Reviews

Neale Donald Walsch, author of the bestselling Conversations with God, here gathers questions from teens across the globe (from broader queries such as "Why is there so much pressure from parents, from school, from everyone?" to prickly questions such as "Why do you let children get abused sexually and physically?"), takes them to God, and offers the answers in Conversations with God for Teens. Singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette provides the foreword. (Mar.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Gr 7-12 Using a question/answer format, Neale Donald Walsch's Conversations with God for Teens (Scholastic, 2002) is a non-traditional approach to many of the issues that affect teens. He tackles the big questions such as: Why do people suffer? Why does God allow child abuse? Why do my parents freak out when I want to have sex? Based on the same personal growth philosophy as his best selling books for adults, the author explains how he came to his own relationship with God through direct, ongoing, interior conversations with God. He explains his ideas on the importance of choice. Looking at global, as well as personal concerns, Walsch has some strong opinions on leaders in politics and religion. Grammy-winner Alanis Morissette shares her appreciation of the adult books in the audiobook's Foreword, and she is joined by actor LeVar Burton to narrate the voice of God throughout the book. Walsch and a cast of teen questioners also add to this well-done audio presentation. A complete Table of Contents on the case will aid listeners in locating specific chapters, but without tone indexing, there is still a bit of guesswork. Libraries that include Walsch's adult books may wish to include this audio version for his adolescent fans, but more traditional library patrons may find the book's philosophy at odds with their values. -Barbara S. Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.