Books

Books can help us understand each other better, cope with difficult situations and grow in our faith. We recommend the following books ...

* About teenagers for parents

* About faith for students

* About faith for students entering college

About teenagers for parents

Boesky, Lisa PH.D. When to worry: How to tell if your teen needs help and what to do about it - Boesky gives insight on what is normal and what is not normal in the life of a teenager while addresses issues teenagers face such as being moody, rebellion, stress, alcohol and drugs, body image, cutting, suicide and more.  Boesky gives warning signs in these areas and ways to help.

Clark, Chap. Hurt: Inside the World of Today’s Teenagers - Chap took a year off from church ministry to teach in a public high school. In this compelling book, he talks about the harsh realities and wounds junior high and high school students face.

Clark, Jerusha.  Inside a Cutter’s Mind: Understanding and Helping Those Who Self-injure - This book gives an excellent insight into the mind of one who self-injures, why they do it, and what you can do to help them, including the role or theory and faith.

Gerali, Steve. Teenage Guys: Exploring Issues Adolescent Guys Face and Strategies to Help Them - A psychological and physiological look at the development of guys and many ways we, as adults, can encourage and love them.

Kimball, Dan. They Like Jesus But Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations - Dan is a pastor in Santa Cruz, Calif. In this insightful book, he shares many stories of personal encounters with young adults who have grown skeptical of church but have a growing interest in Jesus. This book will certainly help you engage in honest dialogue with teens and young adults about Jesus.

Mueller, Walt. Youth Culture 101 - Mueller provides important insight into current youth culture to help adults understand the most effective ways to engage youth. 

Nouwen, Henri J. M. The Wounded Healer - Although written more than 30 years ago, Nouwen does an amazing job articulating the struggle teens and young adults have in finding purpose and direction. Note: This book can be a bit dense; however, it is well worth the read.

Oestreicher, Mark and Rubin Scott.  My Changes - For junior high parents, this book is written by two experienced middle school youth workers who write to middle school students about all of the changes they are going through emotionally, physically, spiritually and why. This book helps parents and students understand the changes of your early teenage years are both normal and expected and give them hope they will survive through it. 

Olson, Ginny. Teenage Girls: Exploring Issues Girls Face and Strategies to Help Them - A psychological and physiological look at the development of girls and many ways we, as adults, can encourage and love them.

Wiseman, Rosalind. Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping your daughter survive cliques, gossip, boyfriends and other realities or adolescence - This book takes a look at the reality of teenage girl cruelty towards each other.  This is a very important book for anyone with a middle school or high school daughter to read.

About faith for students

Bernal, Misty. She said Yes; the unlikely martyrdom of Cassie Bernall - Cassie Bernall lost her life on that dreadful April morning in 1999 when two high school students walked into Columbine High School and started shooting people. Cassie’s story is encouraging and it will touch your heart.  The book is written by her mom who walks through Cassie’s life and the incredible transformation she from not believing in God, to becoming a believer in Him.  Cassie’s faith was so strong that it cost her life.  When the Gunman asked with a gun pointed at her head “Do you believe in God” She said “yes”, the gunman took her life.

Harris, Alex & Brett. Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations 

Howver, Jen and Hutchinson, Megan. Secret Survivors: Real-life stories to give you hope for healing - This book shares the 8 teenagers who our survivors of date rape, cutting, abortion, porn addiction, physical abuse, incest, drug and alcohol abuse and an eating disorder.  Each of the teenagers shares their story, their struggles and how they survived. It is a very good book for teenagers to read who are going through something painful, it reminds them they are not alone. The book encourages teenagers to share their hurt with someone no matter what it is because the first step towards healing. The book also focuses on how each teenagers faith helped them survived from the tragedy in their lives. 

Miller, Donald. To Own a Dragon: Reflections on Growing Up Without a Father - With a powerful simplicity, Miller talks about growing up without a father and how, ultimately, he learned how to let God father him.

Miller, Donald. Blue Like Jazz - Miller's ability to be brutally honest and articulate the simple truths of Christianity point people who read his works, no matter where they are in their faith, to a God of love.  

Yaconelli, Michael. Dangerous Wonder - Another wonderful book by Yaconelli in which he gives a call to discipleship that is both challenging and grace-filled. 

Yaconelli, Michael. Messy Spirituality - Before his tragic death in 2003, Yaconelli was considered THE expert in youth ministry. This book allows readers of all ages to understand God's gracious role in our process of becoming like Jesus.

About faith for students entering college

Bell, Rob. Sex God: Exploring the Endless Connections Between Sexuality and    Spirituality

Claiborne, Shane. The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical

Piper, John. Don’t Waste Your Life

Plantinga, Cornelius Jr. Engaging God’s World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning, and Living