What Your Son Isn't Telling You: Unlocking the Secret World of Teen Boys

I have no children (yet), but as a professor, I have worked in different grades, from junior high school to postgraduate. The effects a teacher can have in students are always there, but they are even deeper in teenagers. I've realized that this period of boy's lives is a turning point; they are in search for their identity and come to realize that growing up has consequences and responsibilities. I've been able to observe that many teen boys act tough, but their inside is quite different - fragile, thriving for family support and peer acceptance. That's what called my attention to this book. I enjoyed reading it. It was a wonderful insight into how a teen boy sees life and feels; few books have presented such a unique approach to understanding teenagers as this one does. To me, a real treasure are the many e-mails and letters the authors have used to exemplify the topic they are considering; adults tend to think that teenagers don't like to open up and communicate, but these testimonies are a shocking eye opener. They are a practical way to identify ourselves with them. It is an invitation to see the world from their point of view and exercise a bit of true love - going beyond myself and reaching out to that boy who is facing a difficult time in his life, wanting independence and needing support (without fully realizing it) at the same time. The authors emphasize the role of parents in shaping and affirming a boy's identity, even today, when drugs, bullies, cyber sex, child pornography and other issues threaten every teenager. Besides that, they suggest answers and initiating dialogues from a biblical perspective, always supported on the Scripture. My only negative criticism to this book is that the authors emphasize the different roles of mothers and fathers. However, we are living times when single parents (either moms or dads) are raising their kids on their own; I would have liked to see more content related to single parenthood, just because of the fact it exists. Because of my career, the book has also given me ideas to share with parents. Due to the implications of the authors' advice and suggestions, their Biblical perspective and teen boys life at stake, I wish I could give a copy of this book to every person who has to do with a teen boy's life read this book, whether a parent, a teacher, a pastor or a counselor. We must realize that they are looking for support and acceptance; if we are not there for them, someone else will - who? Bethany House very kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review; in no way has this biased my opinion on the book or on the authors.

Although I don't have teenage boys yet, I do have two sons who will be approaching this stage in the future. When I saw that there was a book co-written by Susie Shellenberger, I agreed to review this book from Bethany House for free. Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, Susie Shellenberger was well-known in our home. I suscribed to Brio magazine and owned some of her books for teenage girls. Her advice was Biblical and helpful during a very difficult stage of life. With this, I received this book and it's just what a parent needs in understanding the mind of a teenage boy. The other author, Michael Ross, created Breakaway, a magazine for teenage boys. The two authors have written several books for teenagers and have helped parents all over the world in this trying stage of life. This current book is full of wonderful advice for both parents and teenage boys. At the beginning, the book describes "how a boy's world looks and feels (p.12)" by talking about things like "rejection, fascination with the opposite sex, and his drive for independence (p.15)." These things are just a small portion of the basics of teenagehood. There are different stages of puberty and the book describes what happens at each stage. Next come topics such as cruelty caused by peers, emails from teen boys, the different battlegrounds they face, how to communicate to your son and much more. Parents will appreciate the chapters on "what he needs from mom (p.145)" and the important role of fathers, or as described, "guy time (p.161)." As my boys get older and face this stage of life, I know this book will get lots of wear and tear with all the help it's going to give. I highly recommend all parents of teenage boys to own a copy of this book. So many topics are discussed in this book with real life examples for parents to understand and relate. What a great book!

Teenagers are a mystery to adults, even though we were that age ourselves not so very long ago. What Your Son Isn't Telling You by Michael Ross and Susie Shellenberger is packed full of secrets of the teenage boy. Once you unlock the secrets, at the end of each chapter you'll find either questions or suggestions on how to get the most out of your relationship with your son. There are also ideas of what to pray for and how to approach these topics with your child. This book deals with everything from masturbation to porn, from bullying to depression & anger. You'll find out what your son needs from mom and what he needs from dad. There is so much packed into this book that I'll probably pull it out and read it again a few times for the duration of my sons teen years.

I would like to highly reccomend this book. I wish it had been written when we were in the process of raising our first son, now twenty. There are letters and e-mails throughout the book that are relevant to each topic and they give parents a view of what teenage boys are actually thinking. The authors are very willing to approach topics that are hard for parents to understand and give pointers on how to open up avenues of discussion with our boys. They are also quick to remind us that our boys are not teenage girls and the biological reasons its so hard for our young men to open up and talk things out with us. Several of the topics include: How a boys world feels and looks, Breaking the code of creuelty, "Eight things you need to know about me", Helping him unmask His true self and so on. There is even a chapter written especially for the men in our teens lives, "Father hunger and Guy time." I read this book in one setting and will go back to it again over the next few years I am sure! Our oldest boy is now a man, but several of the issues were so applicable with him and his struggles as well. I highly reccomend this book to anyone with a son ages 8 and up. This will help you prepare for the next years ahead. I would like to let you know that this was a copy I recieved from Bethany Publishers for the purpose of reviewing it. I was not paid for this review and was not influenced in any way.

If you want to know what your son isn't telling you, check out What Your Son Isn't Telling You: Unlocking the Secret World of Teen Boys by Michael Ross and Susie Shellenberger, published by Bethany House, copyright 2010, just hitting store shelves. For a mere $13.99, you may unlock secrets to enable you to help your teen in the 190 pages that end with a prayer for your family. The back cover material says the book contains the keys to understanding your son's heart and mind. My two sons are grown now, but perhaps my reading this book will help me reach out to my grandchildren and other teens. From the back cover: Your son struggles with the constant pressure to prove himself--in the classroom, on the playing field, and especially among his friends. And while he may put up a tough exterior, deep inside he hungers for family support and connection. You long to be there for him, but chances are he's put up a formidable wall of silence, leaving you wondering how to break through. This book offers practical advice on how to provide support and connection. It's brimming with real-life stories and emails, a must read to guide you. I remember when my two sons were going through their teen years. I could've used a book like this one. It contains 15 chapters, and the 15'th one, "Lost in Space: If a Boy Rejects Christianity" may prove one of the most insightful. Sometimes parents get the blame for how their children turn out, but there are times when parents have done their best and raised their children in a Christian home, only to have them rebel. The humorist Mark Twain made jokes about the teen years, but through the humor we get that teen years are difficult. Think of the peer pressure young people face on a daily basis. Then, there's the old blame game. This book has it covered! A conclusion leads, guides, and asks you to pray. I thank Bethany House for the opportunity to review this eye-opening book.