One Toke: A Survival Guide for Teens

Gr 9 Up—In the United States, it's illegal for teens to smoke or possess marijuana. In spite of these laws, an estimated two million teens smoke pot casually or on a daily basis. In this short book, Aronoff addresses this issue in a straightforward, provocative way. A mental health counselor, Aronoff makes it clear from the very beginning that his purpose is neither to promote nor discourage marijuana use. Instead, he offers tips to teens on how to be a "smart" consumer and guidelines for making informed decisions regarding relationships, goals, and personal habits. Very short chapters cover topics such as what getting high feels like and health issues. Each includes a question at the end for readers to ponder ("Do you think pot is addictive? Why?"; "What are some of your secrets and lies?"), and they can record their thoughts on the book's website. However, the average-quality illustrations interspersed throughout won't engage readers. While the writing is lively, this title has limited use as an informational text in a school library collection, as it covers too many subjects in too brief a span. Instead, it's best suited for counseling sessions or small group discussions.—Jeanette Lambert, Nashville-Davidson County Schools, TN