The Life of Teenagers

The Life of Teenagers Ain't No Joke:
Living a Courageous Childhood in an Unforgiving World

by Keith Wright
Miami Shores, Florida: Ain't No Joke Books, 2006

Reviewed by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

Keith G. Wright understands what it is like to be a teenager. Although he is a couple of decades removed from that life stage, he has not lost sight of the challenges that make one's teen years so difficult. Yet, one's teen years are also a time of incredible potential. In "The Life of Teenagers Ain't No Joke," Wright speaks to teens with remarkable honesty.

Wright holds teenagers accountable for their decisions and encourages them to make the right ones. He wants teens to enjoy their childhood and not rush into the adult world of sex and drinking. Using his own personal experience as a starting point, he encourages teens to respect their parents or the adults who care for them and tries to make them understand that often "No" means love. He also encourages teens to play by the rules because then they will hear that "No" less often.

Wright is a big advocate of education. His mother worked her way through graduate school while raising Keith on her own and that example has made a huge impression on him. He repeatedly emphasizes that education, coupled with hard work, is the ticket to success. He also encourages teens to read every day.

He also takes on popular media, encouraging teens to take a good look at the lyrics of the music they listen to and the entertainment role models they hold in such high esteem. Teens have the power to take a stand against vulgarity and racist and sexist attitudes by choosing what music to support with their money.

Perhaps the most inspiring part of "The Life of Teenagers Ain't No Joke" is when Wright tells teens that "they have no peers." Each teen is an individual and should be proud of all the things that make him or her unique. There is no need to try to imitate someone else in order to fit in to the crowd. High school is such a short time in one's life and to change yourself to fit in there is to lose sight of the big picture that is life. Each teen needs to work on being the very best he or she can be.

"The Life of Teenagers Ain't No Joke" is a how-to-live manual for teens. Hopefully many teens will take Wright's message seriously and begin to take advantage of the wonderful opportunities at their fingertips. For more information, please visit www.AintNoJoke.com.

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur is editor of Spiritual Woman (http://www.spiritualwoman.net). Visit her blog at http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com



© Spiritual Woman Press, 2006. All rights reserved.