Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Publisher: Teen Winners Publishing
Release Date: 2004
ISBN: 0-9740356-4-5
Awards:  
Format Reviewed: Book
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Genre: Teen/Young Adult Nonfiction
Reviewed: 2004
Reviewer: Amy York
Reviewer Notes:  
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A Winner by Any Standard
By Rob Garofalo, Jr.


      I have to admit, when I first started reading this book I thought to myself, Oh, gag! Another grown-up privileged white guy trying to save America’s tormented youth with hackneyed positive affirmations. And on one level, I was right. Garofalo says very little that is new. His 52 weekly lessons cover topics such as “Appreciating Family,” “Searching for the Bright Side,” and “Saying No to Tobacco.” What typical teenager doesn’t cringe when an adult sets in on one of these lectures, again? Also, Garofalo has a very annoying habit of addressing the reader as “my student.” Ick! Trudging on, though, to my surprise, both the skeptical adult that I’ve become and the cynical adolescent I remember being found words that hit home. One such example is the Week 9 lesson on “Valuing Mistakes.” To his credit, Garofalo has a nice way of putting a positive spin on the stupid things we all do: “ …I’m going to go so far as to encourage you to actually feel proud of your blundering ways... because the people making the most mistakes are quite frequently the ones living life to the fullest.” He also encourages teens to learn from their mistakes, but “without beating [themselves] up.” Other chapters that might win over hard-to-reach teens are those that encourage social activism, such as “Giving Animals a Voice,” “Doing Your Part,” and “Getting Involved in the Arts.” While the book is set up to be read straight through, one chapter per week, many readers may prefer to skip around to the chapters that interest them at the moment.

       Each chapter begins with relevant quotes from famous people and ends with Life Apps – ways to apply the lesson to daily life. A Winner By Any Standard is not a reading choice that many teens would likely make for themselves--except for junior youth group leaders and captains of the pep squad. Given as a gift, however, it will lie on the floor ignored for a while until curiosity or boredom strikes. It will then be read and enjoyed, despite the teen’s better judgment.