Sex, Brains, and Video Games

July 1, 2017

This revised and expanded second edition is a fresh examination of current research on adolescence, reading almost like an entirely new book, though some material remains the same. The opening chapter debunks five popular myths. Don't all teens hate their parents? Apparently not. A new chapter takes on diversity and the changing and multiple identities of teens. Whereas the first edition merely mentioned "homosexuality" in passing, this title contains a section on sex and sexualities that includes LGBTQ youth. Drawing on the latest studies, Pierce also considers brain development and media use and navigation. The concluding chapter provides a brief wrap-up and call for librarians to translate these findings into quality services. This is not a guidebook with step-by-step instructions for updating teen services; rather, it presents information for librarians to use as they come to their own conclusions about what today's teens need and want from their library. The content here is valuable though not exhaustive, and like any work that analyzes current research, the volume was outdated the minute it went to print. Appendixes offer essential reading for young adult librarians as well as readings on leading and managing youth services. VERDICT Read this to catch up on the research, but be sure to consult other sources as new information emerges.-Heather Acerro, Rochester Public Library, MN

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