Real Lives: Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go to School Tell Their Own Stories

Wonderful book! I bought this book for my son, but couldn't put it down long enough for him to read a page until I was finished. So fun to read about these kids lives, in their words, and the updates made the book. Amazing how rich a life can be without the constraints of a school schedule!

this book was the selling point my husband needed for homeschooling and my son was delighted to have a non-christian focused book about homeschooling that was reinforcing the his choice as a good one as well

I read this book when I was just starting my high school years as an unschooler and was considering public or private school to continue my education. The teens in this book were inspiring and to this day if I ever hear an insulting comment about my choice of education, I think of what these teens have done and how I want to be just as much as an inspiration to my younger unschooled friends. I recommend this book to ANYONE!

I never was one who wanted to homeschool from the start. I wanted my children to have exposure to reality. I do however believe that every child is different and as they get older it is clear that some need the socialism and others don't. y son is now in the ninth grade and we have been struggling with him not liking school since 6th grade. He was always a good student but stuggled to keep up, typical with ADD so I expected that. He was always active in sports and all other extra curricular things but when his grades got to the failing and below point that option was gone. He still wasn't motivated and just outright hated school. His sister (also very social) is in 7th grade and she has never had a problem with the hectic schedule that public school gives to students. She is always in something, cheerleading, drama, etc... but still keeps her grades up. My point is that they are so different as many others are. I enjoyed reading the real life stories of these teens and feel more secure that is ok to let my son walk away from public school. By no means will this be quitting, it is only opening a door to keep his interest while he continues his education from home and through correspondence.

This book is about the daily lives of 11 teenagers who are currently unschooled. Some had attended public or private schools in the past and some have been life long unschoolers.I found it facinating to read about what teenagers are capable of when they are not stuck in a typical school setting. It reinforced my decision to not send my own children to school.