Boy Meets Depression by Kevin Breel

This book is a memoir rather than a fact-laden autobiogaphy. Therefore, it is oreganizd like a novel and reads like one. Kevin Breel, the author, begins with a short introduction, giving a short overview of why he wrote his book and what he wants it to do in the mind and life of the reader. This memoir is arranged in ten chapters. The author ends with an Epilogue, giving a summary of the book and re-iterating what he hopes the book has and will do in the life and mind of the reader. He continues with his personal acknowledgments to the people in his life who made his healing possible and/or who made this book possible. He ends it all with One More Note to the Reader, recommending reaching out for help if depressed and recommending the nonprofit To Write Love On Her Arms.

This is not a book for the head, to deal in facts and focus on them. It is a book for the heart and appeals to emotions. Breel often uses salty language including the "f---" bomb, and writes like one putting his thoughts on paper. I found it interesting and I was drawn into it early. I was saddened when he lost his best friend, and when it caused him to spiral downward emotionally. I liked it that he had an educator who took an interest in him and in his healing, and believed in him even when he did not believe in himself and encouraged him to fulfill his potential. I realize that many teens and young people do not have this blessing, and that explains why so many wander aimlessly through life, and others even take up lives of crime. And, like so many teens, he kept his dark depression from his parents, and I can understand why he was not keen on going to see a counselor. Breel sills his raw emotions onto paper, and does not hold back. I found in this book a peek into the modern, 21st century teenage world, and hence in the worlds of my daughter and her peers. This books is pretty much what I expected, fast-paced, deep-thinking, emotionally-laden, and candid. As for the profanity, I ignored it, knowing that this is not a book written from a Christian worldview. It was a fast-paced read, mostly descriptive rather than prescriptive.

I recommend this book for all those who are thinking of working with teens and young people, whether as teachers, counselors, youth ministers, juvenile corrections officers, child psychologists or in a volunteer capacity of any kind. Because it gives a peek into the teen world, it should be required reading in the training of anyone who seeks to qualify himself or herself in working with teens or young people. It is good reading for teens themselves but because of the profanity I think they should be warned about that before they read it, and that we need not curse to get our point across. It should be read by all parents of teens so they can see what the world of today's teens is like and to alert them to be aware that teen depression is common and how to intervene.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books, in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to give a positive review of this book.

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Bravery, Bullies, and Blowheads, by Lorna Stremcha

This book is based on a true story and is based on the true life experiences of Lorna Stremcha, the author. She is an award-winning educator and coach. She is an advocate against all forms of bullying, whether in schools or in the workplace. She is listed as a speaker for Bullying Police USA and is one of the first 13 individuals to co-author the healthy workplace bullying act in the United States. Currently working with young adults, this author shares her life lessons with others in order to help them live healthier lives in the aftermath of bullying and sexual harassment. Most names in this book have been changed for privacy reasons. This book begins with endorsements by other educators and advocates against bullying and abuse. It opens with a brief acknowledgment to the author's editor, whom she calls friend. It begins with an "About the Book" by an unnamed individual, an "Author's Note" explaining what the book is all about, and a the author's Preface giving an overview of the problem facing schools. She tells her story in 12 chapter, using Chapter 12 to sum up the lessons she has learned. She provides a brief segment "Helpful Information and Vocabulary," a short segment of legal terms for bullying, and provides a section profiling who engages in bullying behaviors, identifying traits, and identifying PTSD in victims. The author wraps all this up with a short "Works Cited" section and "Recommendations" of what to further read about bullying.

I did not find this book light, entertaining reading. It showed what explains, but in no way excuses, why schools so often not only tolerate bullying, but actually cover it up and protect the bullies. It gave me "the inside scoop" of what really goes on from the perspective of educators. I could see why the author gave fictitious names to so many people, because of the nature of her story. She did the right thing in seeking to expose bullying among her co-workers and among students, but found herself being opposed until she lost her position. I was enlightened as to why, when I was growing up and experienced intense bullying, especially in 9th grade, the bullies were protected and I, the victim, was sent away to a school system that not only taught me little in the way of academics, but less in the way of life skills. I felt that I was always treated like I was "the problem." At the beginning of this book, the author tells her story of being terrorized and bullied by a young man whom she knew to have grown up in special education. Because I also grew up in a similar educational setting, this brought up bad memories. Despite the author's bad childhood, she ended up becoming hugely successful in the worldly sense, as this book shows. While I am glad for her and that she escaped, I know that many who grew up like her, remain trapped and adopt lives of not attaining their God-given potentials or worse, take up lives of crime and take out their rage on our society. The author speaks highly of her family and of how they stood by her through her ordeal, but I would have liked to know more about who paved the way for her own success. People do not become successes on their own; they have help along the way. But as this is focused on her experiences in teaching, I knew there would be little about other parts of her life.

I recommend this book for all teachers, school guidance counselors, and all educators. They need to be aware that bullying should not be tolerated or covered up. What it did to the author and to her family can show them why they should protect whistleblowers, not the wrongdoers. Parents should read this to get a look into how teachers think and what they experience, and may gain more understanding of how to handle school problems. People who grew up bullied, abused, in special education settings or in the foster care system, may find this book triggering and it may bring up bad memories. The author provides a disclaimer about this at the beginning of this book.

I received a complimentary editor's proof of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not asked to give this book a positive review.