Growing Up in Brazil

November 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-Teens will find relatable information about the lives of their global peers in this set. Each book opens with an "At a Glance" overview of the nation, followed by chapters that discuss the roles of young people with regard to family, school, work, social scenes, and religion. The authors openly discuss both the prospects and the challenges that adolescents face. Thought-provoking quotes from teens who live in and/or visit each country may help U.S. readers gain some perspective in their own lives. Topics include school pressure, family and societal responsibilities, sexuality, and gender roles, including political and cultural attitudes toward LGBTQ youth. While much of the series is refreshing, there are a few instances of questionable source material (quotes from the Daily Mail in Mexico), and in Canada there are just a handful of mentions of the First Nations, the largest being in reference to suicide. VERDICT This series will draw an audience beyond report writers and bears consideration.

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