allimae's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

This book is very informative and filled with facts and references to back up its claims. I only gave it two stars because all the statistics were a little difficult to wade through, but what was I expecting? It certainly did the job it was meant to do, and is very well-researched and practical for parents of teenagers.

deltajuliet83's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Parts of this were very interesting and insightful, other parts show that she’s out if touch with normal teens. She was “appalled” when her son dyed his hair? Really? That’s the least of what teens come up with but that was the example she used to try to be relatable. And calling marijuana a gateway drug? Come on. Overall not bad but I liked the sciency parts rather than the anecdotes.

grahamlibrarian's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Super interesting. Very detailed sections about brain chemistry and functioning but also very enlightening. Every teenager should read it to help understand why they are the way they are. Every parent should read it to understand why our kids act the way they do, and appreciate that we survived adolescence at all.

moogen's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0


The writing veered between clumsily folksy and soporifically scientific... which is a pity because the subject is interesting. The book just needed a Malcolm Gladwell style zhooshing.

deservingporcupine's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Did not like. Just a reminder to me that parenting books are horrible, whether they’re about toddlers or teenagers. A lot of this wasn’t new or surprising (but I do teach middle school). The author’s personal examples were annoying and self congratulatory, and overall this book made me more afraid of raising teenagers— not less. Talk to your kids. Drugs are bad. Brains aren’t fully developed. Mood swings. Synapses. Scary story of teen death caused by bad decision. There. You read the book.

milo_hek's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Some really interesting stuff, some stuff that I had to grin and shake my head at, as one of the millennials referred to in the second to last chapter.
I think this book doesn't go quite far enough in questioning the world we have built for teenagers to survive in. The insights into the neuroscience were great and it's giving me a helpful framework for understanding what is happening in a teenagers brain. As a teacher and someone interested in youth liberation that is a useful starting point.

author_d_r_oestreicher's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

My expectations for The Teenage Brain by Frances Jensen determined my reading. To be fair, my expectations were set by the author's MD and the subtitle: "A neuroscientist's survival guide ..." I expected new, insightful, science-based advice. What I got was mostly "Dear Abby"-type advice.

In the chapter on computer addiction, the famous story about students asked to refrain from electronics for 24-hours was repeated. I wondered about asking the smug tellers of this story to refrain for 24-hours from using electricity or plumbing, suggestions that are as silly as not using electronics in the 21st-century. Certainly people in the 19th century got along just fine without electricity or plumbing, but so what?

The author Jensen is very activity with legal challenges to the criminal justice system treating teenagers as adults. She has assisted in several Supreme Court cases, and the chapter on Crime and Punishment is especially heart-felt and persuasive.

A comprehensive and sympathetic guide for parent with a bias toward excusing teenage behaviors.

For more see: http://1book42day.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-teenage-brain-by-frances-jensen.html

koalachick's review against another edition

Go to review page

I will get back to this one. This is the busiest time of year for me and this one takes focus.

maggiemoore's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Chapters got very repetitive.

morallygraybookdragon's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Finished in one sitting. Great resource for clinicians or anyone who likes research. I was hoping for more on risk taking, lying, and sexual health. Loved the chapter on sleep!