 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Rx
- By Tracy Lynn
- Genre: Coming of Age
Common Sense Media says
Heavy look at prescription drug abuse for teens.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this book is about a teen girl's addiction to Ritalin. Almost every character in the book -- parent and teen -- takes drugs (prescription or recreational), and the protagonist becomes a popular dealer at her high school. There's also swearing, drinking, casual sex (a character thinks she's pregnant), and a suicide. But this is a cautionary tale full of facts and storylines meant to raise awareness of prescription drug abuse.
What's the story?
An overachieving high school student decides she has ADHD and starts taking Ritalin (stolen from a friend). Soon she's hooked, diagnosing her peers so she can deal to them -- and keep supporting her habit. Teens will never forget that this book has a message: to educate kids -- and parents -- about the dangers of prescription drugs. Narrator Thyme not only details her own addiction, but also documents the drugs' prevalence by including bits of drug talk heard in the halls of her high school and by weaving facts about the drugs into her story. Her mom even trades Xanax with her co-workers.
Is it any good?
This is a dramatic story -- Thyme deals with withdrawal, having her stash stolen (and found by police), and even a teen client's suicide. But it's a timely book, too. The author is definitely didactic, but she connects the dots well, showing how the pressure to succeed combines so dangerously with the prevalence of pills, prescriptions, and self-diagnosis, creating a serious culture of dependency for both teens and parents. Parents are encouraged to read along -- and discuss -- this book with their teens.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the book's relevance. Do they have friends -- or classmates -- who use prescription drugs, legally or illegally? What have they heard about "study drugs" like Ritalin and Adderall?
This book shows both kids and parents taking lots of prescription drugs; are we too drug-dependent as a society? Do TV ads that promise dramatic weight loss or the end of depression have an impact on our culture's drug use?
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AGE
every teen should read
I like this book so far and i do know kids like this that use ritilin and atterol just to use it. I lost one of my best friends cause he was crushing up these meds and snorting them like coke. i have not done that but i have taken oxycodone just to feel good. but it made me sick cause kept doing it and i had to end up taking 9 1/2 of them just to feel good because my body got used to them and i had to be rushed to the hospital. so i do believe that all teens that want to take drugs should should read this and think of the consequences.
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AGE
Probably not appropriate for kids under 13.
This book was awesome and kind of disturbing. there was a great deal of swearing, and some "iffy" portions, but if you can look past that then Rx is a MUST READ.
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AGE
good book
I loved this book.
especially the ending when she doesn't throw the two riralin pills in the toilet. Whic means she has not fully left her high school habit behind.
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AGE
Hits the real issues facing teens
This book talks about the real world. Kids at my highschool are addicts and it was helpful to me and my friends to read this. it was totally appropriate, because it's what actually is going on.
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AGE
Love it! A great portrayal of drug addiction and shows how easy it is to deal in schools.
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AGE
A Lesson for Adults
Even though the main character does drugs like Ritalin it proves a point. The girl is so stressed that she has to be perfect she goes over the breaking point and starts taking drugs. The moral don't push your kids to be the perfect child.
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AGE
so real.
this book, in my opinion, was one of the best books i've read in a while. it was extremely realistic, that is actually how kids find Rx drugs in today's society.
There is a lot in this world that parents don't get about our generation. There is no way we could explain it to make sense, but this book would probably help build a few bricks to bridge the gap.
I strongly suggest to read it.
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AGE
Coming from a diagnosed A.D.D. sufferer who has taken adderall...
This book gives an interesting perspective of kids who think they have "problems", but aren't able to get the help they need (like I did). There are tons and tons of people just like Thyme out there.
I loved this book-- an instant favorite of mine. It's very educational, and it deals with high school students (mostly Juniors and Seniors). Seeing as typical High Schools can be just as Thyme describes hers, it's age appropriate for High School students. Though the drug additions and cursing could be a concern for some, teenagers deal with these kinds of things on a daily basis, and without really even noticing. I guarantee that this book is nothing a teenager hasn't seen before (I'm a sophomore myself, and I know I've seen it all), and it's completely worth the read.
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AGE
An honest book with an important message
This book was a great portrail of perscription drugs in high school. One reason I loved it so much was because it was honest and didn't pretend to be something it wasn't. Yes there was language some parents wouldn't approve of but its the same language you hear every day at a public high school. Rx was all around a good read, it was intertaining and had a good message. Parents: Don't consider this a book that will give your children ideas about doing drugs, while the language and story line aren't necessarly something you would enjoy, it is understood by teens and teaches a valuable lesson. I loved this book and hope others will read it too.
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| Author: | Tracy Lynn |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | Simon Pulse |
| Publication date: | March 16, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 272 |
| Paperback price: | $6.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 14 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 15 |
| Read alone: | 15 |
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