I Wrote on All Four Walls: Teens Speak Out on Violence

"Nine teens share their experiences with violence." The explosive teenage years can make young people more prone to violence...and more vulnerable. The accounts in I Wrote on all Four Walls are authentic and riveting. Sixteen-year-old Janice finds herself the target of cyber-bullying and physical intimidation at school. Allan remembers coming out at age fourteen and learning that safety can be as much about who you know as who you are. Don at age eight terrorized his younger brother, an aggression that escalated into the torture of another boy at fifteen. I Wrote on all Four Walls collects the harrowing stories of nine contemporary teenagers who have witnessed, been the victim of, or instigated acts of violence... sometimes all three. In their own words, these teens offer thoughtful testimony on how such experiences have impacted on their lives, and their choices in dealing with those repercussions. Each experience is as unique and complex as the teens themselves. But one common element is clear: violence builds walls, and these teens want to speak up and break out. I Wrote on all Four Walls also includes an afterword by youth services specialist Dr. Fred Matthews, an internationally respected authority on teen violence. Dr. Matthews, a community psychologist and Director of Research and Program Development at Central Toronto Youth Services, explores how both victims and perpetrators can come to terms with violent events and gain control of their lives.

About the Author :
Fran Fearnley, a former editor-in-chief for "Today's Parent" magazine, also taught high school and spent six years as a public school trustee.

Review :
Accounts zero in on settings where the young must struggle to achieve a life that approaches normal... The book should be helpful to those who may be victims, and informative and enlightening for those who are not.--Phyllis LaMontagne"Kliatt" (09/01/2005) Raw and often shocking... Not always easy to read because of their visceral honesty and authenticity, at the same time these are stories of survival, hope and courage.--Sandy Naiman"Toronto Sun" (07/03/2005) Remarkable collection... This book is exceptionally engrossing, and the interviews are unforgettable... It is highly recommended for libraries serving older teens.--Sherrie Williams"VOYA" (04/01/2005) These are not chicken-soup stories... a useful tool for counselors and others who work with teens in extreme situations, or given to parents who are in family counseling.--Karen Hoth"School Library Journal" (03/01/2005) This is violence as told from the point of view of the kids and teens experiencing it. The language and descriptions are extremely graphic and will likely be very disturbing, but may offer hope to teens who may not know that there are others who have been in the same situation, or how to begin to deal with such immense problems. Nine teens tell very different and shocking tales. Mitigating factors vary widely: cultural implications, coming out, familial histories of drugs, violence and disorders. The shared factor remains the violence itself, but readers will be very interested in where that violence leads the teenagers and the choices they make in dealing with it. ...This is much more a book for bibliotherapy or awareness than pleasure reading, but it will give its readers a greater understanding of the astounding difficulties faced by some teenagers in modern society. Recommended.--Betty Fraser"Canadian Materials" (01/21/2005) Ultimately a hopeful book as they do survive... This is powerful, raw emotions from kids you'll not soon forget.--Wendy Kitts"Canadian Children's Book News" (04/01/2005) Raw and often shocking... these are stories of survival, hope and courage.--Sandy Naiman"Toronto Sun" (07/03/2005) Remarkable... This book is exceptionally engrossing, and the interviews are unforgettable... It is highly recommended for libraries serving older teens.--Sherrie Williams"VOYA" (04/01/2005) The book should be helpful to those who may be victims, and informative and enlightening for those who are not.--Phyllis LaMontagne"Kliatt" (09/01/2005) The book] will give its readers a greater understanding of the astounding difficulties faced by some teenagers in modern society. Recommended.--Betty Fraser"Canadian Materials" (01/21/2005)