The Mission and Purpose of
this Book
Excerpted and adapted from the proposal to the publisher, Sept. 9, 2003:
The idea to do this book first came up a few years ago when Jane met with representatives of Health Communications, Inc.’s sales and editorial department to explore possible avenues for books for the teen market. Among our various discussions was the need for a book for kids who were having a hard time successfully navigating the various stresses of high school.
The original vision for this book included the intention to paint a realistic picture of what high school is all about from the students’ perspective. In addition, we want this book to offer hints and tips and practical strategies to serve as a roadmap—not just to help kids get through what is clearly a difficult time for some, but to get through it successfully.
I believe that we share the belief that the high school reality is a fairly artificial one, albeit one that can seem excruciatingly real and valid when you’re there. We hope to have a product that, in the end, not only provides a reality check for kids, but also offers assurance and guidance to make those years more positive.
We would also like to reassure kids, particularly those who are having a hard time with this period of their lives, that things do get better, and that the high school experience is not a definitive indication of the way the rest of their lives are likely to go.
In order to accomplish these goals, we see a book that is more anecdotal than didactic, with lots of stories, suggestions, quotes, ideas, activities and tips. Perhaps most importantly, we see the majority of the material included contributed by kids themselves, either those currently in high school or recent high school graduates.
We believe that this book needs to be a visually-appealing, easily-accessible experience—something validating, positive and upbeat, offering hope and concrete ideas along the way.
The market for this book is a broad one, including those kids who most obviously seem to be having a hard time in school, those most obviously at risk. We hope to create a product we can position for any student experiencing any form of marginalization, social pressure, isolation, depression, anger, self-destructiveness or simply the pressure to perform, conform or maintain a certain appearance, including less-obviously-troubled kids who would be likely to seek their comfort in print.
We also believe that this book will find support from counselors, educators and parents who wish to gain a better understanding of what the high school experience can be like, and to help kids through this time.
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© 2008, Jane Bluestein, Ph.D., Instructional Support Services, Inc.
Last updated on
September 13, 2004 10:42 PM
