Posted on

TeenSpeak Atlanta – Allowances

ThePeopleInThePark_wsb11358_120

Teens in Fayetteville, a south suburb of Atlanta, are reading The People In The Park and talking allowances.  Their reaction to  Lauren’s father being arrested, his bank accounts being frozen,  placing his daughter on a $100 a week spending budget, and taking away her credit cards is sparking lively conversation.

Most teens in Fayetteville do not receive an allowance.  They got one when they were younger and just learning about money.  As they grew into their pre-teen years there wasn’t a need for allowances because their needs varied from week to week.

By the time they reached their teens it was understood that their needs would be met.

Teens thought that Lauren was being unreasonable and complaining about having to get by on $100 a week.  “Lauren needs to learn that family is more important than money,” says Christina.

Dani says she could spread $100 over 3 weeks if she had to cut back.  She goes on to say, “It was great Lauren’s father got in trouble because Lauren needed to learn how to exhibit discipline in how she spends money.”

Leslie considers herself a really smart shopper.  She actually makes her own clothes.  Therefore Leslie says, “I wouldn’t spend $100 a week.  I would keep it in my bank account because I wouldn’t know how long it would be before things returned to normal.”  Leslie thinks if she had to cut back she could get by on $10 a week.  “If someone needs $100 a week to get by, they are really using it on stuff they don’t need.”

Posted on

TeenSpeak Houston – Allowances

Teens in Sugar Land, a south suburb of Houston, talked about allowances recently.  Teen reporter Zariah and her friends discussed how much money they need to get through a week.  The discussion was prompted by a section in my YA novel, The People In The Park.  The following conversation takes place between 16-year-old Lauren (Kitten) and her father when he informs the family that they will have to cut back on their spending:

“We’re going to have to downsize for the moment,” he said.  “I’ll need whatever money I can scrape together to hire lawyers.  Kitten, you still have your personal savings account.  Use it wisely, because I don’t know how long it’s going to be before I can clear my name.  Try not to use over one hundred dollars a week.”

One hundred dollars a week?  That was nothing.  I couldn’t get by on one hundred dollars a week.

“And don’t use your credit cards.  Give them to me.”  He held out his hand.  “I’ll return them when it’s okay to use them again.”

Stunned, I opened my wallet and handed him my credit cards.  “My gas card, too?”

He nodded.  “You’re going to have to pay for gas out of the hundred dollars.”

“After paying for gas and lunch I’ll barely have any money left.”

“This is only temporary.  We all have to make sacrifices.”

Teens in Sugar Land had a strong reaction to this conversation.  Most teens thought that spending less than $100 a week wouldn’t cause undue hardship.

Zariah says, “WOW!!  It’s very fortunate to have that much money.  Spending less than $100 a week is easy.”  She goes on to say that she does not have a weekly allowance and has never had to cut back on the money she spends.   If she really wants something most of the time she can get it by doing extra things at home.  She ends by saying, “It would be challenging to cut back because I wouldn’t be able to get the things I want.  But cutting back for Lauren is good.  She will learn how to spend money wisely.”

However, Miranda has an allowance of $50 a week.  She says, “If I got $100 a week I would save $50 or spend it on shoes or treat myself to something.  It depends on what’s going on that week.” She has never had to cut back on spending.

Another friend states, “I can identify with Lauren.  Spending less than $100 a week isn’t enough for me to get what I want.  I wouldn’t be able to do that!”

Zariah and friends cannot imagine not having the means to purchase what they want whether they have an allowance or not.   They can sympathize with Lauren regardless of the amount of money they receive weekly because they have never had to cut back and cannot imagine how their world would change.

cash[1]

Posted on

The People In The Park – A Novel For Teens

A couple of years ago my nieces were visiting and the topic turned to the books they were reading.  They hesitantly named books they had read.  Then they became quiet.  After a moment they lamented that it was hard to find books to read with characters they could identify with.  Books with characters like them.

african-american-teenage-girls_dark_skin_lightskin_suspendedmore

They’re great students with good grades.  They’re intelligent young ladies preparing for college.  They lead well-rounded lives with a lot going on.

But they can’t find books with characters like them!

They’re:

– leaders

– sassy

– smart

– trendy

– feisty

– fun-loving

– thoughtful

– well-versed in the issues of the day

Yet they can’t find books with characters like them.

They hurt.  They mourn.  They have disappointments.  They have crushes.  Their hearts are broken.  They have conflicts with parents.

African-American teens are no different from other teens, sharing common experiences.  Teens are complex beings, leaving childhood behind and on the verge of adulthood.  There is more than one thing going on in their lives at any given time.

They navigate:

– friends

– family

– school

– extracurricular activities

– church

– community

However, they can’t find books with characters like them.

African-American teens live in a diverse society – a world inhabited by people of many cultures.  They navigate this world every day.

They should be able to read about those experiences.

So to my nieces and all teens who can’t find books with characters like them, here is The People In The Park, with love!

Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine

 

Book Blurb:

Lauren Moffit is privileged and overprotected by her wealthy parents.  She is one of the few African-American students in a prestigious prep school in a predominately white neighborhood.  The world is her oyster.

Nothing can prepare her for the devastating scandal that rocks her world when her father is charged with investment fraud.  Spoiled and self-centered, she struggles to keep her head high.  But it’s not until she hears the stories of the people in the park, where she takes her daily run, that Lauren realizes she can rise above her family ‘situation.’

Discover how Lauren rises above scandal and shame in The People In The Park