Rethinking Adolescence: Using Story to Navigate Life's Uncharted Years

D'Ambrosio works as a teacher, mentor, and conflict mediator at a Pennsylvania middle school. In this accessible book for parents, teachers, and counselors of adolescents, he explains how well-known myths can be used to help a young teen understand and reflect on his or her hardships and to encourage alternative, often healing perspectives. The author primarily uses Homer's Odyssey to demonstrate how to draw parallels between story and an adolescent's life. For example, the Lotus Eaters analogize the numbing of pain, the Cyclops is the penultimate bully, and the Siren's song represents unhealthy temptations such as drugs, alcohol, and sexual misbehavior. He uses vignettes to illustrate these correlations and others, including issues related to death, fitting in, and parental relationships. The book is not indexed. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Jay D' Ambrosio is an ancient history teacher, mentor, and conflict mediator at Seneca Valley Middle School in Harmony, Pennsylvania. To visit his website, go to: http://www.eteaching101.com/