From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up-This is a book that makes every attempt to be young, hip, and of-the-moment, and largely succeeds. A cartoon character that provides a running, sardonic commentary on the text and intentionally lame humor both contribute to a playful tone likely to appeal to the intended audience. The information provided, on the other hand, is, for the most part, sound and clearly presented. There are discussions of such topics as building relationships, dealing with peer pressure, the effects of alcohol and other drugs, bullying, and, of course, sex. A list of slang terms for masturbation, brief instructions on how to masturbate, and the opinion that "Looking at the occasional porn magazine is natural and fine" are likely to prove unsettling in some quarters. Libraries that acquire this title should be prepared to deal with potential objections.Richard Luzer, Fair Haven Union High School, VT Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Without being overly earnest or condescending, this American version of the 1997 British book Boys Behaving Badly is frank in both language and description as it tackles everything from asking a girl out to demystifying the emotional and physical minefield of adolescence--from pimples to pornography. Daldry's tone is irreverent and warmly sarcastic as he trashes myths about masturbation ("It won't make you go crazy or blind") and homosexuality ("It doesn't mean that you have to start wearing women's underwear") and helps readers cope with being dumped, having mood swings, the temptations of drugs, and finding out that their mothers know about their stash of porn magazines. Cartoon illustrations and the use of a variety of typefaces enhance both the humor and the message. Important phrases leap off the page, mimicking the exaggerated, emotional conversations that rocket through middle-school hallways, and the captioned remarks of the two cartoon teens--one jaded, the other naive--talk straight to Daldry, asking him questions and responding to his advice. Daldry also includes a list of helpful organizations. Expect to replace this every year as it's certain to disintegrate from furious use or simply vanish from the shelf. Randy Meyer


From Kirkus Reviews
This assemblage of glib advice and conventional wisdom tries too hard to be cool as it fills a few potholes on the adolescence autobahn. The first half covers dating, from first words to breaking up; the second, a sheaf of topics including body changes, emotional ups and downs, masturbation, fighting (``Simply walk away''), and the dangers of using (legal and illegal) drugs. The text is strewn with side comments in balloons, wisecracking cartoon heads, and randomexhaustingchanges of typeface. The book concludes with a digestible set of phone numbers and URLs. Daldry provides more reassurance than information, which may be just the ticket for readers with short attention spans but makes this no alternative to Karen Gravelle's What's Going On Down There? (1998) and like Baedekers. (Nonfiction. 12-14) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Card catalog description
A humorous guide for boys ages ten to fourteen, offering advice on dating, sex, body changes, and social life.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
Girls just have too many advantages. Have you seen the covers of Seventeen Magazine or YM lately? "Does He Like You? 10 Ways to Know" or "What Is He Really Thinking On Your First Date" or "When to Kiss and Tell." It's enough to leave a guy feeling pretty outgunned! But cheer up, fellas. The new book The Teenage Guy's Survival Guide has just leveled the battlefield! Full of advice on everything from asking a girl out to picking clothes, managing all the changes in your body to the rigors of the social scene, The Teenage Guy's Survival Guide is packed not just with information, but with guidance.

Chapter 1 takes on the most perplexing and important area, "Surviving Love and Sex," and begins where we all begin: How can you tell if she likes you? There are little signs, and Daldry outlines them for us: She blushes, or starts to play with her hair; she smiles when she sees you coming and "accidentally" touches you on the hand or leg when you leave; she laughs at your lame jokes, asks tons of questions about you, and then listens really closely to whatever you've got to say. But figuring out whether or not she likes you isn't the biggest hurdle: there's The Date. Daldry offers "some basic asking-out rules" followed by guidelines for the big day or night (have an idea of where to go, think about the money issue beforehand, and talk). And this book doesn't gloss over major points like how to know when, where, and if the kiss should happen!

As if tackling the external challenges weren't enough, there are all sorts of things happening inside your body, and TheTeenage Guy's Survival Guide confronts these as well. Daldry walks you through your first shave, complexion woes, body odor issues, changing voices, and...more private areas, if you get my drift. And just as important as all the physical stuff are the mental ups and downs that are part of being a teenager. This book examines ways to deal with depression, loneliness, and general mood swings, and stresses the importance of maintaining a sense of humor. Daldry acknowledges that there are times when you may feel bad, but shows you constuctive ways to deal with those feelings.

The Teenage Guy's Survival Guide is a fun read and a great way to worry less and begin enjoying yourself more. So girls — look out!

—David Brenner

ANNOTATION

A humorous guide for boys ages ten to fourteen, offering advice on dating, sex, body changes, and social life.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Susie Wilde

Daldry sheds light on relationships in The Teenage Guy's Survival Guide. You know the title means business when you read the table of contents. No subject is too small, or too scary for the author. He offers information about dates, kissing, conquests, dumping, being dumped, shaving, being stinky, wet dreams, failure, depression...and more. The book delivers on the promise with a style that's conversational, informational, graphically playful, honest, humorous and practical.

Children's Literature - Ellen R. Braaf

This self-proclaimed "real deal on girls, growing up, and other guy stuff" is a concise, practical guide to love, sex, puberty, and the teenage social scene. It answers the questions--How do you ask out a girl? What do you do if she says no? How do you make a relationship work? And, what do you do when it ends? Daldry talks his readers through a good night kiss and their first shave. He reminds boys that during puberty their hormones are "on full party mode," and he explores the impact of this "hormone riot" on their developing bodies. He talks about "being stinky" ("Aftershave is not a substitute for washing."), getting pimples, and the appearance of body hair (you won't become "...a walking carpet in a matter of days."). Broad in scope, this guide also addresses tough issues--drugs, homosexuality, STDs, and contraception with intelligence and empathy. Daldry's irreverence, sarcasm, and humor will appeal to teenage readers. The use of cartoons, ballooned quips, and a variety of informal typefaces yields the printed equivalent of a brotherly chat.

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-This is a book that makes every attempt to be young, hip, and of-the-moment, and largely succeeds. A cartoon character that provides a running, sardonic commentary on the text and intentionally lame humor both contribute to a playful tone likely to appeal to the intended audience. The information provided, on the other hand, is, for the most part, sound and clearly presented. There are discussions of such topics as building relationships, dealing with peer pressure, the effects of alcohol and other drugs, bullying, and, of course, sex. A list of slang terms for masturbation, brief instructions on how to masturbate, and the opinion that "Looking at the occasional porn magazine is natural and fine" are likely to prove unsettling in some quarters. Libraries that acquire this title should be prepared to deal with potential objections.-Richard Luzer, Fair Haven Union High School, VT Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

This assemblage of glib advice and conventional wisdom tries too hard to be cool as it fills a few potholes on the adolescence autobahn. The first half covers dating, from first words to breaking up; the second, a sheaf of topics including body changes, emotional ups and downs, masturbation, fighting ("Simply walk away"), and the dangers of using (legal and illegal) drugs. The text is strewn with side comments in balloons, wisecracking cartoon heads, and random—exhausting—changes of typeface. The book concludes with a digestible set of phone numbers and URLs. Daldry provides more reassurance than information, which may be just the ticket for readers with short attention spans but makes this no alternative to Karen Gravelle's What's Going On Down There? (1998) and like Baedekers. (Nonfiction. 12-14)