Crash Course in Young Adult Services

This "crash course" delivers as promised. Former YALSA president Flowers presents a huge amount of material in a relatively small amount of space. This impeccably researched and cited work incorporates YALSA's "core professional values" in every chapter. The book begins with physiological explanations of young adults' actions and thoughts. The author draws a distinction between distracting and dangerous behavior and examines the basics of interacting with teens, including being honest, clear, fair, and flexible. Flowers also offers tips on dealing with teens individually and in groups and gives examples of passive and active programs and ideas for evaluating them through surveys and observation. Several chapters list further resources, and appendixes feature a sample crash-course workshop and more in-depth descriptions of potential teen programs, such as making, book clubs, and life skills. Displays and sample book lists are explored in more detail. Readers will also discover suggestions for sharing this information with fellow professionals who don't work with this age group. Sample teen volunteer applications and ideas for maximizing teen service learning experiences enhance the text.