The Teen Guide to Global Action: How to Connect with Others (Near and Far) to Create Social Change

by Barbara A. Lewis

Kids everywhere are deciding they can’t wait to become adults to change the world. They’re acting right now to fight hunger and poverty, promote health and human rights, save the environment, and work for peace. Their stories prove that young people can make a difference on a global scale. Like Barbara Lewis’s groundbreaking The Kid’s Guide to Social Action , this book includes real-life stories to inspire young readers, plus a rich and varied menu of opportunities for service, fast facts, hands-on activities, user-friendly tools, and up-to-date resources kids can use to put their own volunteer spirit into practice. It also spotlights young people from the past whose efforts led to significant positive change. Upbeat, practical, and highly motivating, this book has the power to rouse young readers everywhere.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2007

About the author

Barbara A. Lewis is a national award-winning author and educator who teaches kids how to think and solve real problems. Her students at Jackson Elementary School in Salt Lake City, Utah, initiated the cleanup of hazardous waste, improved sidewalks, planted thousands of trees, and fought crime. They instigated and pushed through several state laws and an amendment to a national law, garnering 10 national awards, including two President's Environmental Youth Awards, the Arbor Day Award, the Renew America Award, and Pledge and a Promise Environmental Award. They have also been recognized in the Congressional Record three times.

Barbara has been featured in/on many national newspapers, magazines, and news programs, including Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal, Family Circle, CBS This Morning, CBS World News, and CNN. She has also written many articles and short stories for national magazines. Her books for Free Spirit Publishing — What Do You Stand For? For Kids; What Do You Stand For? For Teens; The Kid's Guide to Social Action; Kids with Courage; The Kid's Guide to Service Projects; The Teen Guide to Global Action; and The Survival Guide for Teachers of Gifted Kids — have won Parenting's Reading Magic Award and been named "Best of the Best for Children" by the American Library Association, among other honors.

Barbara has lived in Indiana, New Jersey, Switzerland, Belgium, Utah, and Poland. She and her husband, Larry, currently reside in Park City, Utah. They have four children: Mike, Andrea, Chris, and Sam; five perfect grandchildren; and a forest of shy deer, a bold moose, busy squirrels, and feathered friends.

Reviews

[Marlene Cunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an amazing resource for junior high and high school students that are wanting to take a more active role in their community. The book contains several issues affecting the world today such as hunger and human rights. The facts behind each issue are listed along with website resources to learn more about the topic. Then personal accounts from students who have helped make a difference in each issue give their story. Students are able to learn about an issue and then encouraged to find a solution where they can actually make a difference. This book encourages civic learning and provides numerous suggestions in order to get students more involved and make a change. I personally like how the facts behind each issue are given so that the students can understand how issues can affect the world.

[Roots & Shoots · Rating 5 out of 5]

This article was published on the website for Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots.

ROOTS & SHOOTS BOOK CLUB January 2009: "The Teen Guide to Global Action" by Barbara A. Lewis
01/16/2009

You know about the world's problems, you want to help solve them and you have the power to do it. This month's Roots & Shoots Book Club selection gives you the info, tips and inspiration to get started.

The Teen Guide to Global Action: How to Connect with Others (Near & Far) to Create Social Change, by Barbara A. Lewis is a youth-friendly handbook for maximizing your global network and taking action for important causes.

The Teen Guide to Global Action gives you ideas on how to fight hunger and poverty, promote health and human rights, save the environment and work for peace. It has real-life stories from teens—past and present—who have made significant positive change.

What you won't find in this book is cheesy, boring adult-speak about why, like peas and carrots, volunteerism is good for you. What you will find are hard-hitting statistics, hands-on activities, action-oriented tools, website resources and meaningful service opportunities.

Basically, you'll find what you need to stop wanting to make a difference and start making one.

Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/l7a1Fm

[Amber Lovett Dhamija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lewis, Barbara A. The Teen Guide to Global Action: How to Connect with Others (Near & Far) to Create Social Change. 2008. 135 pp. $12.95. Free Spirit. 978-1-57542-266-4 / 1-57542-266-2. Ages 12 & Up. This guide is designed for teens and young adults who are interested in getting involved in activism and social justice issues. The book contains introductory chapters on why to get involved, how to find and research a cause, planning and taking action, and joining or creating groups. Topics covered include Human Rights, Hunger and Homelessness, Health and Safety, Education, Environment and Conservation, Youth Representation, and Peace and Friendship. Each chapter has a mix of inspirational true stories of teens making a difference, activities, statistics and facts, quick tips, and websites and names of helpful organizations. While not comprehensive, the guide is a good starting resource and seeks to be unbiased in discussion of social change topics.

[Handan]

I didn't manage to read this before it was due back at the library (and being an excellent, informative source, I want to get it back to the next person; also, when I say I didn't read it, I haven't, I just skimmed through and read various passages so I'm familiar text). I like that it first lays out how to go about making change happen and that each chapter begins with one teen's story, how they saw something and decided to make a change. I wish there was a poster series to go with this book of each teen/organization highlighted so we could put them up around town. The steps are clear and well-laid out. Yeah, it's work, but once a passion sparks, work just becomes the means to make what you seek happen.

[Scott]

Teach Middle School? This guy is very helpful.

I know, I know, social justice is a trend in teacher prep that gets lost in the classroom. This is nice because it teaches writing with a social change lens.

[Lamya Al Zadjali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book especially for someone who wants to do volunteering. It's full of cool stories and pictures from teens around the world sharing their experiences.

Seriously thinking of rereading it when I have the chance.

[Kathy]

Three copies

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, practical, accessible.

[Denise Blumenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy interesante para adolescentes y jóvenes que quieran hacer voluntariado.
Muy recomendable. Escrito de una forma ágil y de rápida lectura.