Cox, R. (2008). Letter 2 a Teen, Becoming the best I can be. New Zealand: Essential Resources Educational Publishers Ltd. ISBN: 978-1-877440-57-1.

**Review prepared by Peer Resources Network member DeeAnne Vonde a teacher at Lord Beaverbrook High School, Calgary, Canada**

This book has been written specifically for teens. A coach could use one or two pages from each chapter as a starting point for a discussion with teens. Throughout the text teens are challenged to: be the best they can be, develop resiliency, learn new strategies for handling stress, and keep a positive attitude.

One of the best features of this book is that the reader can start with the information in any chapter. It's not necessary to discuss each chapter beginning to end, cover to cover. I liked the emphasis in this book on helping teens build positive relationships with responsible adults, and then work towards setting realistic goals. The ideas on writing a resume, cover letter, and compiling a portfolio are all useful. For me, the challenge that the author presents to teens to be a positive role model for others is one of the key concepts in this readable book.

Cox brings valuable experience to this publication that could be used successfully in a group mentoring setting as well. Whether working one-on-one or with one mentor and a small group of mentees, this book provides topics for discussion relevant to teens. The ideas presented in the text are sound and certainly timely. The author encourages youth to focus on the positive, stay away from the negative, and step by step develop a personal plan to be the best they can be.

With over 15 years experience myself in working with at-risk teens, I have learned that while teens appreciate the opportunity to connect with a caring adult, that they don't want the adult trying to use the current slang terms. Furthermore, I have learned that talks are certainly never forgotten months and years after they take place. So when North American readers see the term "guts through the tough times," on page 39, this could provide a great opportunity for discussions on strategies for youth, in any culture, to navigate the challenges that life presents. Years later when teens hear phrases from other cultures, it will remind them of the impact an adult had on them when they were growing up.

Discussing drugs and alcohol usually finds everyone in the group with questions to ask and a desire for some straight answers. A mentor should be prepared with facts when exploring the information on alcohol presented on page 45. The information on this page could be a good starting point for an exchange of ideas on the use or misuse of alcohol in different jurisdictions. Teens could research and then debate the legal age for the use of alcohol, or create scenarios about how to respectfully ensure everyone’s safety when the use of alcohol occurs.

A common question for teens entering the job market is, "Who do I use for a reference on a resume when I have little or no work experience outside of my home? Do I include relatives as a reference or not?" Everyone seems to have an opinion on the appropriateness of listing a relative as a reference. Engaging in discussions with staff from a local employment agency could provide additional perspective on an answer to this question. Inviting someone from a local employment agency that works with youth could be a valuable additional compliment to the quality information in this book.

Peer Resources Network members working with teens and looking for some new strategies should consider using this valuable resource by taking information from one or more of the chapters or by working through the book chapter by chapter.

Robin Cox is a member of the Peer Resources Network and is an active contributor to ideas about mentoring on other mentoring lists, and is the author of several other works on mentoring youth. His diverse background and passion for mentoring is evident in this new release.