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In Healthy Living for Teens, young writers show that it's possible to overcome badhabits and lead healthy lives in a time when substance abuse,junk food, and low self-esteem and self-worth are major social problems. Inspire teen and preteen readers to take responsibility for and make wiser decisions about their lives with the essays in this bookeach written by a teenager. Within these pages, Edwin Mercado, Evelyn Gofman, Antwaun Garcia, and many others describe how they got on the right path toward healthy habits, breaking unhealthy ones like smoking, taking drugs, abusing alcohol, or seeking comfort in foods they know are unhealthy. Essays include: Tales of a 17-Year-Old SmokerHow I Quit Fast FoodClean and Kind of SoberWhat Drugs Do to YouStarving for AcceptanceShapin Up!Dear Food DiaryGuttony GetawayI Desperately Needed Cooking 101What is Bad Food so Good?Why Should Teens Care About Nutrition?My Hood is Bad for My HealthMale on the ScaleScaling BackThe Would-Be VegetarianBreathing EasierHow Exercise Relieves StressPoetry Keeps Me CalmDo for YouNature is My SalvationMy Life with OCDArthritis at ThirteenAddled on Adderaland more Through these essays, teen readersas well as their parents, teachers, and caregiverswill pick up new tricks to beating bad habits but will also be provided a much-needed glimpse into how the world looks to our younger generations.

In ResistingPeer Pressure for Teens, young writers show that it's possible to stand up to the pressure they may feel from friends and some family members to be cool. Inspire teen and preteen readers to take responsibility for and make wiser decisions about their lives with the essays in this bookeach written by a teenager. Within these pages, Jamel A. Salter, Fan Yi Mok, and Charlene George, and many others, describe how and why they chose to keep it real and fight back against the pressure they felt from friends to use drugs and alcohol; have sex too early; lie, cheat, and steal; and skip or act out in school. Essays include: My Secret LoveLosing My Friends to WeedWhy Do So Many Teens Cheat?Cant Afford to FollowHiding My Talent No MoreWhy I Speak My MindSex Doesnt Make You a ManMy So-Called FriendsMaking Me DancePeer Pressure Ended Our RelationshipI Want to Be Pretty and PopularThe Trouble with Being a VirginThinking for Myselfand more! Through these essays, teen readers will pick up new ways to say no and advice that will help them stay true to themselves, whileparents, teachers, and caregivers will be provided a much-needed glimpse into how the world looks to our younger generations.

Cassandra is hassled by her friends for sitting with the “wrong” kids at lunch. Jennifer gets harassed because she’s overweight. Dwan’s own family taunts her for not being “black enough.” Yen is teased for being Chinese; Jamel for not smoking marijuana. Yet all find the strength to face their conflicts and the courage to be themselves.In 26 first-person stories, real teens write about their lives with searing honesty. They will inspire young readers to reflect on their own lives, work through their problems, and learn who they really are.

Through thirty first-person teen narratives, including new stories on social media and gender identity, readers learn about seven resiliencies everyone needs to survive and thrive.Otis deals with the real-life consequences of online aggression; Artiqua dates a boy of another race despite her family’s opposition. Charlene is raising her brothers and sisters because their mother is addicted to drugs; Craig is gay and worried about coming out.All of these teens have had more than their share of troubles. And all have the resiliency needed to face their troubles, live through them, and move forward with courage, confidence, and hope.In thirty first-person narratives, teen writers share how they’ve overcome obstacles in their lives. As teens read, they discover they’re not alone in facing life’s difficulties. They learn about seven resiliencies everyone needs to survive and thrive in even the toughest times: insightindependencerelationshipsinitiativecreativityhumormorality In this updated edition, new stories feature topics such as social media, gender identity, and drug addiction. A “Think About It” section at the end of each story offers questions for personal reflection or discussion. Vivid, articulate, and candid, these stories will motivate readers of all ages to build the skills and strengths they need to triumph over adversity.The corresponding leader’s guide, A Leader's Guide to The Struggle to Be Strong updated edition, provides activities, exercises, and questions to invite teens to go deeper into the stories and issues of The Struggle to Be Strong.

Activities, exercises, and questions invite teens to go deeper into the stories and issues of the updated edition of The Struggle to Be Strong.Designed for use with the anthology The Struggle to Be Strong, this leader’s guide explains how to use the stories in the student book to build teens’ resiliency. Activities, exercises, role plays, and questions about the issues in The Struggle to Be Strong help students go deeper into the stories, reflect on them, relate them to their lives, recognize their own potential for resilience, and start building resilience skills.  Introductory materials offer guidelines for group leadership and provide leaders with more information about the seven resiliencies: insightindependencerelationshipsinitiativecreativityhumormorality