Keepin' It Real: A Young Teen Talks With God Paperback – March 1, 2003

An amazing book which through letters to God a teen develops her beliefs, finds answers and comfort through her stormy year and concludes with a strong faith and an accepting heart. The book includes humor as it explores the tramas this teen faces. Her letters to God give the wonderful reality of the fabulous relationship one can have with God - talking to him each day. This book is on its way to my teen granddaughter - Thank you Sandy!

Good book to have middle school girls read. I used it when I home-schooled a girl with Asperger's who hasn't experienced many social interactions with her peers that were positive. She liked it so much she asked if she could keep it. Of course I said yes! There are comprehension questions and essay questions online at edhelper.com.

This read, Keepin' It Real: A Young Teen Talks With God by Sandra McLeod Humphrey, was a delight. It is written as a young girl's diary to God. The book opens as the teen converses frankly and directly with God on a number of issues affecting her life. During the course of her written conversations, the girl begins to develop a relationship and Christian maturity with the God that she starts out blaming for all of her ills. If you want a nice Christmas gift for the teenage femme in your life, this might be the one. Mom and Dad would do well to read this one too, particularlly if you are interested in the many challenges that your teen confronts today.

I recall that between 12 and 14 I underwent an enormous self discover period. Spirituality became a big question to me. At one point I popped my head up from the basement and looked at my parents who were quietly watching TV. I asked "How am I supposed to know there is a god?" They looked at me. I had caught them off guard. It was unfair of me. Especially since I left before they could pull themselves back together. Now my oldest is turning 11 and I don't want to be caught so off guard.Personally, I have settled on a spiritual nature that doesn't include a god that is not fully integrated with all things. There is no God (big G) in my mind. That was after my own spiritual quest. I want my children to have their own spiritual quests. They will ask themselves important questions.Having this book available for them to read early in life is going to be among the tools I will provide them with. If they settle on a Christian God, so be it. The important thing is to really look around you and explore. I found this to be a good early teen glimpse into spiritual exploration. It sets a good example for kids taking their first steps. It also serves as a reminder to us older folks about how tough it is.

This is a nice book written through the eyes of a teen who is discovering and expanding her relationship with God. It is written in a conversational style through the letters (Leslie) writes to God. She discusses her daily problems and learns that her relationship with God becomes stronger as she talks, or rather writes to Him.This is surely an interesting read that I plan on sharing with my daughter when she gets older.

Award-winning Minnesota author, Sandra McLeod Humphrey, has produced an outstanding book to help not just teens, but all of us. Through her journaling letters to God in her effort to keep Him "real" in her life, thirteen-year-old Leslie takes us along with her on her school-year-long journey through her parents' divorce, moving, being the new kid at school, zits, the boy at the next locker, eating lunch all alone, having no friends in a new school... We watch Leslie grow - spiritually, physically, and emotionally. The journey is a riot - my childhood came roaring back as I ached with Leslie through those awkward moments as a teen I had just about forgotten about in my "old age". "Keepin' It Real" is an excellent reminder to all of us that God hears and answers all our prayers. Like Leslie, we don't always recognize the answers, but they are there, and they are REAL answers. This is a great book for 'tweens, teens and adults alike - some great discussions ought to come out of this one! This is an "easy read" since the text is broken up like journal entries, so it's easy to pick up where you left off in-between interruptions.About the Author: Sandra is a retired clinical psychologist with over 35 years of experience working with troubled young people. She's written two excellent books where she gives the readers examples of modern-day issues our kids are faced with almost daily, and offers several choices for them to pick from to learn how to think these issues through to a good decision and choice. These books are:If You Had To Choose, What Would You Do? and, It's Up To You...What Do You Do?Sandra has a website that describes all her books, including her about-to-be-released book on bullying. She also runs a writing contest on her website for children to enter. Visit her at: [...] for more information on her books.Stories for Children Editor, VS Grenier

Humprey uses her unique experience as a psychologist and creates a poignant and emotional story of a young woman who is going through the most distressing period of time in her life--early adolescence. The story is told through thirteen-year-old Leslie as she writes in her diary to God. The author addresses both major and seemingly minor issues that confront teens of either gender and brings them to gentle resolution through the practice of faith and spirituality. I would emphatically recommend this book for any teen who is unsure of their place in their world and the place of God within it.Karl L. Kruger for the American Author's Association