Life Freaks Me Out: And Then I Deal with It

What I like about this book is that Kay Hong has that rare capacity of remembering what it was actually like being a teenager and being able to write about it in an honest and fresh way. I think adults will enjoy and linger over stories which remind them of what it was like to be a teen (including the highs and lows of that experience) while young people will enjoy getting some real-life advice that is not condescending. All of the real-life feelings come through in Hong's writing including her humor.

Get through the teen years with a healthy outlook and little permanent damage and you have a good chance of smooth sailing until the 40s and possibly retirement. But how to get through the teen years? Can a book help? This one might. The problem isn't that science and collective wisdom haven't uncovered a few clues about getting adolescence. It's how to get these life buoys to teens drowning in hormones, self awareness and doubt. Hong tosses them underhand, makes them simple, explains how they're used, how they helped her. No PhD trying to sell a thesis. Just good advice from a friend.

I purchased this book as a teacher of pre-teens considered to be "at risk" on many levels. As I read Hong's memories and illustrations of herself at that age, the issues relevant to my students became achingly real. Not only did Hong's book help me to more clearly relate to my students, but to my family as well!

Kay Hong writes with honesty and clarity about what must have been painful memories for her----she has remarkable insight and provides clear guidelines for adolescents who may be going through the same struggles she overcame. Her memoir reads like a fascinating novel----but one that analyzes plot points in a most helpful way. As a parent of a tween, I found it extremely interesting---I couldn't put it down!

I thought that this book was written honestly and written well; and I'd recommend it.