Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Green teens may want fewer facts, more activism ideas.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Al Gore offers evidence of global warming, calling it a "climate crisis" and detailing how it will affect the planet and its inhabitants.
Is It Any Good?
Kids may find the book a bit alarming and overwhelming -- and may need proactive parents to present the content with a hopeful tone. If you saw the documentary An Inconvenient Truth and were left feeling overwhelmed by what could be in store for our fragile planet and our fellow humans, now you can pass that feeling on to your kids; the content here is basically the same, generously illustrated with Gore's slides. What the publisher failed to grasp in the repurposing process was that kids need a different approach. You don't have to dumb the message down, but you don't have to spend all your time trying to convince them with graph after graph, either -- they're already much greener than the older generations.
Blink and you'll miss the brief mentions in Chapter 15 of alternative forms of power, fluorescent lightbulbs, green roofs, hybrid cars, and hydrogen fuel-cell buses. After that, a two-page spread (out of 190 total pages) encourages everyone to take action: Ride your bike, recycle, turn off lights, spread the word.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about where they stand on this issue and their concerns for the planet. Does this book and its warnings worry you? If so, what's the best way to deal with your concerns?
The current youth generation is already very aware of envirmnemental issues. Does the activism section go far enough or would you have liked a wider variety of ideas?
What can you start doing now to help the environment? Check out the activism tips from this website.
Book Details
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