Me and My Feelings

Gr 7 Up—The first title devotes a chapter each to the "primary" emotions—fear, anger, sadness, happiness, surprise, and disgust—and how to handle them, along with an easy-to-understand discussion, "Science," of how the brain works with regard to that feeling. "Secondary" emotions like pride, jealousy, and love are briefly explored in a separate section. With cartoonlike illustrations throughout, interesting situations, and concise scientific explanations, the book offers a wealth of information in an accessible format. What's the Catch? is a guide for teens to understand how they are influenced by parents, peers, and the media, often without knowing it. Chapters explain advertising methods and their effect on consumers, and a discussion of Internet safety is included. Both books have exercises such as "What's Going On?" and "Try This" that help readers analyze and better understand given situations. Although these clearly written, well-organized books could be read independently, they include questions for discussion and classroom activities, making them excellent resources for group discussions.—Denise Moore, O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD