The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens

June 2, 1997
An investment guide from the creators of AOL's The Motley Fool.

July 22, 2002
Gr 9 Up-The authors create plenty of appeal to teens with many references to current popular culture and a generally irreverent, sometimes self-mocking tone. All the while they dispense some decidedly old-fashioned advice: set goals, save, take advantage of compound interest by beginning young, etc. Organizing their advice into eight steps, they promise substantial rewards for following it, along with the dictates of common sense. For example, in step four, "Avoid Financial Blunders," they advise readers to refrain from smoking, gambling (including the lottery), get-rich-quick schemes, and "poor purchase decisions," but devote half the pages to the biggest problem affluent teens face, the "Credit Card Death Spiral." They do promote their own Web-based service, which readers can try out for free. With so many competing books on the market, the Gardners are wise to rely on their strengths: their well-known and well-established name in the investment-advice industry and their insouciant attitude. They provide more in-depth advice, in more attractive and effective language, than the standard works, such as Jay Liebowitz's Wall Street Wizard (S & S, 2000).-Jonathan Betz-Zall, City University Library, Everett, WA

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.