Books in It Happened to Me series

One out of every 68 persons is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In addition, about 1 percent of the world population is afflicted with this condition. There is a vast amount of conjecture surrounding the topic of autism, so it is crucial to make sure relevant and appropriate information is accessible to those living on the spectrum as well as to those closest to them.In Autism: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Francis Tabone provides a comprehensive look at autism spectrum disorder. Designed to help teens and their families gain a social, medical, and historical understanding of ASD, this book addresses the factors that have influenced the treatment of this condition. Featuring stories and quotes from teens and young adults who live with ASD, this book helps readers gain insight into the ASD brain and how it affects individuals. Topics covered in this book includeunderstanding behavioral elementsthe origins and history of the term “Autism”a neurological look at the various disorders on the spectrumvarious types of treatmenthow to interact with a person on the spectrumaccomplished people living with a disorder on the spectrumFirmly grounding this subject in facts while providing advice for those affected by ASD—both directly and indirectly—this book will be of interest to young adults of autism as well as to their family members and friends. As a result, readers will better understand how to interact and work with those with ASD as well as gain a broader acceptance of those who may be different. With helpful advice and a list of resources, Autism: The Ultimate Teen Guide is a much needed book for anyone wanting to know more about Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Teens, Loss, and Grief is a self-help guide for teenagers who are struggling with bereavement and the emotional difficulties it presents. This book provides an overview of grief as a painful but normal process, offering insights from bereavement experts as well as practical suggestions for coping with loss, including accounts from teens. This book closes a gap in the available literature on grief and bereavement that has tended to focus on adults and younger children. It provides a warm, accessible resource that will reassure teen readers about the normality of grief, encourages their understanding of what happens during the grief process, and provides an indispensable resource guide.

Recent studies indicate that 30 million people may suffer from a clinically diagnosable eating disorder at some point in their lives. Additional statistics suggest that half a million teens are experiencing disordered weight control behaviors at any time. The overwhelming majority of individuals who suffer from eating disorders are girls and young women between the ages of 12 and 25, but young males are not immune to the symptoms and suffer just as intensely . . . mostly in silence. Eating disorders affect not only those who battle them, but family members and friends who feel powerless to help.In Eating Disorders: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Jessica R. Greene offers hope for individuals and their families who are experiencing these very real and devastating illnesses. In this comprehensive book, Greene examines the complex factors that contribute to pathological dieting and binging and purging behaviors in teenagers, as well as current thoughts on how to overcome them. The author reviews how types of eating disorders are classified per the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM-5), points out the similarity to behavioral addictions, and showcases opinions from experts. In addition to depictions of our eating disordered legacy and discussions of brain science and body image, this book looks at: Signs and Symptoms Debunking the Myths High Risk Groups Data from around the WorldHealth RepercussionsMethods of PreventionIntervention StrategiesTreatment OptionsRecovery ChallengesIntended to both inform and engage, this book also includes sample 'quizzes,' questions for group discussion, plus lists of resources for teens and their parents. Filled with illustrative images and drawing on many real-life stories and quotes, Eating Disorders: The Ultimate Teen Guide will help young adults who are afflicted with all levels and combinations of disordered eating and exercise behaviors.

Young people come to realize, sometimes painfully early, that it isn't always possible to depend on adults to make sure they are treated safely, fairly, and legally. When teens are faced with situations that are unfair, immoral, illegal, and unjust, they do not need to be victims. They can learn to speak up for themselves effectively to improve their own lives and the lives of others. The skill of self-advocacy rarely comes naturally for teens. Self-Advocacy: The Ultimate Teen Guide offers a set of skills for young people to sort through and acquire and encourages them to speak up about what is bothering them. The book gives them helpful tools they can adapt to deal with adults they must work with―and in some cases against―in order to come to a solution to their problem. Self-Advocacy provides information teens need to have to advocate for themselves. The introduction and first three chapters explain what self-advocacy is; identify when and why it might be necessary for teens to speak up for themselves; provide a step-by-step guide on how to self-advocate successfully; and offer specific, real-world advice about how to wisely use the power of the media to publicize their cause. Seven issue-specific chapters follow. Each topic is treated in a dignified, organized, and comprehensive way, providing information teens can use and resources they can draw upon. The issues and information in those chapters deal with the real world and don't shy away from the difficulties young people encounter every day, such as personal rights, school issues, learning disabilities, physical disability, sexuality, legal issues, and foster care. Each chapter includes the voices and experiences of teens who have encountered issues and decided to speak up for and get what they need. Teens who learn how to advocate for themselves and then act are not only taking steps to right whatever wrong they have been facing, they are also preparing themselves for a successful adult life.

Edgar Allen Poe, Langston Hughes, Louisa May Alcott, and Stephen King are just a handful of famous authors who began their publishing careers in their teens. Many young adults would like to write and publish but few know where to begin. While there are many books on how to write and how to get published, none are written specifically for teens. Writing and Publishing: The Ultimate Teen Guide fills this gap.In this book, author Tina Schwartz discusses many matters that are not often presented in guides to writing and publishing, such as the importance of mentors and critique groups, as well as courses and extracurricular activities that can be of great help to the up-and-coming teen author. The book explores various writing careers and the basics of publishing and marketing, including how to write query letters. Schwartz also provides tips on writing both fiction and nonfiction, as well as genres a new author can explore, like poetry and songwriting. With this resource, teens will find all the information they need to develop writing skills and build confidence as a writer.

The search for one's self during the challenging teen years can be even more difficult for the adopted teen. Many adopted teens have unanswered questions that may result in fear, anger, and low self-esteem. These feelings may be compounded by the isolation they feel because most friends and family members cannot fully relate to their situation.Adopted: The Ultimate Teen Guide enables young adults to explore their feelings as they read the personal experiences of other adopted teens. Through these stories, adopted teens can learn how others have resolved some of their adoption issues and gain powerful insights from those who have experienced some of their same frustrations, struggles, and concerns.Experienced adoption professionals share practical ideas and strategies for teens as they answer their questions in the "Teens Ask" sections of the book. Adoption experts, such as Hollee McGinnis (Policy & Operations Director for the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute), Judy Stigger (Director of International Adoptions at The Cradle), Kathleen Morrison (member of the board of trustees of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys), Katrina Carlisle (adoption counselor and search specialist at St. Elizabeth Coleman Pregnancy and Adoption Services), and others, provide valuable answers to teen questions. Replete with stories, pictures, and artwork by adopted teens, this up-to-date source will benefit teens as they move forward on their adoption journey.

Interest in comic books, graphic novels, and manga has never been greater, and fans of these works continue to grow around the world. From American superheroes like Superman and Spiderman to Japanese manga like Dragon Ball, there is a rich world of graphic storytelling that appeals to a wide range of readers—from young children just beginning to read to adults of every age who are captivated by dynamic illustrations and complex characters. Once dismissed as “just” for children, comic books are now appreciated for their vibrant art and sophisticated storylines. In Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Randall Bonser explores the history, evolution, diversification, and impact of graphic storytelling. This book looks at the origins of illustrated stories and how they evolved over the decades. A celebration and exploration of the rapidly growing world of comics, this book discusses such topics asthe history of graphic storytelling, from cave drawings to zombie comicsthe impact of American superhero comics on popular culture diversity in comicsthe tools comic book and graphic novel creators use to communicateeasy starting points for readers new to comicsFeaturing reviews of more than 90 graphic novels and popular manga series, this book provides recommendations of what teens should consider reading next. The author also provides a short course on how teens can create and distribute their own comics. For those who either want to start reading comics but aren’t sure where to start, or as a gateway for the comics enthusiast to explore a different graphic novel genre, Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga: The Ultimate Teen Guide provides a fun and fascinating introduction to these worlds.

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.

This is a one-of-a-kind book that addresses the issue of what it's like to be involved with an organ transplant procedure. It's filled with real-life stories of teens whose parents, siblings, or other family members are transplant recipients as well as teens who have had transplants themselves and includes stories of recipients who have received heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, and double-lung transplants.This book describes the physical and emotional ups and downs that are part of the transplant process. It addresses, from both the recipient's and family's point of view, what it feels like to be placed on the transplant list, to wait for an organ, to receive "false alarm" calls to come to the transplant center, to finally undergo the transplant operation, to recover, to deal with setbacks of surgery and organ rejection, and to live on anti-rejection drugs the rest of one's life. Also detailed are the medical, financial, mental, and other preparations that must be undertaken as part of the transplant process. Guidance on what to expect, how to help, where to seek assistance, and how to support the patient is also given. Answers to the tough practical and emotional questions that teens have about an organ transplant, such as will my parent survive the surgery, how long will it take for my parent to recover, and why is this happening to me are discussed? Numerous question-and-answer sections of frequently asked questions about organ transplants and the myths that surround them are included, as well as contact information for organizations that provide many forms of assistance for recipients and their families.Through all the serious issues, however, this book offers much hope and promise for recipients and their families through the stories of those whose lives have been greatly improved through an organ transplant. This is the ideal resource for all readers who are interested in the subject of organ donation and transplant, including those who are facing a transplant and their family members as well a

According to a recent report, up to 5% of school children in the United States have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Commonly referred to as ADHD, this condition affects teens in a number of ways, from excessive fidgeting and difficulty following instructions to avoiding tasks that require concentration and displaying impulsive behavior. While ADHD has become a household term, there are many questions about the nature of this condition and how it can affect young adults.In ADHD: The Ultimate Teen Guide, John Aspromonte looks at the causes of this condition, examines its various symptoms, and dispels the myths associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Most importantly, the author offers sound advice about how to cope with ADHD. Included in this volume are details about:how ADHD affects family members and friendswhat treatment options are available, including counseling what medications are most frequently prescribed, along with their potential side effectsIn addition to input from medical experts, this book features personal stories and quotes from teens, providing readers with a balanced insight into ADHD. With a glossary of terms and a list of resources, ADHD: The Ultimate Teen Guide is an invaluable source of hope for teens and their families.

More than 900,000 teenage girls face pregnancies each year. Almost all of these pregnancies are unplanned, leaving teen moms and dads unprepared for the emotional, physical, and psychological journey ahead of them. What most parents find as a memorable and positive change in their lives, teens and their families often see as catastrophic and devastating.In Pregnancy and Parenting: The Ultimate Teen Guide, Jessica Akin guides teens through the unique issues and struggles of a life-changing event that can be overwhelming even for a fully mature adult. Once a teen decides what course to take—between parenting, adoption, or abortion—she must deal with the consequences of her decision, often alone, but sometimes with the father-to-be and other family members. Topics covered in this book includebreaking the newschoosing the next stepdealing with judgments and criticismcoping with lossco-parentingfinishing schoollife beyond the babyThis book is filled with stories from teen mothers and fathers who faced their unplanned pregnancy head on. Written without bias or judgement, Pregnancy and Parenting: The Ultimate Teen Guide emphasizes and encourages teens to empower themselves with knowledge and make the best choices and decisions for their individual futures.

When Will I Stop Hurting?: Teens, Loss, and Grief is a self-help guide for teenagers who are struggling with bereavement and the emotional difficulties it presents. This book provides an overview of grief as a painful but normal process, and it offers insights from bereavement experts as well as practical suggestions for coping with loss, including accounts from teens. This book closes a gap in the available literature on grief and bereavement that has tended to focus on adults and younger children. It provides a warm, accessible resource that will reassure teen readers about the normality of grief, encourage their understanding of what happens during the grief process, and provides resources to help teens cope with their experiences of loss. The author accomplishes these goals by explaining the psychology of grief, by providing psychologists' comments and advice on dealing with bereavement, and by offering teens' insights into their own experiences.Teens who are coping with loss and grief, as well as parents and other relatives, teachers, psychologists, and other adults who are concerned with teens' well being will find this book to be a valuable resource.