With my teen years in the not too distant past
it is hard to believe just how out of control kids have become.  In her book, We’re
Not Monsters, Sabrina Solin Weill talks with teens as well as experts in
the field about the major issues teens are facing today.  Teen killers,
suicide, sexual offenders, teen-adult affairs, infanticide, and self-injury are
all discussed in great detail.  Weill received tremendous feedback from teens
expressing their views on the problems facing them today.  Hearing what they
have to say should prove beneficial to parents and teachers as well as other
teens.  While many of them are quite eloquent and speak out against what their
peers are doing, some seem to think violence between each other, abandoning
babies, and date rape are justifiable.  Disturbing as it may sound they can
empathize with each other.  Each chapter addresses a new area of concern.  With
the help of psychologists, teachers, and other teens she tries to discern who
is likely to be doing these things, why it is on the rise now, various warning
signs, and finally how we can stop it.  Reading some of the statistics in this
book may seem alarming, but we are also given encouraging advice.  It seems
that the common denominator in all of this is the family relationship (or lack
thereof).  No longer is poverty being pointed at as the reason people are
committing crimes.  Teens from middle class families are increasingly
responsible for these heinous crimes, and calls for attention.  Perhaps this
will force parents to learn how to communicate with their kids, and instill
ethics and morality in their lives from an early age.  Weill points out that
the nation is not addressing these issues which will affect all of our lives
and the future of America.  It’s conceivable that if teachers had their
students reading this book in school, it could open the doors for a much needed
discussion; but maybe some people aren’t ready for that.

© 2003 Courtney Young

Courtney Young is currently working
at Dowling College as an assistant in the Department of Visual Arts.  She is
considering her future. 

Categories: Children, Memoirs