Book Review: A Map for the Middle by Matthew Sink

What if I flunk the test at school tomorrow? What if people don't like me? What if I get sick? What if my parents get a divorce? What if our house catches on fire? And the list of "what ifs" dances about in a young teen's head and whispers failure and fear.

The middle school years for these young teens are a mine field of disaster. The quicksand of popularity to the left, the rapids of sexual awakening to the right, the forest of insecurity all around, and the bustling metropolis of electronic media rearing its head at every turn. Middle school is not for the faint of heart. I know. I was a middle school teacher for thirty-one years.

Middle school students, or early teens from about 12 to 14 years of age, need guidance. This small book (101 pages), A Map for the Middle, written to and for this age group, will provide insight and information these kids "in the middle" need to navigate their way through the treacherous landscape of the middle school.

The book is easy to read. Its presentation is simple and clear, and there are plenty of illustrations from the life and experience of the author, Matthew Sink, a minister at Pinedale Christian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and a former teacher in North Carolina public schools..

Without the help, guidance, love, and support of adults around them, middle schoolers can be swallowed in the turmoil of these years. This book will provide an excellent resource for caring, involved adults to use in mapping their young teens to safety and right choices.

Some teens will enjoy reading and doing the devotion at the end of each chapter on their own, but the book's maximum effectiveness might be in discussing each chapter with a significant adult in the teen's life: a parent, grandparent, youth group leader, or mentor. Discussing this book with other teens and an adult will provide an accountability group that could be vital in keeping them on the right track.

Each chapter addresses a challenge faced by early teens: popularity, insecurity, sex, worry and stress, decision making, managing media, and finding a life of meaning. The devotion at the end of each chapter consists of a Bible reading related to the topic of the chapter and a thought-provoking question to help the teen apply the biblical truth to his or her life.

Simple and clear directives give young teens a plan for dealing with the conflicts and crises of their middle school lives. For example, in the chapter on insecurity this is some of the advice the teen is offered:
1. "People judge us by how we present ourselves to and treat them . . . People are hungry for kindness . . . As long as you are kind and warm, they'll respond favorably to you!" (page 26)
2. "Don't allow others to define your worth." (page 26)
3. "Every kid in school is as insecure as you are." (page 27)

I love the kind of encouragement that Pastor Sink gives teens throughout the book. Try this advice on any teen . . .
 "God made you in His image, and He loves you right now. Knowing this changes everything. Think about it - because of God's love:

• "You don't need to try so hard to impress people."
• "You can stop worrying about whether or not you're worthy of admiration."
• "You can take a breath and say, 'I was made in the image of God, and He has plans for me; I matter!'"
• "You can freely be you." (pages 28-29)

A Map for the Middle walks the middle school student through the difficult adolescent years and provides him or her with guidance, compassion, and direction. I would recommend this book to young teens and the adults who mentor them.

For further information on this book, go to http://ambassador-international.com/books/map-middle/.

*I received this book free from the publisher,Ambassadors International, in order to write this review.