CHECK IT OUT

In the perilous passage between ages 13 and 19, teens face a minefield of

challenges -- from resisting peer pressure to dealing with growth spurts.

To ease the journey into adulthood, Newport libraries offer numerous

resources.

“Before you’ll ever win in the public arenas of life, you must first win

private battles ...” writes Sean Covey in “The 7 Habits of Highly

Effective Teens.” To arm teens for battle, Covey provides hundreds of

tips aimed at improving self-image, building friendships and achieving

goals in an entertaining guide based on his father’s bestseller.

For parents, there’s intriguing insight into adolescence in “A Tribe

Apart,” offering a fly-on-the-wall perspective of the lives of eight

teenagers. After spending three years submerged in their environment,

Patricia Hersch concludes that contemporary teens have been left to their

own devices by a self-involved generation of parents, and rely on each

other for advice on such profound issues as ethics, values and

relationships.

Equally enlightening is “Seen and Heard,” a penetrating look into the

world of young adults that shatters the stereotype of uncommunicative

kids. In candid interviews, 50 teens reveal feelings, frustrations, hopes

and desires with a bittersweet honesty that could serve as a tool to open

communication between adults and young people.

The unfiltered voices of teenage girls can be heard in “Ophelia Speaks,”

a collection of original pieces offering poignant commentary on the

search for self. Writing on everything from eating disorders to politics,

the excerpts provide a collective response to issues introduced in

“Reviving Ophelia,” the bestseller that prompted 17-year-old Sara Shandler to provide a forum for real-life Ophelias.

For parents of daughters, “200 Ways to Raise a Girl’s Self-esteem”

presents strategies aimed at imparting a strong sense of self-worth in

girls. Based on such principles as modeling integrity, articulating love

and demonstrating respect, each tip is followed by specific exercises for

parents and teachers.

Those raising sons will find sensible insight illuminating the lives of

both troubled and highly functioning boys in “A Fine Young Man.” In

addition to exploring the biology and emotions of adolescent males,

Michael Gurian calls for a shift in the attitude of society, educators

and the media in order to nurture adolescent boys into loving,

responsible men.

The same author provides guidance for boys heading into puberty in “From

Boys to Men.” There’s sound advice on everything from acne to romance in

this thoughtful guide to the physical, mental and emotional changes that

can make adolescence bewildering.

Finally, lessons of survival and success abound in “Chicken Soup for the

Teenage Soul II.” Along with guidance and encouragement, teens will find

inspiring stories that emphasize the importance of friendship, family,

self-respect and dreams in this newest addition to a series aimed at

winning the game of life.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column was written by Melissa Adams, in

collaboration with Andrea Jason.