellion's "For the Good of the Game", an outstanding book in its own right but one that requires much more experience to fully appreciate. I read Evans & Bellion first, then Caminsky. Having now read both, I wish I had started with Caminsky first, then as I gained game experience, moved up to Evans & Bellion.

This book should be part of every new referee's starter kit.

I truly enjoyed this book. While it does have some useful tidbits for the experienced referee, I think that its greatest impact will be for the new or beginning referee.

This book will help referees understand the traditions and meaning of the game from the referee standpoint; case in point: Two instances of deliberate handling of the ball. One, the keeper strays outside the penalty area whilst booting the ball downfied. Two, the keeper reaches outside the penalty area to scoop up the ball with his hand and breaks up an attack. Both can be penalized with a direct free kick but, but which infraction requires that play be stopped?

The beginning referee will say "BOTH!", but the author recommends that, since the keeper really gets no significant advantage by using an extra few inches to send the ball downfield a verbal warning may be the best result - while breaking up an attack truly deserves the free kick.

It is these insights that I feel are well told. I liked the genial tone and amusing byplay of the book, and truly recommend it!

This book is brilliant. It has very useful advice and information for referees across the breadth of experience, from first year novices to 20+ year veterans.

Very helpful, wish I had this book when I started as a ref.

As a first year referee, this book has been invaluable to me. I have been able to apply many of Jeffrey Caminsky's tips. If you are a new referee, or wish to enhance your current skills, read this book!

Reflecting Strengths is an important contribution to the fields of positive youth development and youth resiliency. Chris Trout's stories read with the authenticity of someone who has a wealth of experience with youth as well as a commitment to helping youth to become more aware of their own strengths. Each beautifully written entry is followed by reflection questions and ideas for applying key lessons. But, Reflecting Strengths is not your standard "how-to" book. It is a research-backed and heart-filled resource that would be interesting and inspiring for educators, youth workers, parents or anyone else who wants to help youth to thrive.

Reflecting Strengths draws on author Chris Trout's life experience and storytelling skills to yield a new prism through which we might see the youth in our lives. Trout's tales help us to see the strengths that have been in front of us all along, turning attitudes about what is wrong with our kids into a practical look at what makes young people strong and resilient.

If any book can help you break through gridlock with young people in your life, this is it. Reflecting Strengths is a powerful paradigm shifter. Highly reccomended.

Chris Trout's "Reflecting Strengths" is one of the most useful parenting resources I have ever read. His up beat, positive spin is just what parents need when they sense they have lost touch with their teen and don't know what else to do. The stories are easy to relate to and messages applicable to everyone who is trying to nurture a teen. It feels so good to be brought back to the positive and reminded of the strengths in everyone.
Angie Arndt, Mother of two teens and Parent Educator

Reflecting Strengths is such a powerful twist on how we look at and interact with our youth. I use the stories as conversation starters at weekly staff meetings. Looking at these reflections and talking about them in relation to the children we work with brings new life and energy into our daily interactions with them. Reflecting Strengths is a "must read" for anyone who has relationships with kids, no matter what age.

Reflecting Strengths is practical, uplifting and clear-headed--a combination not often seen in such books. As a developmental clinician, I was surprised to find it not only full of good common sense for parents, but developmentally sound, as well. I would recommend it highly for all parents, but particularly those raising a birth, foster or adopted child with challenges. The audio version is a particular treat, as the author's emphases, and his empathy, come through clearly. I can imagine a couple benefitting by listening to it together.

As a professor of Christian Education in a Seminary, I found this work from Dr. Hemphill very useful and required my students to read it for my course in Sunday school growth.

I would heartly recommend this book to pastors, Christian Educatin directors, deacons, laymen and other interested persons desiring real Christ-centered church growth.

I didn't read this book throughoutly, but I appreciated it through the title. I do believe that this book shall make something for teen-workers.

If your Sunday Schools are lethargic, aimless and have low expectations--and you want change---this is the book for you. Hemphill focuses on the fundamental philosophical shift we need to make but most of the book describes practical strategies that have added vigor and attendance to our small church!

As a professor of Christian Education in a Seminary, I found this work from Dr. Hemphill very useful and required my students to read it for my course in Sunday school growth.

I would heartly recommend this book to pastors, Christian Educatin directors, deacons, laymen and other interested persons desiring real Christ-centered church growth.

A thorough and comprehensive look at small group work in the life of the local church. Dr. Hemphill argues that the Sunday School can be the church growth tool of the 21st century. He creatively links the three tasks of the Great Commission to the work of the Sunday School. This strategy has been successfully used by a large number of churches. This is an excellent book for all those who work in the small group ministry of the local church.

The book Sarah T. Portraite of a teenage alcoholic was a really good book. I really enjoyed reading about how Sarah struggled through everyday life and the problems that she faced everyday. It was really touching to read about her schedule of everyday life and how she coped with a new family and her drinking problem. It was very hard for her to finally admit that she did indeed have a problem. Even her mother wouldn't admit that she had a problem. But in the end it all worked out and she got the help she needed along with a few friends!

I liked this book because some of my family members like to drink some alcoholic because they think its fun to do.They hang out at bars and some of their friends to go drinking.It's wrong when her dad threw her out on the street when she was cought drinking,because he should have sat down with her and talked to her asked her why she drinks.I felt the book was alright and I would recamend it to some of my classmates in my class to read.I think she was way to young to start drinking at her age.She should of been at least 17 or 18 to start to drink.

This book was AMAZING. I never would have thought it would change me the way it did. I am not an alcoholic. I have had maybe two drinks in my whole life. My english teacher recommended this book to me. I was reluctant at first, but I am so glad I decided to read it. Near the last chapter I wanted to bawl my eyes out. I couldnt put the book down. I STRONGLY recommend this book to everyone. It is awesome and diserves 6 stars. Wow.

I had to read this book because I had to write a paper about alcoholics. This book was a great help and it reads very easy and quick. I also had to present the book in class and they all thought it is a wonderfull book. The subject is realistic and also a bit shocking because most people think alcoholics are adults and not teenagers.

I had to read this book in Language Arts class. I thought this would be like any other book we have read, uninteresting and boring. But, I was wrong. I really enjoyed reading this book. It made me open my eyes and understand that teen-age alcoholism is a serious problem in America today. This is an awesome book for people of all ages. Hey, im only 13 and i enjoyed it!

I purchased this book for one of the teens that is in my youth group. She read the book rather quickly and said it provided a lot of good thoughts that helped her in a lot of ways. So without reading it myself, I can recommend it on her behalf.

Do not be fooled by the title! This book is not trying to sell you on a list of rules for dating, and the author is most definately not pushing her own commitments on anyone else. This book is refreshingly different from other Christian dating books because it deals mainly with character building and becoming more like Jesus. Lisa reveals that our focus should be on finding our identity in Christ before we try to find love and acceptance in relationships. If you are dating or wish you were, you will find Saving My First Kiss helpful as you look at romance in light of God's will for your life. I think many Christian girls will agree with Lisa when she says: "I am working to become the woman that I want to be--the kind of woman whom the man of my dreams will fall madly in love with."

From the first sentence to the last word this book grabs your attention and takes you on a delightful journey into a young woman's soul. Full of stories and delightful illustrations, this book gives a new perspective to the romance that all woman long for.

"Saving My First Kiss" is a great read! Lisa Velthouse, Brio Magazine's '2000 Brio Girl,' is funny, empathetic, and shares wise advice for young women everywhere. I highly recommend this book

Lisa's book hits home for young women everywhere! I absolutely loved the book! Lisa gives sound advice about Christian dating and holding out for Mr. right. It's a must have for christian girls.

I picked this up from my library one day to read over the summer, and I'm so glad I did. It didn't take me that long to read, because I really got into it. It is the story of a girl who's family are Travelers, like gypsies. They don't have real jobs, and they don't have permanent homes. They basically make their money by ripping people off and taking their money while doing odd jobs for them or selling items to them.

The main character Bridget starts o question whether the life of a Traveler is the one for her. She has always wondered what it would be like to live in a real house and get an important job, and have a normal family. She wouldn't have to constantly be on the run, and she could go to the same school for more than a year and make real friends. The main character also feels a bit guilty sometimes about living this dishonest life of ripping people off.

Meanwhile, Bridget is engaged to her older brother's friend Patrick, which was arranged by the parents of both families. Patrick is nice enough, and he's really hot, but Bridget wants to make her own choices about who she marries.

Then, later in the book when Bridget finds out that her family has kept a secret from her, Bridget has to make an important decision about what kind of life she wants for herself.

The ending was good on one hand, but on the other hand, I was upset with it. However, this is a great book that I recommend checking out from the library. It was interesting to learn how the "Travelers" lived.

"See you Down the Road" is an interesting story about a girl named Bridget who lives as a "traveler" or person who lives in a trailer and lives on the road. This book is filled with plot twists and turns, as well as heartbreak and hope, as Bridget questions whether the traveler lifestyle is right for her. She wonders who the mysterious woman her mother is always talking on the phone with could be. Bridget also questions her families values as they shoplift and steal from various stores and people, in order to bring in their income. She also wonders if her boyfriend Patrick is the right guy for her or not. As Bridget struggles with these questions about her life, the story moves along at a very fast-paced speed and keeps the reader intrigued throughout the whole journey. I reccommend this book for readers ages 13 and up, for it has some mature themes, but is still targeted for teenagers and young adults.

I really, really loved this book. I learned a lot about another culture even while reading about characters who seemed like very real, typical teenagers. The book asks a lot of difficult and intriguing questions, and it's never predictable. There are lots of surprises throughout the book. I hope to read more by this author!

Bridget and her family are Travelers. They're a little-known group of people in America who travel around the country, making money in usually illegal ways, and keep to themselves, with their own traditions and way of life. People who aren't Travelers are called Country, and Travelers usually isolate themselves from these people. They don't trust them, and only interact with them to scam money off of them. Travelers only go to Country schools for a few years, just long enough to know what they need to.

Bridget is a little different from many Travelers in that way. She works Country jobs, as a cashier, and she's been going to Country schools years longer than most other Traveler teenagers. Still, though, she keeps to the Traveler way most of the time. She and her friend, Ann, make their money by ripping off the local K-mart in whatever town they're in. Her parents have arranged a marriage for her, with Ann's brother, Patrick. Her brother, Jimmy, has grown up helping their father fix driveways and roofs with watered-down sealant to make a better profit by scamming Country people.

Bridget doesn't always like her life as a Traveler. She isn't sure she wants to marry Patrick, even though he's a nice guy and she does like him, but she's never see any way out of it. Then her uncle, Big Jim, takes Bridget, Jimmy, and Patrick with him all the way to Arizona, where they'll pull off the biggest scam that Bridget's ever been involved in. They'll sell condos that don't meet the building codes, and then run off with the money. The beauty of it is, the contractor won't dare tell on them, as he's the one who hired them to sell condos that don't meet building codes.

In Arizona, Bridget has some time to think about a lot of things, and maybe even figure out what she wants. But then she makes a discovery about her family, one that could change everything for Bridget...The choice is hers, but what will she decide?

Before reading SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD, I had never heard of Travelers. I don't think many people have, but they're real people, and reading about them was very interesting. Their way of life is very different from the way most of us live, and this is an eye-opening book. Many of us don't realize how differently some people live from us, not just in far away places but right here in the United States.

On top of that, SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD is full of amazing characters, and is very well written. All of the characters are well drawn, realistic, and three-dimensional; even the very minor characters seem alive. The ending is not what we might expect from this sort of book, but it fits well, and is one that I really liked. It wasn't predictable, and it was still a happy ending. Whitney's ending, I felt, stayed true to the characters and flowed with the rest of the story wonderfully.

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

I picked up Kim Ablon Whitney's See You Down the Road on a Friday evening and didn't want to put it down until I finished it! Not really knowing anything about the Travelers lifestyle before reading the book, I was intrigued to learn about it and to witness Bridget's angst as she struggled with the choices she had to make about staying loyal to her family versus forging a different kind of life for herself. Bridget's character was so believable and I must say I was very pleased by the book's ending! I found myself hoping that there will be a sequel because I really liked these characters so much!
I found the writing to be so descriptive and realistic- I could really envision and feel each of the scenes, which made it a really fun read! I would (and did!) recommend this book to friends!