From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up. Some things get better and better, and this well-designed revision of a 1987 title is one sterling example. Aimed at secondary students, the book is so well done and so useful in terms of the explanations, answers, resources, and insights it provides that parents and teachers will also find it to be a fascinating and valuable resource. Discussions include definitions of giftedness; IQ tests and testing; perfectionism; self-assertion in educational surroundings; goal setting; relationships with parents, teachers, and peers; general concerns of adolescence; gender and ethnic considerations of giftedness; choosing a college; teen suicide, especially among gifted and talented students; and a host of other issues. The revisions are based in large part on the thousands of responses the authors received from a questionnaire administered to gifted students both in the U.S. and abroad, and one of the strongest features is the many "Gifted People Speak Out" reports found throughout. These personal testimonies add enormous credibility to the project. Gifted Kids tackles head-on the mystery and confusion that often surround the use of the word "gifted." Historical context and evolving, even contradictory, definitions of giftedness are explained in an expository style that is fresh and appealing. The abundant self-check quizzes make the book refreshingly interactive. The text is topped off with a useful list of additional resources, including web sites. A superior resource that provides so many fine ideas and fresh insights that it clearly has the potential to transform lives.?Jerry D. Flack, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
by James T. Webb
