Conversations With the Future : Young people share their lives today and dreams of tomorrow...

Rating:
Summary: Insightful
Review: This is a heart-warming collection of over 70 personal stories told by children of various ages, about their hopes and dreams for peace, equality, and a bright future. Among adult writers and political leaders, these subjects sound cliché and overdone; but, as told by the youngsters in this book, the subjects are fresh and invigorating. The book is divided into three sections, featuring stories from 4th , 8th , and 12th graders.

One elementary school student was asked what he would want to tell adults. His answer: "I want them to know that they're not bad kids. They do pay attention in school. They can do some stuff that adults can." In other words, we as adults can learn from these children that not every kid is bad, failing in school, or incapable of learning. Amidst all the negative media about schools, violence, and drugs, it's good to hear a positive message from the kids themselves. Marcel Proust wrote a book called, Remembrance of Things Past around 1910. I was amused to read a sentence in it where a woman is lamenting the "slovenliness" of young people these days. That was almost 100 years ago. And in the Holy Bible, Jehu was chastised by his father for racing his chariot through the village. The so-called problems of our youth are nothing new. Be of good cheer and read and learn from the kids around you. You can start by reading this book.