Leaving Home: Survival of the Hippest

I, too, am a fan of Lynn Johnston's comic strip, but it at no time conjures up the word "hip." Much of its charm is that it conveys an "unhip" feeling, even while addressing modern situations. Wholesomeness, humor, warm family ties and loyal friendships, yes. Hip? No, I don't think so. That does not mean that I don't recommend the book. It just doesn't scream "hip." The Hipster Handbook illustrates in great detail the hippest of the hip. If you want to read a book on leaving home that would appeal to the young and the hip, try 50 Ways to Leave Your Mother. That said, I still would recommend Leaving Home: Survival of the Hippest for its humorous take on the pitfalls of kids living on their own for the first time. The author has done a nice job of putting forth life lessons of the young and the clueless with her wonderful sense of humor.

Another Great book to visit the Patterson's with. "For Better / For Worse" has to be one of the best comic strips of all time. It really makes you think, "They are just like my family", and if you do not have kids, read the books so you know what to prepare for.

I enjoy collecting works by Lynn Johnson. However, this is NOT a yearly collection or a "Best of..." book. Having said that, it is a book with some practical, but fun advice for those who are leaving home. Since I've been on my own for over 10 years, this was not a very interesting read. Instead, I gave it to a high school graduate in hopes that he would learn a few things through the chuckles. Overall, it's a good book, but not one worth keeping in my collection.