Adolescent Health titles ...

GOODNIGHT MIND FOR TEENS by Colleen E. Carney is part of the New Harbinger Instant Help   Books imprint. Carey, a professor and researcher,  writes here specifically to teens. She notes that their sleep problems are distinct from others’ and offers “solutions that use sleep science and consider the unique biology and life demands of young adults.” Her tone is generally non-judgmental and soothing throughout; she encourages teens to take an approach of “tracking your sleep, learning about your sleep, coming up with a plan for a change, and checking whether you are satisfied with the results of your plan.” Her focus seems to be on individual goal setting – plus, readers are welcome to create an account and view related accessories. The text itself is organized so that each chapter centers around a tip (e.g., establishing a wind down routine or making a plan for getting out of bed in the morning) and that should help teens to break up their approach in a manageable (and hopefully successful!) manner. Carney assists in this by providing a well-organized summary and plan for the week at the end of each chapter. As she says, “this book focuses on creating an environment for change rather than inflexibly dictating standards for sleep behaviors.” GOODNIGHT MIND FOR TEENS may be a good starting point for some students, although others may find her advice (references to substance abuse, for example) to be too simplistic.  In any case, sleep is an important topic in our health classes and students could benefit from exploring Carney’s efforts to build “Skills to Help You Quiet Noisy Thoughts and Get the Sleep You Need.” The book could use more illustrations – maybe a fun class assignment would be to create those more memorable messages?

THE NEW ADOLESCENCE by Christine Carter is subtitled “Raising Happy and Successful Teens in an Age of Anxiety and Distraction.” It seems even more relevant in these days of COVID as we try to navigate uncertainty and more “together” time than usual. Carter knows what she is talking about due to her training as a sociologist, her role as a senior fellow at UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center, and her practical experience as a Mom of four teenagers. The book is certainly geared towards parents and while it refers to numerous scientific findings, it is written in an accessible manner with bold type throughout for key ideas. I do think that teens may be put off a bit by some of the suggestions (no phone, tablet or computer in your bed does not seem reasonable in times of remote learning) and also with some of the language (e.g., her driving and technology contracts start out “Dear Sweet Child of Ours”). However, the statistics to which she points are certainly significant ones and worthy of discussion. The book itself is divided into three parts, with the first providing a Foundation which provides background and discusses helping teens to set up good systems and supporting them when they miss the mark. In the second section, she discussions Three Core Skills for the Digital Age (i.e., connection, focus (“a twenty-first-century superpower”), and rest. Part three covers talking points for the new sex talk, drinking and drugs, and money.  The conclusion provides a useful summary about parenting strategies and tactics to support reconnection for tweens, teens, and college students. There is about twenty pages of source notes and an index. To me, this work further highlights a need for educators to be thinking about how to help teens find meaning and connect, especially if traditional options (like Fall sports or other extra-curricular activities) are limited due to COVID. 

DECODING BOYS by Cara Natterson describes the “New Science Behind the Subtle Art of Raising Sons.” A pediatrician, Natterson shares a great deal of medical information, particularly about brain development and effects of testosterone hormone. An entire chapter discusses how puberty for boys is beginning earlier, too, at roughly 9 or 10. Another section is titled, “When They Look Like Adults, But Don’t Think Like Them.” That one begins humorously with stories involving her own children, but carries some serious messages as do subsequent sections on pornography, consent, addiction, and aggression. This is uncomfortable reading at times, but Natterson’s emphasis on listening and communication would be echoed by Lisa Damour, author of Untangled and Under Pressure as well as a recent FAN speaker, who says, “If you're raising a boy, you need this brilliant book.”  The text concludes with an objective, alphabetical (acne, body odor, etc.) list of body changes that occur as well as “a relatively brief explanation of the behind-the-scenes biology.” Overall, a useful resource with a science slant.