Volunteering Book

Volunteering: The Ultimate Teen Guide is a wonderful resource for teens on how they can use their time and energy to positively impact society and gain personal satisfaction. Teens get a complete picture of what volunteering involves, including the personal commitment and the physical and emotional stamina, as well as the positive—and sometimes negative—consequences. Filled with inspiring and rewarding stories from teen volunteers who testify to the immense personal satisfaction that resulted from their volunteer efforts.

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-This action guide is arranged by the specific areas in which young people can become involved in their communities and make a difference. Suggestions include building and repairing houses through agencies like Habitat for Humanity; working with senior citizens; helping out in hospitals and hospice care; working with organizations that feed the hungry and help the homeless; becoming active in environmental preservation efforts; working in museums to help preserve the past; camp counseling, teaching, or tutoring young children; contributing to anti-discrimination efforts; and working for political campaigns. The text is peppered with real-life stories and quotes from students across the country involved in different projects. Black-and-white photographs of teens "on the job" and personal essays about their experiences add interest. Boxed information, additional resources, tips, etc., break up the text. A list of selected organizations and Web sites provides a starting point to becoming active. While the text is somewhat dry, and the interior design of the book does not invite browsing (the combination of text and black-and-white photos is somewhat monotonous), this is a useful tool in that it provides a one-stop resource for teens interested in locating volunteer opportunities.-Jennifer Ralston, Harford County Public Library, Belcamp, MD Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.