Jean Rawitt’s Friendship: Insights and Tips for Teenagers is a comprehensive exploration of friendship that looks at relationships among teens, the group that developmentally most needs peer relationships to help them forge their identities. As a 25-year educator of high school students, I have found that this population needs guidance and coaching around forging and sustaining healthy relationships in this unusual time. In a 15+ month ongoing pandemic, many teens have become isolated in their rooms, playing video games alone or with friends, some engaging in risky behavior, but (their parents and they) confess they have forgotten how to socialize in person in healthy ways. The young people Jean spoke with share openly and honestly about their experiences of friendship in this unique time, a vital conversation that is not happening so much in schools or in families. For the sake of this generation’s mental health and ability to flourish, I am deeply grateful that Jean is offering to catalyze this conversation with teens and the families, educators, and professionals who care for them.
Friendship is a treasure. It is brimming with insights from the author, contemporary experts, and, most importantly, from the real experts—young people. They share their ideas about the nature of friendship in its many varieties and practical wisdom on how to make, keep, and, when necessary, end friendships.
A helpful guide for navigating friendships during the tween and teen years. The book is easy to read and understand, which makes is suitable for kids of various ages. The book could be used as a guide or starting point for parents, teachers, or counselors who are facilitating conversations about friendships with teens.
A warm and wonderful book about the joys and intricacies of friendship. Written in a kind and approachable way, I would recommend it to young adults of all ages. Everyone can learn from it.
Friendship is a treasure. It is brimming with insights from the author, contemporary experts, and, most importantly, from the real experts--young people. They share their ideas about the nature of friendship in its many varieties and practical wisdom on how to make, keep, and, when necessary, end friendships.
Jean Rawitt's Friendship: Insights and Tips for Teenagers is a comprehensive exploration of friendship that looks at relationships among teens, the group that developmentally most needs peer relationships to help them forge their identities. As a 25-year educator of high school students, I have found that this population needs guidance and coaching around forging and sustaining healthy relationships in this unusual time. In a 15+ month ongoing pandemic, many teens have become isolated in their rooms, playing video games alone or with friends, some engaging in risky behavior, but (their parents and they) confess they have forgotten how to socialize in person in healthy ways. The young people Jean spoke with share openly and honestly about their experiences of friendship in this unique time, a vital conversation that is not happening so much in schools or in families. For the sake of this generation's mental health and ability to flourish, I am deeply grateful that Jean is offering to catalyze this conversation with teens and the families, educators, and professionals who care for them.
Only a gifted writer and thinker can achieve what the author was able to accomplish in this book: offer important information to adolescents about friendships which is a critical factor in resilience, without teens feeling lectured to in a condescending manner. By using frequent quotes from adolescents from interviews, she is able to offer in their own language crucial tips on navigating the landmines of middle school, adolescence, cliques, betrayal, bullying, and social media, while honoring the overriding importance of friendships during this development stage. Wholeheartedly recommended for teens and their parents and teachers!
05/01/2022
Gr 5 Up—A helpful guide for navigating friendships during the tween and teen years. The book is easy to read and understand, which makes is suitable for kids of various ages. Rawitt sought input from teenagers while writing this book, and this is evidenced by the real-life examples interspersed throughout. The book covers contemporary topics like social media, online friendships, and the pandemic, which gives it a timely, current feel. Also included are references to both popular and classic literature. These years can be a tumultuous time, and having friends is a vital part of being a young person. Included are occasional graphic illustrations depicting situations described in the text. The book could be used as a guide or starting point for parents, teachers, or counselors who are facilitating conversations about friendships with teens. However, the book lacks depth, and verbiage in the chapter "Types of Friendship" almost seems trite. VERDICT This title could be used to supplement an existing collection for middle school–aged students in a school or public library.—April Crowder
