As a parent you know that your 'child' is not just another teenager, struggling to grow up. She is your daughter. That in itself makes her the most unique and important teenager in the world. But when your sweet little girl suddenly stops talking, won't do anything you tell her to do, and starts dressing like she stepped out of a celebrity magazine, you start wondering what went wrong. Michelle Mitchell has spent the last 10 years day-in, day-out, listening and talking with teenage girls about their lives, loves, hates and hopes. In this book she reveals that its what your daughter isn't telling you rather than what she does tell you that matters the most. Featuring an engaging and fresh voice, this book is full of straightforward advice in a complicated world. Its honesty, reality and practicality is ably illustrated by the many real anecdotes from teenagers themselves about their hectic everyday lives.

Outstanding and original, this book by Dr. Anvita Madan-Bahel (PhD, Columbia University) integrates the current theory and literature on South Asians and engages the reader in meaningful ways. There are few studies in Asian/Asian American studies and in psychology (as well as other fields such as cultural studies, film, etc) that address the spectrum of topics included in this creative, thoroughly researched and well-written book. This book will be a valuable reference for those in many disciplines, including Psychology, Asian Studies and Women's Studies. "In this seminal piece, Dr. Madan-Bahel uses Bollywood film clips to foster thinking and discussion on critical topics in sexual health for South Asian female youth. This work is unique and innovative in many key ways. ... Dr. Madan-Bahel offers a variety of recommendations for practice, research, and policy that will continue to influence the field for years to come. This is impressive, inspirational, and groundbreaking work " - Christine J. Yeh, Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology, University of San Francisco

This book unveils that "YOU ARE A GIFT, YOUR LIFE IS A GIFT" and "YOUR LIFE DESERVES TO BE CELEBRATED." The life of a Teenager is too beautiful and precious. And your life is meant to be filled with the joy and abundance of happiness. This is your birthright Your life has a divine purpose You're here to shine, to accomplish, celebrate life, and celebrate your sacred purpose Young adults will find techniques, in this book that can harness their mind, their body and their intellect. When these three aspects are in sync, they will realize the world is at their feet. Fear is no longer in their psyche and confidence becomes their second nature. A must read for teenagers, this book should be a guide on a daily basis. When life get bumpy, read the book. You will gain knowledge on why and how things work. It will energize you physically and enrich your thoughts with inspiring ideas, quotes, and timeless universal principles of joy, happiness and health.

This guy is tough, and so is his message.(By Ruben Rosario, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN August 2011. Edited for length)Like the U.S. Postal Service, apparently nothing keeps Larry Bauer-Scandin - foster dad to 125 - from his self-appointed rounds.Not the weather. Not the heart ailments or the genetic neurological disorder that robbed him of movement and rendered him legally blind. The 64-year-old Vadnais Heights resident just gets up and does it."My life was normal for the first nine years of my life until 1957 when my foot went to sleep, except that my foot never woke up," Bauer-Scandin told a group of inmates from the 3100 unit at the Dakota County Jail.But that's not the main message that Bauer-Scandin, a retired probation officer and jail counselor, wants to deliver on this day. "Whom do you blame for your problems?" he asks the group of 34 men, who are members of IMC, or Inmates Motivated to Change. Under the program, inmates with chemical dependency or mostly nonviolent offenses sign an agreement to take part in several programs and pledge not to make the same mistakes that keep landing them in lock-up."What people need to do is stand in front of a mirror and ask: 'How much of the problem is mine and how much is it somebody else?' "I first wrote about Bauer-Scandin five years ago. It was centered on his life as a foster parent. As he told the inmates, two of his former foster kids are cops, one in St. Paul. Two are soldiers deployed to Iraq. One's a millionaire. One's an author. Most are raising families or staying out of trouble in spite of hardships.But "15 are dead," said Bauer-Scandin, author of "Faces on the Clock," an engrossing memoir about his life. The dead include suicide victims, including an 11-year-old, others from AIDS and "my last one, they found in three or four pieces, as I understand."Bauer-Scandin's worth writing about again for what he continues to do at great pain and sacrifice without pay or fanfare. He didn't sugarcoat or pull punches with his audience."What I'm afraid is still happening is that the system is trying to figure out how to get tighter," he told them. "The sentences are getting tougher."And it's not the police, the sheriffs, the courts or even the folks in state and county-run corrections that are responsible for the race to incarcerate."It's the legislature," Bauer-Scandin said. "And legislatures have been known to do very stupid things."He also faults the media and a gullible public that forms opinions and dehumanizes people strictly on what they watch on TV and not on real-life experiences or knowledge."What do they see?" he said. "They see the Charlie Mansons. They see the unusual. They see the extreme. Most of you aren't that way. But that's what makes the news."Yet he doesn't divert from his main message: It's up to the inmate to take a positive step and choose the right way."Get yourself back into a position where you can influence those people, to be able to go to a school board or a city council or legislative meeting and have your voice heard."You can't fight the system from in here," he concluded. "You have to be out there."The inmates applauded and, one by one, stood in line to shake his hand on his way out the jail complex.His progressively debilitating disorder is taking more of a toll these days. But he steered the scooter inside the van and deftly wiggled his frail body into the driver's seat. He has no complaints, he told me. He will continue to go out and speak as long as God and his wife allow him."I hope something stuck," he tells me before he drives off.I hope so too, Larry.

Sunday Times bestseller 'The mothering manual we all need' Claudia Winkleman Calling all Mums: Are you feeling lonely and confused? Are you panicking that you're getting everything wrong? Do you feel as if your relationship with your teenage daughter has worsened overnight? Don't worry, you're not alone. Enter parenting columnist Lorraine Candy, a mum of four (including three teens). Her warm, witty, and wise memoir will gently lead you to a harmonious place. This book is a reassuring survivor's guide to the highs and lows of parenting adolescents. It will reconnect you to your daughter and help you feel good about your mothering.

As an older foster child, Andrew longed for the day when he'd be adopted by a real family because they loved him and wanted him to be part of their family unit. Until that day dawned, like many other foster kids, he lived with the stigma that he was kept by his foster parents to generate income for them.

Of late, bad had gone to worse for 13 year old Andrew. He was being sexually abused by Blanche, his new single foster mom. Blanche had been abandoned by her husband and despised men. Although she used Andrew for her own depraved needs, she treated him poorly. To add to his pain, news of this sexual relationship leaked out to his peers at school and he was now enduring verbal torment at recesses and noon hour. Andrew couldn't bear the pain any longer when the only friend who'd stuck up for him at school turned against him. He felt totally alone, so unloved.

"Dear God, I have nothing left to live for," he sobbed one night when his foster mom left for a party. "Please forgive me for what I have to do, but I'm hurting so much."

Andrew headed to his foster mother's shed to get the rope. With the rope coiled up under his coat, he headed to the big black poplar tree in the Kinsman Park. Twelve feet off the ground was a large branch at right angles to the trunk. Andrew quickly fashioned a hangman's noose and shinnied up the tree. Bracing himself with his legs he slipped the noose over his head and tied the other end of the rope to the branch. Grasping the branch, he let himself down. As he hung there by his fingertips, his short life passed before him.......

...a message to the Black Youth.

This is a compilation of individual essays written during the summer-fall of 1992. The essays are designed to inspire thought within the Black Mind. These writings are primarily targeted toward the Black Youth of this day, of which I am a part of. I am not a "Master" of these teachings, but these teachings I wish to "Master."

"They" say that my generation is not intelligent enough to read a book. I say that "They" are wrong. It is just that "They" are not writing about anything of interest that is relevant to our lives!

And when "They" do write something, they have to write in the perfect "King's English" to impress their Harvard Professors! Here we are with a book in one hand, and a dictionary in the other, trying to understand what in the hell the author is talking about!

If you have got something to say, just say it! We are not impressed by your 27-letter words, or your Shakespearian style of writing. The Black Youth of today don't give a damn about Shakespeare!!! This ain't no damn poetry contest! Wear are dealing with the life, blood, and salvation of our entire Black Nation!

If you want to reach the People, you have to embrace us where we are, and then take us where we need to go. So, these writings are from my generation and for my generation with respect and love.

If no one will teach, love and guide us, then we will teach love and guide ourselves.

Peace.