Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism & Point to Happy: a book for kids on the autism spectrum

© Flickr User BLW Photography

Today concluded Autism Awareness Month (and April) and I wanted to squeeze in these two books that I only recently was sent. I have always been interested in Autism, although I'm not sure exactly why. None of my family or friends are autistic or have autistic children. I have met autistic children but my interest is from when I was a teenager, before I ever met an autistic child.

Perhaps it's the fact that there are so many ideas about it's cause and how to treat it. I find it intriguing that something can affect so many children without us having a better idea of it's cause. I've read books on Autism and articles and even did research on my own as a teenager. I don't spend time researching it anymore but if I come across a mention of something on autism, I will read it. So as such I've heard of many different therapies for autism.

Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism 2011-2012 by Ken Siri and Tony Lyons (Stars: *****) has the most comprehensive list of therapy ideas for autism I've ever seen and it will be updated every year in April. This is the second edition so far and it already has 25 more chapters than last year, plus other updates. If you are familiar with autism therapies a bit, you may have heard of ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis), music therapy, occupational therapy and psychotropic medications. However have you heard of Craniosacral and Chiropractic therapy, Melatonin Therapy for sleep problems or Technological-Based Interventions for Autism - There's an app for that!

Also included is a list of organizations and schools for kids on the autism spectrum, but it's mostly American since that's where the book was published. There are some international organizations and five Canadian schools listed though.

Point to Happy: a book for kids on the autism spectrum by Miriam Smith and Afton Fraser (Stars: ****) is a book to encourage communication skills and provide visual support in autistic children. With beautiful photographs by Margo Smithwick and an attached pointer, the parent can read the words and the child can attempt to point to the answer.

e.g. The boy is happy. Point to happy. The boy is sad. Point to sad. 

There is a place to add a picture of your child's favourite food to the foods page and a whole section for you to add photos of four people important to the child and their names. I don't work with autistic children but I can imagine it would work well.

*I was sent these books in the hopes that I'd review or mention them. No monetary compensation was provided. All opinions are honest and are not affected by how I acquired the item.

Saving Women's Hearts by Martha Gulati (Tour + Giveaway!)

Stars: ****

Wiley Publishing (2011)
Adult Nonfiction: Health/Heart Disease
272 pages

Summary: Mention the term "heart disease" and most people picture an overweight, middle-aged man. Yet the reality is that heart disease is the number one killer of women in North America, accounting for a third of all deaths in women and far surpassing the prevalence of breast cancer. Cardiologist Dr. Martha Gulati and holistic pharmacist Sherry Torkos separate the facts from the many myths surrounding heart disease and offer the latest information on both the conventional medical approach and the role of natural medicine in understanding this illness. Saving Women's Hearts examines the unique gender differences for women and provides valuable insight into the screening procedures, diagnosis, treatment options, and most importantly, prevention of heart disease.- from amazon.com

Intro
February is almost over but February is Heart Health Month. When it comes to Heart Disease, most people think of older men. However the scary fact for women like me is that Heart Disease is the number one killer of women.

No one has to tell me this. My MIL died of a heart attack in my house, on my living room floor in 2006. She was 43 and it was her second heart attack (at least.) According to this book, Heart Disease happens early when it's before age 65 in women. So what do they consider 45 and under? Her first heart attack was around age 35.

Do you ever think about your own risk? Perhaps you should. The odds are currently 1 in 3 to have some form of heart disease in your life and it's getting worse. Pretty soon, the average North American woman will have a 50/50 chance of developing heart disease.

Reviewing the Book
As for the book, I think in general, it's a great idea and a much needed book. I've read up on Heart Disease before but I still learned some new things and most importantly, I got some much needed advice on which foods to eat and which to avoid.

However I think the book is not organized the best way. After some basic information (facts, determining your risk etc.) and a little quiz, we go right into tests used for screening for heart disease, heart medications, treatments, natural medicine and then FINALLY we go to eating right, exercising, stress, sleep and how they can help PREVENT heart disease. Shouldn't we learn how to prevent it FIRST and then about how they test for it and treat it?

I think what part of the book you find the most helpful will depend on if you currently have heart disease or not. If not, you would like the prevention chapters better as reading about ALL the medications and treatments will make you overwhelmed.

However if you already have heart disease you will probably find the treatment section more helpful although of course the prevention section is good too as taking care of your health, even when you already have heart disease, will lower your risk of a repeat problem.

I definitely think women need to read this, or something else to become more knowledgeable about their risk and how to recognize the signs (heart attacks present differently in women than they do in men!)

Links of Interest: Saving Women's Hearts at Wiley (see table of contents, index and sample chapters),

Other Reviews: A Motherhood Experience, Multi-Testing Mommy, A Mom After God's Own Heart, Rants and Rascals,

Buy Saving Women's Hearts at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Disclosure - I am participating in the Saving Women’s Hearts program by Mom Central on behalf of Wiley Publishing.  I received a copy of the book to review and gift card as a thank you for my participation.  The opinions on this blog are my own.

The Adventures of Medical Man: Kids' Illnesses and Injuries Explained by Dr. Michael Evans & David Wichman

Stars: ****

Annick Press (2010)
Children's Nonfiction
Ages: 11+
72 pages

Summary: Learn about nut allergies, concussions, broken bones, strep throat, ear infections and asthma in a fun way. It's like a comic book and regular book all rolled into one. 

I'm not a big comic fan but this isn't a comic book. There are comic type illustrations (by Gareth Williams) throughout the book and the story on Strep Throat is a full fledged comic but that's it. This is a great way for reluctant readers to learn more about common illnesses and injuries. The stories are short and broken up with the illustrations and they aren't all fiction or all nonfiction, but a mixture of both so it's like reading nonfiction in a story. The nut allergy one is the longest but it's broken up into episodes with the other stories in between them.

I'm not sure why the authors chose those six ailments but they were interesting and although I thought I knew the basics, I did learn a little bit more than I already knew.

Links of Interest: Dr. Mike Evans, David Wichman's Blog,

Other Reviews: NONE YET

Buy The Adventures of Medical Man at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for a review. All reviews are honest and are not affected by how I acquired the book.

Weekend Cooking: The Heart-Smart Diabetes Kitchen by CanolaInfo + Giveaway!

Weekend Cooking is a link up event hosted by Beth Fish Reads. Anyone with any kind of food related post can link up, including food book reviews.

I have lots of cookbooks to review so every Saturday for the next little while I hope to post a cookbook review and link up to Weekend Cooking. Some will include giveaways and most will include a sample recipe from the book.

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The Heart-Smart Diabetes Kitchen: Fresh, Fast and Flavorful Recipes Made with Canola Oil by CanolaInfo.org and The American Diabetes Association

Stars: ***1/2

American Diabetes Association (2009)
222 pages
Colour Photos

Summary:  Bring the taste of fresh, natural ingredients and wholesome meals to your table. Featuring 151 recipes made with canola oil—one of the healthiest cooking oils available—you will be serving dishes that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol but high in flavor in no time. It’s just what the doctor, and your inner chef, ordered. - from Amazon.com

I am not Diabetic nor do I have heart problems but I'm always for cooking healthier and Diabetes and Heart Disease runs in our families. This cookbook is by CanolaInfo.org so of course every recipe is made with Canola Oil and the book touts the benefits of it but this was all fine with me. I wanted to know more about oils and Canola Oil is a healthier choice.

Before the recipes, there is an introduction section with lots of information such as:

• Top 10 Rules for Healthy Living
• Fat Facts and Comparison of Dietary Fats
• Eating Fresh
• Making Meals Faster
• Fast Facts About Canola
• Making Food Flavourful
• Herbs/Spices from Different Cultures

The recipes themselves are divided into Breakfast, Lunch, Appetizers, Salads, Sides, Entrees (Seafood, Poultry, Pork, Beef and Meatless) and Desserts.

Not every recipe has an accompanying photo but the photos that are in the book are all full colour.

Pros:

• Colour Photos
• Sections Colour Coded so you can easily find the sections
• Every recipe includes Nutritional Facts
• Easy to follow instructions
• Some recipes have flavour tips.

Cons:

• Not Colour Photos on every recipe
• Many recipes have ingredients that are are bit unusual (Marsala Wine, Adobo Sauce, Wasabi Powder, Capers, Edamame....) This would have been better if they offered ideas of more usual ingredients you could substitute.
• As a fairly picky eater, almost every recipe had something I don't like in it. I'm pretty good at making substitutions personally. I rarely make a recipe exactly as it states. But if you aren't good at doing that yet, you may not make many of the recipes.

This recipe book would be best for those who like food from a variety of different cultures, with strong tastes or who aren't afraid to try something completely new. I don't think kids would enjoy many of these recipes unless they were used to these types of foods from early on. 

I'd like to share a recipe I tried and enjoyed from the book. As I said before I don't follow recipes exactly so first I'll reprint the recipe as is and then I'll state the changes I made.

Please note I have permission to reprint this recipe and the recipe is © 2009 CanolaInfo. You can save it for personal use but do not reprint.

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Drunken Beef Goulash
Yield: 4 Servings      Serving Size: 1 cup

Adding a can of beer instead of water or other liquids to this hearty dish gives it personality and a subtle pub-like taste and aroma.

Canola Oil Cooking Spray
1 tablespoon canola oil
3/4 tb trimmed beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 package (8 ounces) sliced mushrooms
1 can (12 ounces) lager beer
2 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/2 of 6-ounce can tomato paste
1-11/4 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Spray a 31/2 or 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.

2. Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef and cook until browned on the edges, about 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Place in the slow cooker and top with onions, pepper, and mushrooms.

3. Add half of beer, Worcestershire sauce, oregano and tomate paste. Cook and stir for 30 seconds until well blended. Add to slow cooker with remaining beer. Cover tightly and cook on high setting 41/2 - 5 hours or on low setting 9-10 hours until beef is very tender. Add sugar and salt and let stand for 15 minutes for flavors to blend.

Flavorful Tip: Trim the fat off the beef chuck. Using canola oil instead of the beef fat reduces saturated fat and gives the beef a rich brown color. If desired, serve this dish over 2 cups prepared frozen mashed potatoes, omitting any salt or fat.

Calories 195
Calories from fat 65
Total Fat 7.0 g
Saturated Fat 1.3g
Trans fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 40mg
Sodium 370 mg
Total Carbohydrate 17g
Dietary Fiber 3g
Sugars 9g
Protein 17g

Exchanges Per Serving
1/2 carbohydrate
2 vegetable
2 lean meat
1/2 fat

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Changes I Made: I didn't use a slow cooker, I used a wok type frying pan. I never measure exactly the meat and veggies so I just added a can of mushrooms and the amount of meat that was good for my family. I used Labatt Blue beer as that's what I had.  It was really good though. I was leery to cook with beer as I wasn't comfortable cooking with alcohol at all but after being reassured that the alcohol would burn off for sure, I tried it.

At the Heart Smart website, you can find more sample recipes as well as some of the Heart Facts and Fat Facts from the introduction and more.

Links of Interest: Canola Info, Canola Info Cooks Blog, CanolaInfo on Twitter, Canola Info on Facebook,

Other Reviews: NONE YET

Buy Heart-Smart Diabetes Kitchen at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

GIVEAWAY CLOSED - Winners Chosen

Thanks to CanolaInfo I have two copies of the Heart-Smart Diabetes Kitchen to giveaway to two lucky winners in the U.S. or Canada.

Rediscovering Birth by Sheila Kitzinger

Stars: *****

Summary: Find out how pregnancy and birth is experienced around the world from the feelings about pregnancy, the physical and spiritual experience of giving birth, how babies and mothers are taken care of after birth and more. With real photographs from around the world, you'll find out how different pregnancy and especially birth is in the rest of the world.

First a word of warning for the faint of heart. The photographs in this book are not just of pregnant tummies. They range from bare breasts to statues of women giving birth to "crotch shots" to show what an episiotomy looks like. I had no problem with the photographs but I know not everyone is as okay with the body as me. There are plenty of photos of mostly clothed pregnant women, babies and birthing locations.

I really enjoyed this book. It did make me a bit sad though as I know I have to have a C-section this time and reading the book reminded me of the beauty of labour that I won't be able to experience this time.

It was really eye opening to see how much pregnancy and birth has been changed in the western world. Some of it is for the good because we can catch high risk pregnancies or diagnose twins but it's also not so good because we take a beautiful, natural event and turn it into a medical procedure. We aren't meant to give birth on our backs with our legs in stirrups and although home birth isn't for me, I do think we need to work towards a more natural experience and provide more help for those who do want to do a home birth.

However there are aspects of birth in some other countries that aren't for the better. In many cultures, colostrum (the pre-milk a mother's breasts have before her full milk comes in) is considered dangerous and is expressed and thrown away. In the meantime the baby is breastfed by another women or fed substitute fluids. We know that colostrum provides lots of benefits to the baby including immunities and antibodies.

If like me, you are interested in pregnancy and childbirth around the world, you will find this book enlightening. Unfortunately Rediscovering Birth is Out of Print. I got my copy from the library. However if you can find a copy, it's well worth it.

Links of Interest: Sheila Kitzinger,

Other Reviews: NONE YET

Dancing with Ana by Nicole Barker

Stars: ***1/2

The Golden Road Press (2009)
Teen Fiction
170 pages

Summary: Beth has a great life, a loving family and three best friends. Beth and most of her friends decide to go on a diet but it gets a little out of control for Beth. 

The title says it all. Ana is short form for Anorexia and Beth is indeed dancing with it. She doesn't quite develop into full Anorexia needing hospitalization and treatment but she does get quite close. Luckily she realizes what she is doing to herself and is able to stop. With true Anorexia, the person doesn't see what they are doing to themselves because they have warped view of themselves.

I think the fact that Beth comes from a good family shows teenage girls that struggles with diet and even eating disorders can happen to anyone. The story was simple and it's short enough that the story doesn't get too in depth. For some this may not be a good thing but I think it's perfect for teenage girls. When it comes to reading about struggles, a lot can be too much.

Although the story is mainly about Beth, a bit about her friend Rachel is covered. It's a sub-plot I guess. Adding a bit about her seemed to make the book not too monotonous. The book doesn't only cover Beth's struggle with weight loss either. It includes her romance with her boyfriend Jeremy and her relationship with her friends, teachers and parents.

Recommended for girls 12-16, especially if they struggle with their weight, (whether their weight is above normal or not.)

Links of Interest: Dancing With Ana,

Other Reviews: Nose in a Book, Missy's Book Nook, Kay's Bookshelf, Miss Remmer's Review, Tales of a Book Addict, Crazy for Books, Diary of an Eccentric, Cheryl's Book Nook,

Buy Dancing With Ana at Amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*I received a copy of this book for review. All reviews are honest and are not affected in any way by how I received the book.

The NDD Book by William Sears, MD

Subtitle: How Nutrition Deficit Disorder Affects Your Child's Learning, Behaviour, and Health, and What You Can Do About It - Without Drugs

Stars: *****

Summary: In The NDD Book, Dr. Sears presents the latest scientific research on the effects of nutrition on the brain, outlines the symptoms of NDD, and lays out a drug-free prescription for prevention and treatment. Filled with inspiring success stories of children from Dr. Sears's own practice who showed major improvements in learning, mood, and behaviour with diet changes alone, the NDD Book also provides nine days of sample meal plans and kid-friendly NDD-prevention recipes for meals, snacks and desserts.

First of all I'd like to clarify that NDD isn't a condition you can get an actual diagnosis for (except by Dr. Sears) and you won't find information on it in medical journals.

"Children are getting sicker, sadder, and fatter. Why? The problem is food, glorious food! During my thirty-six years as a pediatrician, I have never seen such an epidemic of nutrition related illnesses. In this book you will learn a new name that I have given to this epidemic: NDD, which stands for Nutrition Deficit Disorder." - from the introduction by Dr. Bill

This is not to say that he doesn't know what he's talking about. Everything he said makes perfect sense. He explains how poor nutrition can lead to the D's.

"The D Epidemic
Parents, we have an epidemic of Ds: attention deficit disorder (ADD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Bipolar disorder (BPD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), depression and the biggest D of the decade, diabetes." - pg 7

First I'd like to point out that he doesn't say that poor nutrition is necessarily the cause for every person who has these diseases but it can cause it in some and make it worse in others. I do think he could clarify that a bit more though.

Second, I'm not sure why he put BPD as the short form for Bipolar Disorder as BPD is the short form for Borderline Personality Disorder and bipolar is usually short-formed to BP. This could be a little confusing.

I really enjoyed the book and will be putting some of what it says into practice. Food is put into Green, Yellow and Red light foods to help children and parents remember what's healthy. Also he uses the term Grow-Foods instead of Healthy Foods because the word healthy puts off children and adults who might otherwise eat said food. Dr. Sears also shares tips for helping your family transition to a better diet, ways to sneak in some vegetables while he develops a liking for them and games to do with your children to help them learn the difference between grow-foods and red-light foods and how they affect his body.

There is also a much needed chapter on breakfasts. Everyone has heard that you need a good breakfast to function but Dr. Sears actually explains how those foods work in your body to help your brain function.

I highly recommend this book to all parents and it could even benefit adults who don't have children, especially young adults because they are often not much better when it comes to eating nutritiously.

* I received a copy of this book for review from Hachette Book Group. Reviews are in no way affected by how I came across the book.

Links of Interest: Article on NDD by Dr. Sears, Ask Dr. Sears,


Other Reviews: NONE YET


Buy The NDD Book from amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

[Guest Review] Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself by Becoming an EMT by Jane Stern

*This review is by Sarah at Puss Reboots*

Jane Stern is a contributing editor for Gourmet magazine. She's also a volunteer EMT. She's been nicknamed "Ambulance girl" by the community she serves. Ambulance Girl chronicles her journey from hypochondria and depression to finding purpose as an EMT.

Each chapter reads like a short story, often focusing on similar training or rescues. Although depression played a huge role in Stern's life she doesn't dwell on it in this upbeat memoir. She also doesn't over state her part in any rescue and never makes herself out to be the hero.

Reading this memoir made me want to get myself recertified with my first aid training. At a previous job I volunteered as an EMT for the company (two were needed per floor). While my training was no where near as rigorous as Stern's I have needed some of that knowledge when my kids have gotten hurt. As Stern points out in the book, it is reassuring and calming to know what to do in an emergency.

Ambulance Girl has also been adapted into a TV movie but I haven't seen it.

Other books that might be of interest:

Blood, Sweet and Tea by Tom Reynolds
Choosing to Be by Kat Tansey

Another review:

Gather Books

Published 2003

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit Puss Reboots for more book reviews!

YUM: Your Ultimate Manual for Good Nutrition by Daina Kalnins, MSC, RD

Stars: ****

Lobster Press 2008
Children's Non-fiction (9-15)

192 pages

Summary: YUM: Your Ultimate Manual, explains how you can get exactly what your body needs from the foods you eat, it also shows you how to become a label-reading pro, gives you delicious recipes and suggestions from kids just like you, and empowers you with great tools, including an action plan, that will help get you on the road to finding your own healthy body balance.

I thought this was a great manual for teens on nutrition. It covers everything you need to know from macro nutrients (like protein, carbs and fats) to micro nutrients (like vitamins and minerals.) Also included is how to read a food label, how to identify healthy foods and how food is processed throughout our body.

We get to follow the food from your mouth right through to when your body expels it. It's an interesting trip!

YUM is filled with fun facts and tips throughout and little quotes both from kids like you and from some celebrities.

Finally after learning all there is to learn the reader can take a pledge to eat better and then do a six month challenge to help you find and maintain your body balance.

The Bipolar Handbook by Dr. Wes Burgess, M.D., Ph.D.

Stars: ****


Summary: The Bipolar Handbook comprehensively illuminates every area of the disorder by drawing upon the real questions asked by patients and families during the nearly twenty years that Dr. Wes Burgess has worked as a bipolar specialist.

So what's covered exactly?

• Basics of Bipolar (types, mania, depression, mixed-state, cycling etc....)
• Healthy Life Changes (stress reduction, sleeping, nutrition, weight loss, vitamins/herbs/supplements, exercise, caffeine/alcohol/drugs/tobacco, health fads etc....)
• Medical Treatment (info and common questions on meds used for Bipolar - mood stabilizers, anti psychotics, anti anxiety + seldom used meds, new meds, treatments without meds, meds that make bipolar worse and seizures with depression.
• Finding the Right Doctor
• Psychotherapy (types and their differences, benefits, choosing a therapist, 4 stages of Bipolar recovery etc....)
• Strategies for Career Success (choosing a career, interviewing, decreasing stress, dealing with supervisors and coworkers, boundary issues, work attitudes, disability etc....)
• Healthy Relationships (conversation, socializing, love, sex, anger/jealousy, fantasies/obsessions, social boundaries, finding the right partner, etc...)
• Women's Issues (Bipolar premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, women's sex issues, hormone supplementation, bipolar women in abusive relationships
• Crisis Management (family and friends, warning signs of crises, psychosis, hospitalization, etc...)
• Resources (websites/forums/groups, services/organizations, US health information, books, etc....)
• Official DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Mania and Atypical Depression and NIMH list of symptoms of mania, combined bipolar and unipolar depression and psychosis.

That's a lot crammed into one book but each section (except the last two which are Appendices) are made up of questions and answer from Dr. Burgess's own patients and families. For example some of the questions in the Bipolar Basics section are:

"What does the name "bipolar disorder" mean?, If I have bipolar disorder, how much of my life will I actually be sick?, Does bipolar disorder cause physical health problems, Can I be hopeful about my future, Why do you talk about bipolar disorder like it is a disease? I think I am a normal person?"

In the section on medications, there are a bunch of questions under each med listed. For example under Lamotrigine (Lamictal) some of the questions are:

"How do you decide when to prescribe lamotrigine?, What are the usual side effects of lamotrigine?, Does lamotrigine cause weight gain? "

I can't say whether the career part was helpful as I don't have a job of any kind. The section on disability was very short and isn't US specific which was nice. The book has helped me understand a few things better (I have bipolar) and inspired some questions that I asked my doctor about to clarify. The book was written in 2006 but as of today, only two of the links listed no longer work, which is great. Personally I can think of a few better sites to go to then was listed but it's a good start.

Buy The Bipolar Handbook from Amazon.com
Dr. Wes also published The Bipolar Handbook for Children, Teens and Families - buy from Amazon.com
Dr. Wes Burgess's Website (info on his practice as well as short articles on mental health issues)

Other Reviews

Fear and Anxiety

Start Talking: A Girls' Guide for You and Your Mom about Health, Sex or Whatever by Mary Jo Rapini & Janine Sherman

Day One - Review

Stars: ****1/2

Non-fiction
Bayou Publishing November 2008
ISBN: 978-1-886298-31-6

200 pages
Book One of the Talk at the Table Series

Ages 10 and up

Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You and Your Mom about Health, Sex or Whatever [an inside look at the details even she doesn't know] is a guide for a teen or preteen girl and her mom to read together and discuss together. The following is from the Press Release:

"To help girls - and their moms, psychotherapist Mary Jo Rapini (of TLC's new series Big Medicine) and OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner Janine J. Sherman have assembled more than 113 questions girls (and their moms) routinely ask - or should be asking - about topics ranging from periods and sex to self esteem and dating. In Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You and Your Mom about Health, Sex or Whatever, Rapini and Sherman share succinct yet lively answers, sample conversations, and real life stories that will help open the door to better mother/daughter communication." - Press Release from KSB Promotions

I was quite impressed with this book. For each subject, the authors talk to both the daughters and the mothers and encourages each to read the other's section too. One quick note that is very important: Although this book says it's for mothers, it works just as well for whoever the main women may be in a family. If a girl is being raised by a Grandmother or Aunt or Foster Mom, it doesn't matter, this book is still right for that duo.

The book covers sensitive subjects such as periods, sex, birth control, dating, rape, how our body works, STDs, having "sacro" relationships, following your passions

With each section, you will find cover information, then Daughter Questions (questions from real daughters with real answers), then Mom Questions (ditto), then Table Talk (an example of how a conversation might go) and then discussion questions (questions to help you get the conversation going.) All throughout this are real life stories and illustrations as needed.

The authors talk as one. What I mean is that they don't identify who specifically is talking throughout the book. At first I didn't think this was a good idea but now I do. You don't want to be thinking about how this information came from a nurse and this came from a sex therapist. You just want to focus on what the information is. Both authors know what they are talking about and together, they make an excellent duo.

The sample conversations are really good, for the most part, even if the answers don't come out exactly like the book shows, you will know where to go from there. That's why the book is called Start Talking. It's designed to "set the table" and get you to "start talking" with your daughter/mother about these serious issues. There were a few times though that I thought the mom or daughter in the book was taking things way too easily.

"This book has made me stronger. It gave me back my mom, because it made her stronger, too." - Elen Eisner, High School Student

That quote was from some early praise for the book. I think the authors stumbled upon this idea at a great time. In the 21st century, we are becoming more accustomed to discussing what used to be sensitive matters. However we seem to still have trouble talking about these issues with our family, those who are closest to us. We can joke about sex and periods with our friends but when it comes time to talk seriously about them with our family, forget it.

For now I'd like to leave you with the link for the book: http://starttalkingbook.com/

Shattered Reality by Kimberly Cheryl

Stars: ***1/2

This review is part of the Pump Up Your Book Blog Tour.

Shattered Reality is the story of when the author found out her daughter was being sexually abused by an Uncle. Although we hear from the daughter at one point, the book is mostly by the mother. It starts on the "Day of Disclosure" and ends in the present, while waiting for some closure. After the story is many pages of information on Sexual Abuse and PTSD.

I read this book in 2 1/2 hours with a few stops in between to put children to bed and make a snack. I haven't done that in a while. Unlike other books about abuse, this one is written as if the author is standing on a soapbox in front of a group of people, stating her case and trying to convince us of something. Which in a way she is. The last few chapters and the startling statistics at the end show up what a horrible job the U.S. Judicial system is doing with sexual abuse cases. (I'm guessing it's not much better in Canada, but please enlighten me as I don't know the specifics.)

The way Kimberly writes, it really draws you in and gets you upset too. In fact as someone who is struggling with mental health myself, it probably wasn't a book I should have read, only because of the strong emotions that were brought out.

Pages 113 - 160 are all information. It started off well with statistics and answers to common questions such as what are the signs of CSA (Child Sexual Abuse), why don't the children tell someone about CSA, destructive behaviours as a result of CSA (how they react when they are older), how to minimize the risk of CSA in daycare and most importantly, what to do if your child discloses CSA.

However the second section continues on, and on, and on with medical information on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I understand it's a common issue with those who have gone through abuse but I don't think it was this book's job to go over the common treatments for PTSD and in such detail. Honestly the last 20 pages bore me. If I'm reading Shattered Reality because I have an interest in abuse cases, the PTSD does not apply to me. If I'm reading it because I or one of my family/friends has been a victim of CSA, then knowing about PTSD may be important but I would go to my doctor to find out more about it. I just think the last 20 pages were unnecessary.

With that said though, I think it is a good story to read, especially if you are victimized, know someone who was victimized, are a parent of someone who was victimized, are planning on working in the field to help those who were victimised or are a member of the U.S. Judicial System (or someone who is in a position to change it.)

About the Author: The author is also a marketing professional with a few other books under her belt and is founder and managing partner of Executive Defense Technology, LLC an anti-victimization firm. You can find out more by going to http://kimberlycheryl.net/ , http://execdefttech.com/ or http://myshatteredreality.com/ The third website has all kinds of information you may find helpful.

Win Prizes:
SHATTERED REALITY VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially begin on March 2 and end on March 31. You can visit Kimberly's blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in March to find out more about this great book and talented author!
As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.

My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff

Stars: *****

(Check back March 2 - 8/09 for a giveaway of this book!)

Summary: My Little Red Book is an anthology of stories about first periods, collected from women of all ages from around the world. The accounts range from light-hearted (the editor got hers while water skiing in a yellow bathing suit) to heart-stopping (a first period discovered just as one girl was about to be strip-searched by the Nazis). The contributors include well-known women writers (Meg Cabot, Erica Jong, Gloria Steinem, Cecily von Ziegesar), alongside today's teens. And while the authors differ in race, faith, or cultural background, their stories share a common bond: they are all accessible, deeply honest, and highly informative. Whatever a girl experiences or expects, she'll find stories that speak to her thoughts and feelings.

Female readers... do you remember your first period? I think most of us do. I don't remember it as well as some of the people in this book but I do remember the basics.

So why would you want to read about other's experiences getting their first period? A couple of reasons:

1. You are a preteen who hasn't gotten a period yet and you are nervous and/or curious about what you might expect.
2. You recently started your first period and feel the need to talk about it but have no one who will talk with you. Although the book won't talk back, I know it felt like I had a good talk with some fellow girls/women when I was done.
3. You're a mom of of a preteen who will be getting a period soon and you would like to be able to talk with her about it but you're not sure how to start. This book isn't a how to talk guide but just hearing what some girls thought because their parents didn't say anything should make you realize how important it is to say something, anything at all.
4. You're curious.

Personally I'm very interested in the subject of women's health and although my kids are no where near getting their period, I will be keeping this book until then. Perhaps it will come in handy with my nieces before that.

The book also has another purpose. Let me quote from the publishers:

Ultimately,it is more than a collection of stories. It is a call for a change in attitude, for a new way of seeing periods. In a time when the taboo around menstruation seems to be one of the few left standing, it makes a difficult subject easier to talk about, and helps girls feel proud instead of embarrassed or ashamed. By revealing what it feels like to undergo this experience first hand, and giving women the chance to explain their feelings in their own words, My Little Red Book aims to provide support, entertainment, and a starting point for discussion for mothers and daughters everywhere. It is a book every girl should have. Period.

At the back of the book, the stories are all separated into "kinds" of stories such as: All Alone, Disposal Challenges, Early Starts, International Stories, Judy Blume, Misconceptions, Old Wives' Tales and Vintage Stories. (The earliest story is from 1916.) The book also has a list of euphemisms (Aunt Flo, In My Moon, Riding the Red Wave etc.....) There's a short list of other books, websites and videos you can check out for more info and a great reading group guide. This book probably isn't the kind you'd think of at first for a group read but it would definitely provoke lots of discussion.

Other's Reviews

Worducopia has an interview with one of the contributing authors
At Home With Books

NOTE: Most people who reviewed this book did it as part of a book tour and so they all link to each other. So from At Home With Books you can find links to all the other reviews as part of the tour. I got a review copy but it was not part of a tour which is why I'm not linked in there.

The Survivor's Club: The Secrets and Science that Could Save Your Life by Ben Sherwood

Stars: *****

I received this book from Hatchette for review.

Summary: In tough times, who bounces back and who doesn’t? Who overcomes adversity and who gives up? And perhaps most important: What do survivors and thrivers know about beating the odds that the rest of us don’t? In search of answers, Ben immersed himself in the world of surviving and thriving.

This topic of The Survivor's Club really interests me. Ben says that everyone will be a survivor in their lifetime and it's true. Being a survivor isn't limited to things such as plane crashes or wars. It includes dealing with a dying parent or a car accident or coming back from having cancer. When I think of it that way, I've survived quite a few things already.

The book is all about learning why some people survive and other's don't and how you can use that knowledge to your benefit. It can be a little depressing at times but it's also very hopeful since it tells you how to be a better survivor.

In the summary it says "Ben immersed himself in the world of surviving and thriving." What does that mean? It means Ben subjected himself to dangerous situations with the help of trained professionals to learn about survival. He learned how to escape a sinking helicopter with the Navy, how to made a deadly weapon with a bandanna by the Air Force and how to run and jump from a smoke-filled airplane by the FAA. Now that's some research for your book.

Here are the chapter subtitles:
The Three Rules of The Survivors Club, Why So Many People Die When They Shouldn't, The Wrong (And Right) Things to Do in a Plane Crash, Who Lives and Who Dies in the ER, How Much of Life (and Death) Do You Really Control?, Prayer/Miracles and the Power of Faith, How Did Anyone Survive The Holocaust, Why Good Things Always Happen to the Same People, How Fear Can Save Your Life, Does the Will to Live Make Any Difference, Who Bounces Back and Who Doesn't and Why Adversity is Good For You.

Those are the chapters in Part 1. Part 2 is where you discover if you are a survivor. The website has a Survivor Profiler test that will help you discover your survivor personality and your top three strengths. You can only access it if you bought the book as you have to enter a code into the website to get to it. The chapters in Part 2 help you understand the results you get from your profiler. There is also the Prologue, Introduction, Afterword and Appendices that have extra information.

If you read the list of of chapters, you may have noticed there is a chapter on faith. Many people believe it was their faith in God that kept them alive so I can see why it needed to be covered. I was happy to see that the book was written from a fairly neutral standpoint. It seems the author believes that faith can make a difference but the chapter is still not biased. What wasn't covered as much as should have been, is the idea that faith helps them because they believe everything will turn out all right, not because an actual deity will help them. Whether or not that's true, it's still a theory.

Throughout the book are stories from real survivors such as The Central Park Jogger. Some of these stories were a bit hard to read but to think that they survived these atrocities, leads me to believe the human race is stronger than I thought.

Another thing that sparked my interest was that the chapter on Luck talks all about Richard Wiseman, who wrote Quirkology, a book I reviewed fairly recently and was my absolute top nonfiction book of 2008.
I especially liked the chapter on Plane Crashes and you can bet I'll be rereading that chapter a few times before I ever get on a plane. It has some good advice. There is advice on the best place to sit and clothes to wear and such but by far the most important advice is to LISTEN to instructions by the flight attendant EVEN if you've flown all your life, every week. NEVER fall asleep during takeoff or landing nor kickback with no shoes or pop a pill. You need to be ALERT to LIVE.

Be sure to check out the website, even if you don't have a copy of the book. It is full of LOTS of resources, not just the profiler test.

Other Reviews: Dreadlock Girl,  BermudaOnion's Weblog,

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