IF... Questions for Teens - Hardcover

Evelyn MacFarlane was born in Brooklyn and grew up in San Diego. She received a degree in architecture from Cornell University and has worked in New York and Boston as an architect. She now lives in Florence, Italy. In addition to writing, she lectures on architecture for the Elder Hostel programs and is a full-time student at the Florence Academy of Art. James Saywell was born in Canada and lived in Asia as a child. Besides questions, he designs buildings and furniture. He divides his time between the United States and Italy.

Introduction

It’s either the best period of your life or the worst—usually both. It’s either the coolest age to be, or the one you can’t wait to grow out of. No one understands you, and too many people seem intent on trying to get you to live your life their way. Our teenage years are some of the most challenging of our lives. But of course they are also great fun. Privacy. Freedom. Respect. Responsibility. Trust. Money. Why won’t they give you a bit more? Are you an adult? A kid? A hormonal stew? A future world-saver? All of the above? Love. Looks. Brains. Talent. School. Sports. Piercings. The Web. Music. What’s important to teenagers? Anything? Everything equally? Do you know what’s going on? Do you know where you’re going or where you’re coming from? Do you know what kind of person you want to be or what kind of life you want to create for yourself?

If . . . is a book, a game, or even a journal to start you asking questions of yourself, of your best friend, on a date or at a party. Try to guess people’s answers first; fill in the margins of the book with your own new questions; send out a juicy one on the Internet and collect great replies; or have your friends write down their answers on the pages to look back on later in life. Make it an adventure!

Who are you?

The world will be yours, so it might be a good idea to find out.

And the answers are all there, behind the door that is you.

Just inside.

Open it . . .