Book Review: Bird’s-Eye View of Life with ADD and AD/HD
Teens with ADD give real-life advice about school, friendships, managing money, and taking medication.
by Chris A. Zeigler Dendy, Alex Zeigler
Cherish the Children, $19.95
Purchase A Bird’s-Eye View of Life with ADD and AD/HD
“WARNING! Do not try to read this book in one sitting! It may be hazardous to your health and family relationships! The book length exceeds the attention limits of teenagers with attention deficits. Do not read for more than twenty to thirty minutes at a time!”
This “Warning!” in the introduction to A Bird’s-Eye View of Life with ADD and AD/HD, a book written for and by teenagers, should be heeded by all readers. The amount of important information made available to the reader is indeed overwhelming – the book is bursting with facts and advice. Twelve teens make the disorder real by sharing personal stories and successes, and offering practical suggestions about overcoming AD/HD’s daily challenges. The overall message is one of hope and encouragement.
Each chapter’s structure makes it easy for a teen to find information about AD/HD. The book presents the symptoms of AD/HD as they occur in daily life, the facts about these symptoms, and ways to overcome or cope with issues related to them – including advice from author Alex Zeigler and shorter pieces from other teen experts. The appendices, “The ADD Dictionary” and “What Do I Need to Know about Medication?” are particularly useful for newly diagnosed teens. In addition, these summaries never shy away from tough topics, such as substance abuse and smoking.
The “Warning!” that accompanies the book is certainly justified – A Bird’s – Eye View is crammed with information. The layout of each page is crowded, making it difficult to read…my brain and eyes screamed for more white space. But for teens, the package just may work.
