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ONE TOKE

Name: ONE TOKE
Author: Marc Aronoff
ISBN: 978-1630410209

A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR TEENS

by Marc Aronoff illustrated by Earl Cavanah ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 10, 2014

A practical, thought-provoking primer to help teens make more informed decisions about pot smoking.

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A youth counselor offers a roundup of information and prompts for teens considering or already smoking pot in this YA self-help guide.

Aronoff, a licensed mental health counselor who has worked with youth at risk for over 20 years, believes it’s time to get real about marijuana. The drug is widely available, is becoming increasingly legalized, and “[b]eing a curious teen is normal.” In this guide, Aronoff provides the lowdown on how to “smoke smart,” noting that “[b]ecause some people will thrive and get ahead in life while occasionally smoking pot, and others will not, knowing how to smoke smart is essential.” He presents a series of short chapters covering multiple topics—peer pressure, pot vs. alcohol, pot-smoking parents and addiction—to help teens decide if, where, how and how much they should become involved in pot smoking. He considers the “how” a particularly key factor, emphasizing that how pot is smoked significantly affects addiction risk. The title of this work is reflective of his “harm reduction” philosophy, with Aronoff suggesting those who chose to smoke should take the “one toke challenge,” since “you do not need more than one toke to get high.” While not all parents will love Aronoff’s open-minded views about a drug that they would simply ban, his guide serves as a nonthreatening vehicle by which teens can actively assess the realities of its presence in their lives. Aronoff’s counseling background is a particular strength of this narrative; he continually connects this decision to having awareness and accountability for all of one’s choices in life. He also ends each chapter with a helpful “Voice Your Opinion” question for teens to ponder. His website, onetoke.org, which he promotes as a place to “also connect with others,” offers additional information. Additionally, while this slim book attempts to distill a lot of information, teens and parents would do well to consult other resources to fully understand this complex, controversial subject.

A practical, thought-provoking primer to help teens make more informed decisions about pot smoking.

Pub Date: Oct. 10, 2014

ISBN: 978-1630410209

Page Count: 114

Publisher: Porter House

Review Posted Online: Jan. 20, 2015

Review Program: Kirkus Indie

Categories:

GENERAL NONFICTION

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NUTCRACKER

by E.T.A. Hoffmann ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 28, 1996

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This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)

Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996

ISBN: 0-15-100227-4

Page Count: 136

Publisher: Harcourt

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996

Categories:

GENERAL NONFICTION

- BOOK REVIEW
THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING
by E.T.A. Hoffmann ; adapted by Natalie Andrewson ; illustrated by Natalie Andrewson

- BOOK REVIEW
THE NUTCRACKER
by E.T.A. Hoffmann & illustrated by Julie Paschkis

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TO THE ONE I LOVE THE BEST

EPISODES FROM THE LIFE OF LADY MENDL (ELSIE DE WOLFE)

by Ludwig Bemelmans ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 23, 1955

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An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.