The Money Manual: A Guide to Cash, Credit, Spending, Saving, Work, Wealth, and More

Gr 6 Up—This solid book explains the choices teens can make now that will impact their future credit and financial life. It is well organized into four sections: earning, saving, spending, and protecting. Each one has three chapters that offer informative options and practical advice. The section on earning covers making money, from getting a job and becoming an entrepreneur to deciphering one's paycheck. The part about saving discusses options, investing, time horizon, risk, and diversification. Spending discusses budgeting, expenses, borrowing, credit cards, paying for college, figuring costs of college, and tools for financial aid. Protecting your property looks at different types of insurance, as well as how to protect against identity theft and what readers should do if they think their identity has been stolen. Up-to-date tips and resources include statistics, worksheets, sample documents, websites, and apps. Side bars share financial experiences of young entrepreneurs, investors, and others. The book is similar in scope to Tamara Orr's Money Matters (Mitchell Lane, 2010), which covers economy, budgeting, savings, earning money, and stock-market investing tips. This handy manual teaches teens about financial literacy in a helpful, casual tone. Clear and accessible explanations will help readers to build a "rock solid financial future."—June Shimonishi, Torrance Public Library, CA