Family and Friends ¦ Moods and Feelings

Aiming at 'the visual appeal of a magazine with factual information to provide a valuable guide to adolescence', these volumes in the Teenscene series work quite successfully. Information is divided into neat 'chunks', the design is good and the choice of photographs (a mixture of 'posed' and agency shots) useful and attractive. Common sense advice and information is provided with emphasis on listening, compromise, assertiveness, discussing problems and trying not to ignore them.

Both books will be useful in schools and should have an immediate appeal to younger teenagers, although their attraction will wane as the fashion shown receives the same disdain as do flares and platform heels today. More importantly the books can only be an introduction to the various physical and psychological factors which affect teenage years. Adolescence is seen as exceptional and, by implication, adulthood free from troublesome emotions. Again, they concentrate on internationally common themes and do not attempt an indepth consideration of, for example, social, cultural or sexual mores. Information from the useful address lists and bibliographies may be better for satisfying these needs.