Book Description
All teens wrestle with the question "Who am I?" and wonder, What makes me special?Though these questions linger for life, they are most intense in the teen years, where confusion, awkwardness, and a desperate grab for identity reign. So how does a young person answer these critical questions? Where do young men and women find their significance, worth, and value?
True Identity is perfect for parents and youth workers to give to the teenagers (14-16) in their lives to help them in their journey. Drawing on experiences and wisdom from a wide array of experts, the book provides compassionate answers to help teens discover who they really are, emphasizing their identity in Christ above all other ways our culture defines them. As the book walks teens through the steps to make their faith their own, it highlights healthy independence and God-honoring relationships.
The Passport2Identity curriculum launched in April 2016, and True Identity is its trade book companion.
True Identity is perfect for parents and youth workers to give to the teenagers (14-16) in their lives to help them in their journey. Drawing on experiences and wisdom from a wide array of experts, the book provides compassionate answers to help teens discover who they really are, emphasizing their identity in Christ above all other ways our culture defines them. As the book walks teens through the steps to make their faith their own, it highlights healthy independence and God-honoring relationships.
The Passport2Identity curriculum launched in April 2016, and True Identity is its trade book companion.
Review
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Thank you Bethany House for sharing with me.
Here is my honest review.
Here is my honest review.
First and foremost, this is a book written for teens; I am well into adulthood yet found this book to a relevant and thoughtful examination of major issues that young people face as they race toward adulthood. As I was reading, I kept thinking "Where were books like this thirty years ago?" If they existed, they certainly weren't on the radar for those in my youth group or the adults guiding us.
With teenagers, broaching honest, thought-provoking topics can sometimes be difficult. Majors addresses one of the critical questions we all ask ourselves: "Who Am I?" and breaks our identity down into four broad compartments before dividing them further in sub-categories. He then addresses each of these elements not from the perspective that is culturally popular at the moment, but rather from the viewpoint of our relationship with Christ.
If you parent a teenager or have a child that will soon be facing these years fraught with angst and confusion, this is a great book to read. Then share it with your son or daughter, inviting them to read it with you and share their thoughts and reactions. It can open conversations in a non-threatening way which is really crucial to having heart-to-heart (two-sided) talks with a young adult.
The four identities explored in this book are: Gender Identity, Spiritual Identity, Relational Identity and Missional Identity. I first thought Majors was too general, skimming the surface even, as he addressed the components of identity. As I continued to read, I realized that it wasn't an in-depth exploration - and that was a good thing. It would be very easy the message to come across as preachy, a sure-fire way to close the door to frank discussion. Additionally, the author is laying groundwork on a topic while allowing room for the reader to continue the thought process and arrive at conclusions that are their own. This is exactly where teenagers are at during this point in their life; they have to determine if they believe what they've been taught and why - or if they disagree and why. This book is a great guide to exploring basic principles of Christianity and how that shapes us and the decisions we make about how we live our lives.
This is not to imply that the book lacks honest, well-laid out truth. It does.For example, True Identity takes a very clear and concise stance on purity outside of marriage with Biblical references as well as psychological reasoning for radical abstinence. With adult perspective and experience, I know that Majors is correct in all the reasons he gives for refraining from premarital sex. Unwanted pregnancy is mentioned but it isn't the strongest case he makes for purity: sex is more than just physical pleasure. His arguments are well-thought out, easily presented and far more compelling argument for teenagers to actually consider than just don't do it.
Personally, there was one area that I found lacking in the book. Majors spends quite a bit of time exploring relationships, which is vitally important to the development of anyone. He is correct in that teenagers are spending more time with peers and other adults in their world than they are with their parents and family. I know that this is part of the process of growing up and is essential to real maturity taking place. But after that explanation, the focus is spent on relationships with peers, finding quality mentors and finally dating. I wish there had been more emphasis placed on maintaining and growing relationship with your parents. While Majors does address specific concerns and advises the reader to discuss it with their parents, there is no significant page space given to the shift that begins to occur in how to relate to your parents at this age and as responsibility and independence grows.
This book will remain on our shelves for a few years until my son is a teenager; it's certainly a book I will encourage him to read and discuss.
With teenagers, broaching honest, thought-provoking topics can sometimes be difficult. Majors addresses one of the critical questions we all ask ourselves: "Who Am I?" and breaks our identity down into four broad compartments before dividing them further in sub-categories. He then addresses each of these elements not from the perspective that is culturally popular at the moment, but rather from the viewpoint of our relationship with Christ.
If you parent a teenager or have a child that will soon be facing these years fraught with angst and confusion, this is a great book to read. Then share it with your son or daughter, inviting them to read it with you and share their thoughts and reactions. It can open conversations in a non-threatening way which is really crucial to having heart-to-heart (two-sided) talks with a young adult.
The four identities explored in this book are: Gender Identity, Spiritual Identity, Relational Identity and Missional Identity. I first thought Majors was too general, skimming the surface even, as he addressed the components of identity. As I continued to read, I realized that it wasn't an in-depth exploration - and that was a good thing. It would be very easy the message to come across as preachy, a sure-fire way to close the door to frank discussion. Additionally, the author is laying groundwork on a topic while allowing room for the reader to continue the thought process and arrive at conclusions that are their own. This is exactly where teenagers are at during this point in their life; they have to determine if they believe what they've been taught and why - or if they disagree and why. This book is a great guide to exploring basic principles of Christianity and how that shapes us and the decisions we make about how we live our lives.
This is not to imply that the book lacks honest, well-laid out truth. It does.For example, True Identity takes a very clear and concise stance on purity outside of marriage with Biblical references as well as psychological reasoning for radical abstinence. With adult perspective and experience, I know that Majors is correct in all the reasons he gives for refraining from premarital sex. Unwanted pregnancy is mentioned but it isn't the strongest case he makes for purity: sex is more than just physical pleasure. His arguments are well-thought out, easily presented and far more compelling argument for teenagers to actually consider than just don't do it.
Personally, there was one area that I found lacking in the book. Majors spends quite a bit of time exploring relationships, which is vitally important to the development of anyone. He is correct in that teenagers are spending more time with peers and other adults in their world than they are with their parents and family. I know that this is part of the process of growing up and is essential to real maturity taking place. But after that explanation, the focus is spent on relationships with peers, finding quality mentors and finally dating. I wish there had been more emphasis placed on maintaining and growing relationship with your parents. While Majors does address specific concerns and advises the reader to discuss it with their parents, there is no significant page space given to the shift that begins to occur in how to relate to your parents at this age and as responsibility and independence grows.
This book will remain on our shelves for a few years until my son is a teenager; it's certainly a book I will encourage him to read and discuss.
I gave this book: ★★★★
★ = I did not like it ★★ = It was okay ★★★ = I liked it
★★★★ = I really liked it ★★★★★ = I loved it
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