Nash, R.D. (1995). Coping as a biracial/biethnic teen. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. Nash, R.D. (1995). Everything you need to know about being a biracial/biethnic teen. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.

OVERVIEW

Both Coping as a Biracial/Biethnic Teen and Everything You Need to Know About Being a Biracial/Biethnic Teen include similar subject matter, yet the information in the former is designed for senior high readers and the latter, for junior high or middle school readers. Each contains age-appropriate information about the realities of being a biracial child and resources for further support. Both books are intended to celebrate the identity of the biracial child while also educating him or her about societal issues and ways in which the young person can respond.

Overriding themes in Nash’s books include having "pride" in one’s biracial identity. While offering readers the option to choose to identify with only one of the child’s ethnic or racial heritages, she encourages embracing both. She lists the advantages of being biracial: one is comfortable with persons of many races and cultures and confident in his or her identity; biracial people are also able to learn and adapt to more than one cultural custom or even language.

In her book for senior high readers, Nash cites psychological studies and models of development to address options available to biracial teens. For the younger readers, Nash finds common ground with their more recent childhood experiences of playing with children of many cultures and continuing to relate to them into the teen years. For both readers, she views their diversity as something to celebrate, encouraging them to seriously consider the choices they make about identity formation.

In both books, Nash addresses a major societal issue of race classification in the U.S. census and other government forms. She encourages her readers to become politically active in biracial recognition. She also discusses college scholarship issues and problems that may arise when birth certificates, made years ago when biracial identities were not recognized, do not match their biracial identity. Nash uses true stories to identify with her young readers.

Finally, Nash strongly encourages an active role of the parents in helping the adolescent build a strong sense of identity. Both parents are crucial in nurturing a young person’s coping skills. Nash emphasizes the importance of the minority parent in passing on coping skills to children. By communicating within the family and having a sense of pride in one’s race and ethnicity, both young and older teens can cope with the pressures of society and grow into healthy adults.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. Do you know your racial and ethnic makeup?
2. Can you describe ways in which your culture influences your world view?
3. How can mono-ethnic adults support and encourage youth with biracial/biethnic heritages?
4. How can our society improve to recognize biracial/biethnic children?

IMPLICATIONS

1. Biracial/Biethnic teens have special developmental needs that should be considered by caring adults.
2. Diversity in culture should be celebrated in our every changing population.
3. Our society needs much progress in becoming a healthy place for biracial/biethnic teens.

Erika Scott cCYS