Books with author Kathlyn Gay

Volunteering: The Ultimate Teen Guide is a wonderful resource for teens on how they can use their time and energy to positively impact society and gain personal satisfaction. Teens get a complete picture of what volunteering involves, including the personal commitment and the physical and emotional stamina, as well as the positive-and sometimes negative-consequences. Filled with inspiring and rewarding stories from teen volunteers who testify to the immense personal satisfaction that resulted from their volunteer efforts.

Death is a sensitive subject for most people. Whether due to fear or superstition, many individuals avoid the topic of mortality. For teens, the subject is taboo as well. Most young adults believe that death won’t affect them, so they’d rather not talk about it. But death is a natural course of life, and everyone—including teens—will encounter it at some time in their lives, some sooner than later, and some unexpectedly. In Dealing with Death: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Kathlyn Gay addresses this difficult subject, providing matter-of-fact discussions on a number of issues that help teens better understand the nature of mortality. This book looks at the personal, legal, and moral questions related to death, includingHow do you deal with the deal of a loved one?What’s it like to live with a terminal illness?What happens after you die?Featuring real stories and quotes from teens about their experiences, this book shows young adults a variety of views on dying and grieving. This book will help readers deal with death—not only the reality that death is inevitable for all of us—but also the many ways people face death and bereavement. Dealing with Death serves as a valuable resource for all teens, whether they are dealing with tragedy or just looking for more information on a tough subject.

More than 70 percent of America's 60 million young people believe they can make a difference in their communities, and the numbers support their assertions. Teenagers spend 2.4 billion hours annually in volunteer service, and their labor is worth $34.3 billion to the U.S. economy. Volunteering brings emotional satisfaction, provides opportunities for learning skills that can be used in the job market, and helps teens to make career choices. But the major reasons that teens cite for performing volunteer service is the compassion they feel for people in need and the belief that they improve the quality of life for others.Volunteering: The Ultimate Teen Guide is a complete guide for teens who want to volunteer. Young people get a complete picture of what volunteering involves, including the personal commitment and the physical and emotional stamina, as well as the positive—and sometimes negative—consequences. This book is filled with inspiring and rewarding stories from teen volunteers who testify to the benefits and the immense personal satisfaction as a result of their volunteer efforts. Volunteering is a wonderful resource for both teens as well as those who work with teens on how to use one's time and energy to positively impact society and to gain personal satisfaction from helping others.

Despite claims that young people today don’t care about the world they live in and don’t get involved in causes, more and more teens are taking up the fight for things they truly believe in. In fact, there are more than 10,000 members nationwide for the Youth Rights Movement and more than 50,000 members, fans, and supporters of Kids against Animal Cruelty. Many young adults who aren’t involved are simply unaware of how to become activists or where to start championing their causes. In Activism: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Kathlyn Gay explains why people become activists, the types of causes they advocate or oppose, and how teenagers can get involved. Activists are vigorous supporters for issues that are important to them, from social causes to political campaigns. While students often volunteer for a short period of time for school credit, many want to continue doing more outside of the classroom. This book assists those young adults who want to learn more about specific issues and organizations. Chapters are divided by topic and includeYouth rightsTeen healthCampaigns against sexual violence and traffickingAnimal rightsReligious issuesPeace effortsGun control and gun rightsImmigrationThis book also includes a valuable chapter on learning to be an activist and a resource section that lists dozens of organizations dedicated to specific causes. Throughout this book, the author highlights the lives and activities of numerous teens who are long-term activists and also suggests books and films that promote activism. Activism: The Ultimate Teen Guide is a wonderful resource for young adults who are interested in making the world a better place.

The Military and Teens covers the major issues young adults should consider before making a decision to join the armed forces. Although each branch of the military provides print and electronic materials on what it has to offer enlistees, very few YA books take a pro-and-con look at military service. Moreover, commercial military books mostly cover specific wars or give tips on surviving induction and training.From deciding to serve, to what it's like to face death, to being forced to kill, to discrimination in the military, and to life afterwards, this work presents the benefits and downsides of military service. Kathlyn Gay covers the many available choices of careers in the military and points out where to go for more information. Both primary and secondary sources have been used to provide information on young participants in the American Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, World Wars I & II, as well as the Korean, Vietnam, and Gulf wars. In the final pages of the book, the comprehensive list of available sources of information includes books, magazine articles, and websites for further research. Enhanced by young people sharing their personal experiences as enlistees and as members of military families, The Military and Teens is a useful resource for both teens and those who work with teens to advise them on career choices.

While many people appreciate cultural, social, political, and religious diversity, there are others who feel compelled to express their intolerance for others through cruel words and actions. Their behavior often stems from ignorance and insecurity, and they demonstrate their prejudices by belittling others who are different from them. These narrow-minded individuals attack others based on any number of reasons, including religious beliefs, sexual orientation, cultural background, social standing, or physical appearance. In Bigotry and Intolerance: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Kathlyn Gay looks at the various reasons why people of all age levels and backgrounds feel the need to disparage others. This book also offers help to teens who are the object of fear and hatred by showing them how to combat such behavior. Topics covered in this book include:the meaning of bigotry and intolerance types of bigotry—from religious bigotry to homophobia the difference between bigotry and racismwhat it feels like to be the target of bigotry how to cope with discriminationindividuals and groups that advocate tolerance and appreciation of cultural diversity Aimed at young adults who are interested in fighting bigotry and intolerance, this book will help teens who suffer from the small-mindedness of others. It might also help those who are less tolerant find some common ground with those who are different from them—and lead to a better understanding of how diversity makes for a richer, more interesting world. Featuring commentary from several young adults, Bigotry and Intolerance: The Ultimate Teen Guide will be welcomed by those who want to turn the tide of prejudice and fear in their schools and in their communities.

While many people appreciate cultural, social, political, and religious diversity, there are others who feel compelled to express their intolerance for others through cruel words and actions. Their behavior often stems from ignorance and insecurity, and they demonstrate their prejudices by belittling others who are different from them. These narrow-minded individuals attack others based on any number of reasons, including religious beliefs, sexual orientation, cultural background, social standing, or physical appearance.In Bigotry and Intolerance: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Kathlyn Gay looks at the various reasons why people of all age levels and backgrounds feel the need to disparage others. This book also offers help to teens who are the object of fear and hatred by showing them how to combat such behavior. Topics covered in this book include:the meaning of bigotry and intolerance types of bigotry—from religious bigotry to homophobia the difference between bigotry and racismwhat it feels like to be the target of bigotry how to cope with discriminationindividuals and groups that advocate tolerance and appreciation of cultural diversity Aimed at young adults who are interested in fighting bigotry and intolerance, this book will help teens who suffer from the small-mindedness of others. It might also help those who are less tolerant find some common ground with those who are different from them—and lead to a better understanding of how diversity makes for a richer, more interesting world. Featuring commentary from several young adults, Bigotry and Intolerance: The Ultimate Teen Guide will be welcomed by those who want to turn the tide of prejudice and fear in their schools and in their communities.

It has been estimated that at least half of the children in America come from families that have been affected by divorce. Of those children, more than half will see a parent’s second marriage dissolve as well. The impact of divorce on teens can be devastating, adversely affecting their attitudes, behaviors, and schoolwork, as well as their relationships with both friends and family. Divorce: The Ultimate Teen Guide focuses on the difficulties young people face in the wake of an epidemic that affects so many families. This book offers encouragement, insights, and resources to help teens cope with the challenges that come from living with divorce. Chapters address such issues as:Managing parental conflictsFinancial concernsCommunication problemsPlacing blame and taking sides DepressionLiving in a stepfamilyFeaturing stories about and quotes from young people and adults who have experienced parental separation and divorce, this book will be helpful for readers who are trying to deal with similar situations. With an emphasis on strategies and resources, Divorce: The Ultimate Teen Guide will help young people cope with this often devastating experience.