Lizard
by Dennis Covington

Have you ever felt like a freak?

Well, then you’ll relate to Lucius Sims. Because he resembles a reptile, people call him Lizard, and they treat him like an alien because he’s different. He’s even put into a school for retarded boys even though there is no proof that he has a learning problem.

Hang on tight, though, because Lizard is about to embark on a madcap adventure. On the road to freedom he might even find a way to accept himself! Covington won the Delacorte Prize for this sensitive novel about the oddball inside of us all.

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Geeks
How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet out of Idaho
by Jon Katz

Geeks is the story of how Jesse and Eric — and others like them — used technology to try and change their lives and alter their destiny. They rode the Internet out of Idaho to Chicago, a city they had never set foot in, seeking the American Dream, a better life.

Geeks describes this brave and difficult journey, as two self-described social misfits use the resources of the Internet to try to construct a new future for themselves, escape the boundaries of their dead-end lives, and find a community they could belong to.

Geeks explores a growing subculture about which many of us know little, a world with its own language, traditions, and taboos. In telling the stories of Jesse, Eric, and others like them, Geeks is a story about the very human face of technology.

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Teens tend to get bored easily. If they are mixed with a bad crowd, drugs may be their only solution to boredom. However, there are lots of activities that a teen can engage to so that they can avoid drugs.

Sports activities are good solutions to avoid drugs. Engaging in sports sharpens their physical and intellectual wits. They would think that drugs will just slow them down and distract their winning ways. With this thought at the back of their heads, prohibited drugs will never be a problem.

Having a fruitful activity that requires attention and time will definitely keep the teens away from drugs. Being dedicated in something worthwhile brings out the willingness to repel vices and other bad habits.

If in case the teen is already hooked on drugs, there are numerous rehabilitation centers and boot camps situated in different parts of the country. Just make sure that the appropriate center is chosen.

Sex and violence is abundant in television shows and movies that most teens watch. As we all know, teens are very curious about a lot of things. They want to try out different things and be in different situations most of the time. There is a huge possibility that they will imitate what they are seeing.

Gaining control doesn’t necessarily mean that a parent will just turn off the TV every time violence is present. This will only instigate curiosity. The best thing to do is to explain what is being displayed in the show. Parents must make sure that their children understand the message conveyed in the TV shows and teach them about the consequences of what might happen if in case they imitate what they are seeing. Talking to them while watching TV is a good way to educate them and at the same time make a stable contact with them.

Most of troubled teens are victims of their own environment. Environment plays a major role in a child’s personality. Growing up in an environment filled with violence will automatically trigger a child’s instinct for cruelty. The kid will most likely imitate what the environment is displaying.

Being abused is the general problem of these teens. As a victim of violence, they tend to detach themselves from society and live a life that they will soon regret. If this happens, it may result to bigger problems such as suicide.

Keeping them away from this kind of environment is essential in their growth as a person. If it is not possible to move them out to a different place then at least they should be trained in avoiding circumstances that would lead them into trouble. One way to do this is to have an adult set a good example to a child so that even if they are staying in a hostile environment, the child knows how to shun circumstances that may harm them in the end.

A home houses a family. This is a very unique explanation of what a home is. A clear-cut picture of a home depicts a happy family free from worries. Having a good home brings out the best in every member of the family.

Home improvement involves good conversation during times when the family is gathered in any activity. An example of an activity that involves all family members is eating dinner together or watching a late night movie. This is a perfect opportunity to enjoy a jolly discussion with all the members. This strengthens the connection of each member of the family. A good conversation often releases tension all at once.

Another home improvement strategy is for parents to gain the trust of their children. They must be there whenever their child encounters a problem. The child must be willing to unfold everything to their parents. This means that they should not sugar-coat any problems.

There are many factors to improve a home and this is just a few. What is important is that a good home fabricates positive results.

As we all know, the school is the child’s second home. Being in the right school will provide the child with adequate knowledge and guidance while away from home for a couple of hours.

So how can parents choose the right school for their children? First, they need to get feedback from other parents regarding a particular school. Second, they must visit the school and check the ambience. Focusing inside the school alone is a big mistake. The establishments surrounding the school also play a major role in the development of a teen. If there are temptations around the school then it may be a bad idea in enrolling the kid in that school.

Basically, a parent has three basic things to look for and these are: education, feedback and ambience.

Drug abuse has been a constant problem in most countries. Urban districts showcase a variety of drugs available even to minors. This is a very alarming fact that needs to be addressed to immediately. Most teens think that engaging in drugs is the “in” thing nowadays. What they don’t realize is the fact that they are wasting hard earned money and they are harming their personality as well.

Teens turn to drugs because of numerous reasons. One particular reason is peer pressure. Being with a circle of friends who use drugs will most likely influence a teen to use prohibited drugs as well. Another reason is rebellion. They tend to use drugs to irritate their parents more or to get their attention.

If a kid is engaged in drug activities, it has to be prevented as soon as possible. One way to stop this is by enrolling the child in boot camps, brat camps or other educational programs that will help them recover.

The youth serve as the future of the nation and they must be preserved and kept away from drugs as much as possible. Without the youth, a nation’s dream of success will never become a reality.

As the textbook meaning of parenting states, it is the act of raising a child from birth to adulthood and providing the kid with ample education to help him cope up with his environment. But what exactly does it take to become a responsible parent?

In simpler terms, responsible parents must be able to provide security for child. Security such as financial, physical, intellectual and emotional is very essential to the teenage years of a person. The parent must be there to provide anything for the child.

During the teenage years, children tend to detach themselves from their parents. This is the biggest challenge that a parent must surpass. They must gain control of their child in a way that will make their child a better person in the future.

Due to the lack of maturity in decision making, teenagers are prone to peer pressure. Peer pressure forces someone to change their personality and alter decision making to conform to the norms set by the group. Most of the teens who smoke say that they started smoking because they saw this from their friends and they just tried it and eventually became a vice.

Troubled teens tend to rebel and join inappropriate groups and even gangs. One particular solution for this is to keep the kids away from these types of people. How? Teach them how to look for good friends who can pressure them into doing what is right and just. Bad influence often produce negative results. A parent must be vigilant with the people surrounding their children in order to stop them from joining bad company.