Overview
We asked our readers to tell us how they'd handle everyday problems--What would you do if someone told a lie about you? Would you tell your teacher if you knew a classmate was cheating? Thousands of girls sent us their advice. Now it's your turn. What Would You Do? is filled with quizzes that ask you these same questions. Choose a solution, and find out what your choice says about you.
Synopsis
Your two best friends don't like each other. You caught a classmate cheating. A pimple is taking over your nose. When life throws you a curve ball, what do you do?
The editors of The Care & Keeping of You asked thousands of girls how they handle everyday problems. Now it's your turn to answer, "What would you do?" Take each quiz, tally your score, and find out what your choices say about you. Plus, get expert advice on surviving tough times and making good decisions.
Publishers Weekly
What Would You Do?: Quizzes About Real-Life Problems by Patti Kelley Criswell, illus. by Norm Bendell, poses hypothetical, entirely plausible situations, and offer readers multiple choice answers penned by girls nationwide who posted them to the American Girl Web site. Copycat friends, compulsive lying and whether or not to attend a dance at a new school number among the topics. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
What Would You Do?: Quizzes About Real-Life Problems by Patti Kelley Criswell, illus. by Norm Bendell, poses hypothetical, entirely plausible situations, and offer readers multiple choice answers penned by girls nationwide who posted them to the American Girl Web site. Copycat friends, compulsive lying and whether or not to attend a dance at a new school number among the topics. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
The title foretells the style of this small book on making personal choices. It is a series of short quizzes about family matters, friends, school and stress. The answers are not necessarily right or wrong, but they do represent different styles of coping. The strengths of each style are offered along with tips to make up for the weaknesses. The "perfectly practical" girl takes control and is not scared by conflict, but she also needs to work on understanding the other person's point of view. The answers come from girls responding to quizzes on the American Girl website, although some sound as if they were written by adults. Nonetheless they raise important issues in the lives of adolescent girls—getting along with siblings and parents (When you see your sister smoking, do you talk to your sister or tell your parents?), peer pressure (What about that 'friend' who keeps asking you do to things you know you shouldn't do?). The little book concludes with several "big truths" like "Problems don't fix themselves" and "There are many ways to solve a problem." The most significant point is probably on the opening page: "While you might not have the power to control what happens on the outside, you can always control what happens on the inside. You do this by making choices that are right for you." This little volume would be excellent for prompting discussions between parent and child in a health class, scout troop or youth group. The book is written for girls, but many of the issues affect all adolescents. 2004, Pleasant Company, Ages 8 up.—Karen Leggett