mangofandango's review
4.0
If you are a parent of a child who is interested in something that makes you uncomfortable and that you are not very familiar with, this book might be for you! It focuses on things like metal, (violent) video games, and the occult, but I think the ideas could, in many ways, be applied to any disconnect or misunderstanding of teen interests. The goal is basically to suggest a new lens through which parents view interests they don't understand, and this book explains the positive sides to some interests that, at a glance, appear quite dark and possibly damaging. Since these interests are often framed as scary in the media, this reexamining is especially helpful to many misunderstood teens and their parents.
I'm not into metal, so I learned some things in the detailed explanations of subgenres and so on. (I am not really the target audience for this, though, as I don't have a reason to need to know these things. But hey, it may be helpful someday!) But I am more familiar with RPGs, video games, and some aspects of Pagan religion, and so a lot of this was a retread for me in terms of education regarding *what those things are* and the various aspects of them. If it's all new to you, this guide will be invaluable. If you are a familiar but need reassurance, it will still be helpful - but parts of it may be a bit frustrating as it (understandably) assumes a 101-level education is needed.
Overall, this is definitely worth a read if you're feeling a bit lost or concerned regarding your teen's interests, or if you're someone who is interested in these things and wants to feel a little solidarity!
I'm not into metal, so I learned some things in the detailed explanations of subgenres and so on. (I am not really the target audience for this, though, as I don't have a reason to need to know these things. But hey, it may be helpful someday!) But I am more familiar with RPGs, video games, and some aspects of Pagan religion, and so a lot of this was a retread for me in terms of education regarding *what those things are* and the various aspects of them. If it's all new to you, this guide will be invaluable. If you are a familiar but need reassurance, it will still be helpful - but parts of it may be a bit frustrating as it (understandably) assumes a 101-level education is needed.
Overall, this is definitely worth a read if you're feeling a bit lost or concerned regarding your teen's interests, or if you're someone who is interested in these things and wants to feel a little solidarity!
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