Pressure: True Stories by Teens About Stress

by Al Desetta (Editor), Youth Communication

Overview

Stress hits these teens from all angles: pressure at school, at home, and in their relationships. The writers describe their stress relief techniques, including exercise, music, writing, and more, and offer inspiring examples of perseverance. Includes tips for cooling down. 
 
Real Teen Voices Series
Teens open up to tell personal stories that tackle difficult, real-life issues. Direct, revealing, and often raw, these voices will ring true for any teen reader who has faced bullying, anger, or stress. Each piece has been selected and edited to appeal to reluctant and emerging readers as young as seventh grade. Readers will be inspired by the writers’ courage and strength in working hard to overcome problems both large and small.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781575424125
Publisher:	Free Spirit Publishing, Inc.
Publication date:	07/16/2012
Series:	Real Teen Voices Series
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	920L (what's this?)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Youth Communication is a New York–based nonprofit organization that teaches writing, journalism, and leadership skills to inner-city teens. Its mission is to help marginalized youth develop their full potential through reading and writing, so that they can succeed in school and at work and contribute to their communities.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Enjoy the Moment • Ngan-Fong Huang

Ngan-Fong wants to spend time enjoying herself in the present, instead of constantly worrying about the future

House of Stress • Anonymous

Because her stepmother is overwhelmed, the author has to take on the responsibility of caring for her siblings

Yoga Relaxes Me • Niya Wilson

Niya accepts a friend’s offer to try yoga for relaxation

Chanting Helps Me Clear My Mind • Anonymous

The author’s aunt introduces her to Buddhist chanting

Forced to Face College • Matt Lehrer

Matt feels pressured to get into a good college

My Journal Saved My Life • Anonymous

By writing and rereading her diary, the author gains a better understanding of herself and how to handle her emotional problems

She Got Game • Cynthia Orbes

Playing handball helps Cynthia release her anger and have fun

Books Got My Back • Janae Marsh

Janae escapes from her troubled family by reading books

My Favorite Escape • Martin Smith

Basketball gives Martin a sense of freedom

Stressed for Success • SaeRom Park

SaeRom writes about the stress of academic demands

Running My Problems Away • D’nashia Jenkins

When D’nashia runs track, she feels energized and leaves all her problems behind

Worn Down • Anonymous

After her father abandons the family, the author feels weighed down by family responsibilities

Tears of a Clown • Eugene Han

Eugene’s carefree persona masks the pain of a childhood burdened by adult responsibilities, including an incarcerated mother

Worried Sick • Megan Cohen

Megan has always been an obsessive thinker and worrier, but when her anxiety threatens her friendships, she decides to consult a psychologist for advice

Never Good Enough • Chimore Mack

Chimore thought she could be perfect if she just worked a little harder

Feeling the Pressure • Jennifer Baum

Jennifer looks at how several teens face stress and at positive ways to reduce it

Stress Is Not Just for Seniors • Tanya Owens

With schoolwork piling up, Tanya, a high school junior, needs a chat with her older sister to calm down and set priorities

Nature Is My Salvation • Emily Orchier

Emily discovers that walking outdoors helps relieve her depression

Do for You • Shanté Brown

Shanté recommends a range of activities—including writing—as a way to battle the blues and negative feelings

My Optimistic Psychic • Tanisia Morris

Whether Tanisia is stressed about school, money, or a bad cold, her father can always reassure and calm her

Tips from Teens on How to Cool Down • various writers

Teens share their favorite techniques for relieving stress

Let’s Talk About Stress • Caitlin Lemmo and Peter Ramirez

A therapist describes the causes of stress, how it affects the body, and what teens can do to relieve it

How to Deal with Stress • Jennifer Ramos

Jennifer interviews a social worker for tips on managing stress

Stress Relief Techniques • Carrie Epstein, therapist

A therapist offers advice

About Youth Communication

About the Editors

Editorial Reviews

“Teens from New York-based Youth Communication pen autobiographical essays about their struggles with bullies, anger about bad home situations and unfair treatment, and pressure to conform or be successful. While not graphic or overly profane, their well-written stories are often harrowing to read, with frank accounts of abuse, neglect, sexuality, and crushing loneliness . . . What is most striking . . . is the teens’ resilience as they seek aid, learn coping strategies, or find outlets for self-expression.”—School Library Journal

“Pressure gave the students in my book club solutions to the problems they had in their lives. Student said the book really helped them and that they would absolutely recommend it to a friend who may need help with or reassurance about something they were going through.”—Hanna Pollak, Prevention Focus intern

“Filled with interactive personal scenarios that will make for great group discussions.”—Booklist

“This would be excellent for younger teens, as it presents the messages of be true to yourself, stand up for yourself, be yourself, and be kind . . . these are messages that need to be heard as early as possible.”—VOYA

From the Publisher

The types of stress that teens are now experiencing usually goes beyond what their parents or grandparents had to deal with. There are the stresses of becoming independent, parental conflict, and peer relationships; but after reading this book, one is more aware of the added stress of educational expectations, racism, poverty, and some very bad neighborhoods teens face now. Teen safety is more than looking both ways before you cross the street. With such high levels of stress experienced by the contributors to this book, no wonder they have issues with life. Yet, these teens have found their path and their way to make life work. Several contributors explain how writing or journaling has given them calmness and insight. Others have found friends or adults whom they can trust and to whom they can vent. Many use music and even list artists who have met them in their music and given them an outlet. Reading these personal essays a few at a time gives the reader time to see how their stress might be similar to the contributors. It also gives them tools for working on their own stresses. This book should be available to teens, through the school or city library and counselor’s office. But equally important, parents and teachers should read this book. Teachers go into the classroom knowing about the subject matter but have had very little training on the mental health of their students. Give this book to all upper level grade teachers. Reviewer: RevaBeth Russell; Ages 13 up.

Children's Literature - RevaBeth Russell