Online Article: "Requirements for Healthy Development of Adolescent Youth"

The article said that adolescence is defined as the span of a young person's life: 12 to 15 years as early adolescence , 15 to 18 years as middle adolescence, and 18 to 22 years as late adolescence.  The last span surprised me, but I do realize that it is true, especially with boys.

With each age span brings on more mature social and psychological decisions and responsiblities. Experiences are essential to tests the capabilities of the youth to make good decisions. Then if wrong decisions are made, they must live with the consequences of their actions.

There are stages of developmental maturity, and this article explains those stages during adolescence before becoming a mature adult.

The section about the Key Concepts of Adolescence: Experience of physical sexual maturity, Experience of withdrawal of and from adult benevolent protection, Consciousness of self in interaction, Re-evaluation of values, and Experimentation doesn't just fit one group or person, circumstances, timing, and individualization factor in as well.

After reading this article, I understand many of the things that my own teenage son went through that really drove me nuts!  I even recognized myself being described, as well.

Jerry Pinkney

I didn't know anything about Jerry Pinkney until I started researching him for the illustrator's project.  He is very talented.  He won a full scholarship to art school. He says that he doesn't see things until he draws them. Then it has to feel right or he erases it.
His official website is http://www.jerrypinkneystudio.com/

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

When I looked at the cover of this book, it didn't interest me at all.  However, when I started reading it I couldn't put it down. Brian Selznick did an awesome job of pulling you in the story with his drawings and the mysterious events.