Reviews
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:
In her new book, inspired by her AP story of the same name, Harpaz (The Girls in the Van) focuses on a year in the life of her 13-year-old son, nicknamed Taz. After his bar mitzvah, Taz crosses the bridge from the innocence of childhood into a world of iPods, baggy clothes, lewd song lyrics, questionable peers (he calls them “peeps”) and poor grades. Harpaz takes the change in stride, rifling through her son’s room for contraband (she’s not disappointed, finding a locked box of condoms and alcohol later revealed to be a “plant”), peering over his shoulder as he surfs MySpace and trying to figure out whether her rebellious child is normal or the result of her being a “Terrible Mother.” Readers follow Harpaz as she wrangles with such familiar topics as dragging a teen along on a vacation, homework and the all-consuming desire to be cool. Though the antics of an annoying teenager can be tedious-even for readers sympathetic to her situation-Harpaz has an engaging voice, and her outlook on everything from teen fashion to Facebook is fresh and funny. In spite of her insistence that she doesn’t fit in with the “Perfect Mommies,” she and Taz get through a challenging year without major mishaps and plenty of laughs.
ELLIS’ BOOK CLUB: She’s already AP travel editor and author of “The Girls in the Van,” a rollicking account of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s U.S Senate campaign. Oh yeah, and Beth Harpaz is Taz’s mom. It’s that last gig, easily the most perplexing, that’s inspired “13 Is the New 18 And Other Things My Children Taught Me While I Was Having a Nervous Breakdown Being Their Mother” (Random House/Crown). A hint to overwhelmed parents of teens everywhere: It is already too late to send ‘em back. These insights through the bewilderment may be your best defense. - from Ellis Henican column, AMNY, Feb. 8, 2009. http://www.amny.com/news/local/ny-nyhen086028268feb08,0,1187602.column
From MOMMYPOPPINS.COM: Brooklyn Mom, Beth Harpaz, has written a funny book about being a mom to a teenage boy in New York City called 13 is the New 18. Read excerpts that will make you LOL and if you’re wondering if she’s making it up that her kids have driven her crazy, watch her self-promotional videos.
From http://www.sheknows.com/articles/807652.htm:
This book is an honest, open look at what it’s really like to watch your child change and to confront some of the scariest things the world has to offer: drugs, alcohol, smelly socks, and expensive hair products. It’s funny. It’s bittersweet. It’s real. And you should read it. You should read it because Harpaz admits that she’s an imperfect mom. And she lets you know, gently, with love, that it’s okay for you to be one, too. And she shows you through this brief glimpse into her own life that imperfect moms can do amazing work.
Also, it’s funny. Really funny.
“BOOK OF THE WEEK” from ON TEENS TODAY: A book for any parent of teens–be they girls or boys–13 Is the New 18 is a delightfully comic foray into today’s increasingly widening generation gap and one mom’s attempt to figure it all out with little guidance and a whole lot of misplaced guilt.
Ten star must read book!, February 5, 2009| By | MotherLodeBeth “MotherLodeBeth” (Sierras of California) - |
Started reading the book in the eveings when re-runs of The Cosby Show were on, and as I read and then would watch the show, I was amazed at how the lessons being written about were so wise.
Especially liked Chapter 10 The Secret Lives of Teenagers, which speaks about parents who may have done some wild things when they were teenagers, but now as parents, assume their kids are different and dont do dumb stuff.
Chaper 8 was fun since I like the author, attended an all girls school, although mine was a boarding school. And as long as I can remember I wanted sons, and ended up with a lot of sons. It was fun reading how girlie the author had been and still was when she had her sons. Because she never was into sports and other male oriented interests. And how she changed so much after having sons.
Over all it is the fact she is such a wonderful and observant mother who actually listens to her kids. This may seem like something other would assume would be expected. And in many ways, it is expected, but sadly, also isnt done by many a parent.
This is why I recommend the book so highly. Because maybe in reading it, other parents and adults in general will learn something about what being an awesome adult is all about.
TCM Reviews: http://www.tcm-ca.com/reviews/2837.html
News Blaze review: http://newsblaze.com/story/20090204143100drca.nb/topstory.html