Patricia Lyons' searing first-person accounts of adolescent ethics, spirituality, conscience, and struggles with despair are unforgettable. In this book, she deciphers the language of youth so that any teacher, parent, or mentor can learn how to hear, understand and respond more effectively to the spiritual hopes and longings of teenagers.

In innumerable discussions and activities dedicated to better understanding and helping teenagers, one aspect of teenage life is curiously overlooked. Very few such efforts pay serious attention to the role of religion and spirituality in the lives of American adolescents. But many teenagers are very involved in religion. Surveys reveal that 35% attend religious services weekly and another 15% attend at least monthly. 60% say that religious faith is important in their lives. 40% report that they pray daily. 25% say that they have been "born again." Teenagers feel good about the congregations they belong to. Some say that faith provides them with guidance and resources for knowing how to live well. What is going on in the religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers? What do they actually believe? What religious practices do they engage in? Do they expect to remain loyal to the faith of their parents? Or are they abandoning traditional religious institutions in search of a new, more authentic "spirituality"? This book attempts to answer these and related questions as definitively as possible. It reports the findings of The National Study of Youth and Religion, the largest and most detailed such study ever undertaken. The NYSR conducted a nationwide telephone survey of teens and significant caregivers, as well as nearly 300 in-depth face-to-face interviews with a sample of the population that was surveyed. The results show that religion and spirituality are indeed very significant in the lives of many American teenagers. Among many other discoveries, they find that teenagers are far more influenced by the religious beliefs and practices of their parents and caregivers than commonly thought. They refute the conventional wisdom that teens are "spiritual but not religious." And they confirm that greater religiosity is significantly associated with more positive adolescent life outcomes. This eagerly-awaited volume not only provides an unprecedented understanding of adolescent religion and spirituality but, because teenagers serve as bellwethers for possible future trends, it affords an important and distinctive window through which to observe and assess the current state and future direction of American religion as a whole.

"The Soul of Adolescence Aligns with the Heart of Democracy" follows the author's compelling journey of discovering his life's purpose. The author evolves in his understanding of adolescent potential and wisdom through direct involvement with youth and communities. Developing a portfolio of meaningful engagement with young leaders and communal movements requires gradually shedding unconscious bias. The author's journey reminds readers that acknowledged and affirmed teen participation results in young people finding their full potential, and communities becoming sustainable.

By taking time to listen and learn from the teenage community in our midst, the author gives voice to their hopes and dreams, fears and frustrations. This is a book that should be read and discussed by all those entrusted with the souls of adolescents.

This breakthrough book covers the head-to-toe, outside-inside health needs of today's 10- to 21-year-olds. Written by experts in adolescent medicine and parent-child relationships, this comprehensive reference gives no-nonsense, straightforward guidance on how to talk with teens in a way that will help them take charge of their own health. Andrea Marks, M.D., and Betty Rothbart, M.S.W., take a unique approach -- they focus on the interplay of physical, mental, emotional, and social issues that make these years such a challenging time. They show how physical health concerns must be considered within the context of the three main goals of adolescence: • gaining independence • clarifying sexual identity • Finding a realistic, satisfying place in society Combining authoritative information with sound advice on communicating with teens, who really do want and need their parents' help (even though at times it may seem otherwise), Healthy Teens, Body and Soul will teach parents how to open the lines of communication that will result in healthier, happier teens (and parents!).

As we enter a new millennium, the teenage years have never been more difficult. We can tell by their behaviour: School shootings. Teen pregnancy, Fatal car crashes. Binge drinking. Dropping out. But now's not the time to give up on the next generation, says author Meg Meeker, a Michigan child and adolescent physician, who has worked closely with teens for nearly twenty years. Teens, she believes, are crying out for help -- and it's up to the parents and adults in their lives to respond. This book will help you understand why our teens are getting into trouble. Why teens are depressed and suicidal. Why teens are looking for love in the wrong places. Dr Meeker contends that the fundamental needs of teens are not being met, which results in them trying to find their own way in an unfriendly culture. Yet all is not lost, if adults are willing to be there for the teens in their lives. Uplifting, frank, encouraging and conversational, this book will inspire any adult to get involved. So what are you waiting for?

Being a good parent is one of the most difficult, yet most rewarding, jobs a person can have in his or her lifetime. Being the parent of a teen is an especially daunting phase of the journey. As parents begin to notice the significant changes that come with adolescence (physical changes brought about by puberty, the constant angst and moodiness, and of course the classic eye-rolling and the I-know-it-all attitude), they wonder just what happened to their happy, sweet, and affectionate young boy or girl. Parents sit by amazed--and often lost and unprepared--as they witness their child morph and mutate into a full-blown pubescent display of emotions. The Angst of Adolescence: How to Parent Your Teen and Live to Laugh About It, written in a conversational, informative, humorous and relatable style, promises to deliver trustworthy resource for parents of teens who are searching for answers and guidance about how to maneuver their way through this tricky developmental period. Dr. Sara Villanueva, a prominent psychologist specializing in the adolescent years, shares relevant research findings so that parents can be informed of the facts as opposed to making assumptions based on ubiquitous but questionable sources. Most of all it will provide parents of teenagers with perspective in the midst of angst so they can come away with the sense that: * They are not alone in their experience of raising teens; many, many people have gone through it and we can all relate to and learn from one another. * Most of what your teen is feeling and expressing is normal and falls within the expected range of behavior for adolescent development. * Despite the challenges involved in parenting teens, we should take time to focus on the positive things in life and live with our child through the tough adolescent years so that we emerge on the other side with friendship and a deeper bond. As a psychologist and mother of four, the author shares both research-based and first-hand advice on how to navigate the teen years and live to laugh about it.