Product Description

This edition of Chicken Soup for teenagers contains lessons on the nature of friendship and love, the importance of belief in the future, the value of respect for yourself and others, and other important themes--all delivered with compassion and humor.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12856 in Books
• Published on: 1997-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781558744639
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
This book, the latest in the hugely popular Chicken Soup for the Soul series, contains stories, poems, and cartoons relating to the specific troubles that traumatize teenagers everywhere. There are plenty of stories about dating ("HE KISSED MY TEETH!"), friendships (don't gossip), and school. But Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul doesn't shy away from the big issues either, with essays on suicide, dying young, and drunk driving. This book stems from the knowledge that teens know their own concerns best—thus, much of the book is written by teens themselves, which gives the book a very accessible, informal tone. Also, the authors had each piece evaluated by as many teenagers as possible. The care shows. Teenage Soul is always respectful, and doesn't minimize any of the dramas of adolescence. It does, however, mete out plenty of perspective. This wise, tender, funny book is filled with wisdom useful to teens (and everybody else, too).

About the Author
Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, the #1 New York Times and USA Today best-selling co-authors, are professional speakers who have dedicated their lives to enhancing the personal and professional development of others.

Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, the #1 New York Times and USA Today best-selling co-authors, are professional speakers who have dedicated their lives to enhancing the personal and professional development of others.

Kimberly Kirberger is president of Inspiration and Motivation for Teens, Inc. (I.A.M. for Teens) and speaks at high schools and to youth organizations. Jack, Mark and Kimberly have formed The Teen Letter Project, a foundation dedicated to encouraging troubled teens to reach out for help and guidance.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

I Love You, Dad

If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.
—St. Francis of Assisi

I met a man who came to Tampa for his father's funeral. Father and son hadn't seen each other in years. In fact, according to the son, his father had left when he was a boy, and they had had little contact until about a year ago, when his father had sent him a birthday card with a note saying he'd like to see his son again.

After discussing a trip to Florida with his wife and children and consulting his busy schedule at his office, the son tentatively set a date to visit his father two months later. He would drive his family down when school was out for vacation. He scribbled a note and with mixed emotions, dropped it in the mail.

He heard back immediately. Written on lined paper torn from a spiral notebook, such as a schoolboy would use, were words of excitement penned in a barely legible scrawl. Misspelled words, poor grammar and incorrect punctuation bounced off the page. The man was embarrassed for his father. He thought twice about the upcoming visit.

It just so happened that the man's daughter made the cheerleading squad at her school and had to go to a camp conducted for cheering techniques. Coincidentally, it started the week after school was out. The trip to Florida would have to be postponed.

His father said he understood, but the son didn't hear from him again for some time. A note here or there, an occasional call. They didn't say much—muttered sentences, comments about "your mother," a couple of clouded stories about the man's childhood—but it was enough to put together a few of the missing pieces.

In November the son received a call from his father's neighbor. His father had been taken to the hospital with heart problems. The son spoke with the charge nurse, who assured him his father was doing well following a heart attack. The doctor could provide details.

His father said, "I'm fine. You don't have to make a trip out here. The doctor says there was minor damage, and I can go home day after tomorrow."

He called his father every few days after that. They chatted and laughed and talked about getting together "soon." He sent money for Christmas. His father sent small gifts for his children and a pen and pencil set for his son. It was a cheap set, probably purchased at a discount pharmacy or variety-type store, and the kids tossed their tokens from Grandpa aside without much notice. But his wife received a precious music box made of crystal. Overwhelmed, she expressed her gratitude to the old man when they called him on Christmas Day. "It was my mother's," the old man explained. "I wanted you to have it."

The man's wife told her husband that they should have invited the old man for the holidays. As an excuse for not having done so, she added, "But it probably would be too cold for him here, anyway.ö

In February, the man decided to visit his father. As luck would have it, however, his boss's wife had to have an operation, and the man had to fill in and work a few extra hours. He called his father to tell him he'd probably get to Florida in March or April.

I met the man on Friday. He had finally come to Tampa. He was here to bury his father.

He was waiting when I arrived to open the door that morning. He sat in the chapel next to his father's body, which had been dressed in a handsome, new, navy blue pinstriped suit and laid out in a dark blue metal casket. "Going Home" was scripted inside the lid.

I offered the man a glass of water. He cried. I put my arm around his shoulder and he collapsed in my arms, sobbing. "I should have come sooner. He shouldn't have had to die alone." We sat together until late afternoon. He asked if I had something else to do that day. I told him no.

I didn't choose the act, but I knew it was kind. No one else came to honor the life of the man's father, not even the neighbor he spoke of. It cost nothing but a few hours of my time. I told him I was a student, that I wanted to be a professional golfer, and that my parents owned the funeral home. He was an attorney and lived in Denver. He plays golf whenever he can. He told me about his father.

That night, I asked my dad to play golf with me the next day. And before I went to bed, I told him, "I love you, Dad."

— Nick Curry III, age 19

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(c)1996 by Nick Curry III. All rights reserved. Reprinted from Chicken Soup for the Surviving Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Kimberly Kirberger. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the written permission of the publisher. Publisher: Health Communications, Inc., 3201 SW 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442.

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Customer Reviews

Very Heart Warming and Well Written
I am 11 years old,a young adolesence boy,My mother (a.k.a Santa Claus) bought me Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul for CHristmas. I immediately put my other presents away and started reading.It was sad,heart warming,and happy at certain times.I realized how special I really am. It was amazing how other people around and over my age felt.Also very nice to see how girls feel and want in a man. Also,how no matter how hard times get,suicide is never the answer. There was two stories in particular I loved Sparky (in the section "On Learning)you will never believe the ending. Another on of my favorites is about suicide and how everybody deserves a friend it is Always Return Your Phone Calls (in the section "Tough Stuff") It is sad,beatiful,and very inspirational. I suggest this book to every kid my age this book is so good I am going to read it over and over again. Thank-you.

The Most Touching and Inspiring book I've ever read!
When I first heard about Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul, I was not in a hurry to purchase or even read it. Later though, my freind bought it and I read a story he told me too. WOW! That one page of what he went through totally changed my perspective on life. I went home and bought the book that night. When I began to read it I relized what I had read was just the beginning of a renewal on the way that I treat and look at my life. Day after day I read a few stories at a time. There were stories that caused my to laugh, cry, smile, frown, get scared, think, and love. If there were more stars beside just 5, I would give them to this book. I feel like this book has renewed so many things in my life that I believe i am a different person. I also have learned many lessons about family, life, freinds, and many many other things. I would recomend this book to anyone that needs a little hope, inspiration, renewal, or just a nice read. Thank yo for your time and if you read Chicken Soup for the Teenage soul I hope that you enjoy, wait, I know that you will enjoy every story in there. Thank You!

Chicekn soup isnt just for a cold!
When i sat down to read chicken soup for the teenage soul i gfigured it would be something written for younger teenagers. Myself being a 19yr old college student i didnt think i would like it. Well let me tell you i was tottaly wrong. Within the first half hour of reading this book i determined it was perfect for me. I got to the point where i could not put this book down. The stories of the heart submitted by other readers touched my heart. Whether it was reading about young love or friendship wvery story related to my life in some way. Whether you are a teenager looking for a book, or a parent looking for a book for your teenager, i would highly recomend Chicken soup for the teenage soul!