Book Review: 100 Young Americans
Michael Franzini Interviews, Photographs Teens Across the U.S.
May 25, 2008
One Hundred Young Americans is a unique glossy book that captures the essence of 100 teenagers from across the United States. Author, photographer and Emmy-award winning director Michael Franzini traveled 33,000 miles across America to meet teens from all 50 states and many diverse walks of life. The interviews were completed after several years of research produced a broad range of teens whose lives would be captured in the book.
Young Americans: Who Are They?
The composition of the group of teens mimics the census data for gender, race and sexuality. The group includes every conceivable type of teen: from jocks and band geeks to gamers and stoners, emos and rappers, goths and vampires. In fact, upon first glance, the book seems almost fictional in the extreme personalities of its teens. As you read, however, you learn that there truly are incredible differences among teenagers across the U.S.
Today's Teens
The pages in the book reveal the innermost thoughts of the teens portrayed, and the photographs capture a tiny slice in time in the lives of these kids, many of whom have actually been forced to become adults far too quickly. The author describes the reality that teens today are growing up in an Instant Access Generation, a world of text messages, instant messaging, and internet access that did not exist in the young lives of their parents.
Issues Covered in the Book
If you are a parent of a teenager and are worried about what might be going in the lives of your teenage children, this is an excellent book to read. There is definitely an element of "Wow, I thought my teenager was bad..." but the book is also helpful for teens to be able to read about what other teens their age are experiencing across America. Some of the issues dealt with in the book include social networking websites, cliques and popularity, sex, drugs, gang violence, religion and family.
There is no sugar-coating the lives of these teens - extreme language and teen reality is served up unapologetically in the words of the subjects - who run the gamut from skate rats, meth addicts, and hookers to farmers, athletes and church-going virgins.
One Hundred Young Americans is a book that is vital for parents of teens, middle school and high school teachers, and others who have direct contact with America's teenagers today. The photographs are absolutely genuine yet intrinsically artistic.
Read additional teen parenting book reviews on:
The Real Truth About Teens and Sex
 |
