Teen Brain, Teen Mind By Dr. Ron Clavier      Key Porter Books 2005 Adolescence is often a mystery – both to parents and to the teens themselves. Dr. Ron Clavier has done a wonderful job of demystifying the subject in this new book which is subtitled “What Parents Need to Know to Survive the Adolescent Years”. Dr. Clavier is a Toronto psychologist who combines years of clinical experience, calm wisdom for parents and a very hip understanding of teenagers. The result is a book that's easy and fun to read, is filled with helpful insights and is full of spot-on anecdotes and case studies that any parent will immediately recognize. It also has a wealth of advice for addressing problems and talking to kids. Full Disclosure: Dr. Clavier and I have the same publisher. My enthusiasm for this book is totally unrelated to that happy coincidence. A major strength of the book is that it explains behavior in terms of normal brain development, showing what happens when kids reach the teen years and why there's so much turmoil. The major brain change is the shift from concrete thought to abstract thought. Where pre-teens take everything literally, teens begin to realize there are several ways of interpreting things. This opens up a whole new world for them that is both exciting and confusing. Neurophysiology also explains why teens get into risk-taking activities. It's because the area of the brain relating to judgment and evaluating consequences is the last to develop. Dr. Clavier talks about parenting philosophy, including the importance of democracy and honesty in families. He explains that curiosity is both a natural and a necessary characteristic of childhood. He distinguishes between morality (which changes over time) and ethics (which do not change). He explains why teens place a higher value on the culture of their peers than that of their parents, and why this is necessary and appropriate (clue: their peers are the group they'll be living with and relating to for the rest of their lives). It all makes for fascinating reading, explaining so many of the problems that perplex parents. There are separate chapters on each of “The Big Three” – alcohol, drugs and sex; a chapter on teenage underachieving – distinguishing between kids who are unable from those who are unwilling – and exploring why kids subconsciously sabotage themselves; and another chapter on the difference between “normal” teen moods and mental illness. For straight talk, important insights and practical advice combined with warmth, wisdom and humor, look no further than Teen Brain,Teen Mind. It's a great read.