97: Random Thoughts about Life, Love & Relationships

Okay, who wants to be a teen in today's world? I agree they need all the help they can get! Lookadoo gives teens a good reference book for their world from someone they can relate to. I am a grandmother and have seen our grandson have problems fitting in and yet wanting to fit in. This book gives great information in a way that teens can receive the information. Good book to give as a gift to teens and to families who want to understand their world.

Justin Lookadoo has been busy since writing his 2003 hit Dateable (into it's 13th printing). He's qualified to write for Christian teens, not because he's a former juvenile probation officer and crime and drug prevention specialist. It's that he knows teens and speaks their language. 97: Random Thoughts About Life, Love & Relationships inspires teens to "live with no regrets" in an often confusing and tempting world. Each one of the 97 entries is different. Written in Justin's hip, conversational tone, it's got an edgy feel, certainly not a preachy one. His "loud-mouthed, skydiving, WEIGHT-LIFTING wife" brings to many of the pages a feminine point of reference. 97 covers the expected teenage topics but in a brand new way. For example, building self esteem is tackled with entries like "Hot or Not", a unique opener for dealing with the problems of comparing ourselves to others. And when has a Christian devotional ever held up the musk ox as a spiritual role model for guys? Relationships are huge in every teen's life, and "Anatomy of the Parental Brain" and "Relationship Flossing" are only a few to come at the issue from a unique angle. The Lookadoos address their readers with respect, in no way patronizing or lecturing. A Scripture or Scriptural theme is presented with each topic subtly and seamlessly, sometimes just barely mentioned or woven into the graphics of the page. Justin is inspiring. He wants us to ask ourselves "is it holy?" when we make decisions, and he deals practically with crushes and friendships and staying in groups to avoid temptations. You can't get more practical than "Deodorant and Soap", an aptly titled treatise on "heavenly hygiene". Taken as a whole, we're inspired to live like real Christians, to "...step up. Make a difference. Reach out. Go see your grandparents. Give a dollar to the dude. Don't let anything get in your way of doing what needs to be done." It was disturbing to read about the girl who gave away her beloved puppy because she heard on the radio that a very sick guy really wished he had a little Chihuahua. A gripping story of love and sacrifice, the idea seemed extreme. She could have easily gone out and rescued another dog for this guy. But the fact that I could not forget this story, for whatever reason, speaks to the stark intensity of many of the entries. With exercises like tracing your own handprint right in the book or timing out 8 seconds on a clock, there are no boring pages. None. The entries are numbered like a countdown, with a table of contents that indexes the titles. Not a daily devotional, it's more of a countdown to teenage wisdom. --Reviewed by Carol Kurtz for TitleTrakk

OK, so say you have a 10 year old, who thinks she is 14, and you have friends who have a 14 year old who thinks any book on 'faith and morals' must be boring. Oh you could so change their mind with this book. My 10 year old begs me to read chapters to her in the car with her friends there - WHY? Because Justin Lookadoo is funny and hip/cool/happening/whatever your teenager says. I bought this book because I had met Justin Lookadoo at a booksellers convention, he's hard to miss. 6' 7" tall- not wide - and greatly weird looking. I thought anyone who looks like that and loves God...gets my attention. Then I saw his pic on the cover of this book in our Church Bookstore, and flipping through the book I saw how cool it looked not at all like a 'traditional' devotional book. And I was sold. I read three chapters to my family in the car on the way home. Read two more chapters to my friend the next day who is going to buy this book for her high school Bible Study. I predict this book will sell millions, and I plan on buying a great number for myself and friends. It's just the coolest book I've ever read for a devotional for teenagers, or those who wish they were teenagers, or those who rememer the teenage years! BUY IT NOW. You won't regret it. And you know "live with no regrets."