Discovering Self-Expression and Communication

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-- Kramer sees positive communication as a benefit to society and to the individual, citing poor communication as a root cause of many communal ills and teen problems. The author relies on Virginia Satir, a ``family ther apist'' whose credentials are not listed, to ex plain the elements of the process and the skills associated with it. Reluctant readers will find commonsense guidelines (which they are encouraged to share with their family) for achieving a healthy relationship with parents; also practical are chapters on tact, criticism, and on that skill of skills, being an ``active'' listener. The book is mostly thoughtful and clearly written. Unfortunately, an extended treatment of the links between communica tion and self-esteem mars the whole. Assum ing the air of a self-help zealot, Kramer lays a guilt trip on those unable to fit into her theo retical assumptions. She chastises readers, saying, ``The way you feel about yourself is no one else's fault.'' Such flat, no-exception statements go too far; readers need to be aware of this flaw. The full-color and black- and-white photos have good ethnic and gen der representation. A list of further reading includes two books by Kramer and two others in this series. These subject areas cry out for further coverage for this age group. --Libby K. White, Schenectady County Public Library, NY