The Secret Lives of Boys: Inside the Raw Emotional World of Male Teens

by Malina Saval

Teenage boys have come a long way since the staid 1980s when they were all lumped into the Breakfast Club categories of Brains, Druggies, and Jocks. Crisscrossing the country--meeting with boys from... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0465002544
• ISBN13: 9780465002542
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Basic Books (AZ)
• Length: 257 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Very insightful

This book provides fascinating profiles of a number of teenaged boys. Their candor with Ms. Saval leads to startling insights about how boys see the world around them. As the parent of a baby boy, I was captivated by each profile, and found myself imagining what my little boy might think and feel when he gets to this age. Although he will probably not fit neatly into any of the categories identified in the book (sort of the point, actually - none of these boys can really be accurately pigeon-holed), I feel like I will be a better prepared parent because at least I'll be more aware of the depth of his emotions.

Young boys

I love this book.The author writes about differnt type of boys from all diffrent cultures, faiths. It is an eye opener how some of the boys think and how lived. what the boys had to say was very important.Some of the boys had a very difficult lives compair to others. I think this is a great read and somthing not to take lightly. Some were black, white, jewish, muslim,christain,straight,gay,a new dad. After reading this book I appricated my kids a lot more. She has a lot of great things to say. She spend many years with these boys.All the work she put into this book was well worth it.Great job,

Curious About Boys

Besides being a great read, this is an unusual book--who knew the incredible workings of the mind and psyche of the teen boy before this terrific book? I thoroughly enjoyed it, even as the mother of a teen girl. The writing style is compelling and witty and the topic is one that needs to be explored, and it is, here, with gusto and grace.

Every Parent and Teen should Read this Book

Malina Saval taps into an area where most parents never get to see. While at the same time Malina shows the hidden emotions of several teens that I think really help other teens relate to their current feelings and emotions of their friends. The voice that Malina has given to this book is an eye opener for all parents and teens. I highly recommend this book for several reasons. After reading this book it puts a huge perspective into the teens and family members that I communicate with on a regular basis with. I now know the current views and thinking behaviors that will help me deal with kids that are having a hard time in their life. I'll be sharing this book with my boys someday so that they know that they are not alone when they are going through a hard time in their lives. I really enjoyed reading this book with the heart felt confessions of these kids. It really puts teen life into a whole new light. I recommend it to all parents who have teens or have kids entering the teen years.

I wish I had this book when bringing up my own Son

As a grandmother entering into the next generation of assisting in the upbringing of boys this book has brought whole new insight into my head. Where oh where and why oh why didn't our generation allow us to be more emotional with are males? Our children are our jewels! Thank you Ms. Saval for your precious time and research into this arena of Emotions. Simple as that word may sound, it is certainly difficult for some of us to have grasped that in the genre we came from. I will keep this book close at hand. My grandson speaks to me on a daily basis! I can now pay attention to what and how I hear his words and thoughts and to genuinely share in them. Yes, we can have a second chance to do things right. Again, thank you Ms. Saval you have done a great and remarkable job of uncovering these emotional needs.