The Naked Roommate

BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:

The Naked Roommate; And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College. Cohen, Harlan. Sourcebooks, Inc., Naperville. ISBN 978-1-4022-0909-3

PLOT SUMMARY:

The Naked Roommate is a complete guide to pretty much everything you will encounter in college. Everything from horrible roommates to sex to drinking. It’s all here. Not only are the major college issues covered, but even the small things like getting lost on campus and laundry are discussed. In addition to the advice, there are storied for real-life college students about their great and not-so-great college experiences.

CRITICAL EVALUATION:

I wish I had this book before I went away to college. It really does cover everything you need to know. The book begins with a note to all of the people that should be reading this book: students, parents, and high school and college educators. Not only does the book speak to students, there are some important messages in there for parents too. Most importantly, let you child learn to resolve things on their own. It’s such an important part of becoming independent. The main message throughout most of the book is to be yourself. Don’t become someone you think people will like just to try to fit in. Of course there is the fun stuff too, like Greek life, joining organizations, and let’s face it, drinking. There is so much helpful information in this book it’s impossible to mention it all or even give a general overview without feeling like I’m leaving out the majority of the book. The whole book has a relaxed tone and is filled with humor. The majority of the book will have you smiling if not laughing out loud; even a ‘no way’ may escape. The best way to sum it up is: if you’re going to college, if you have a child going to college, if you have a friend in college, if you’re thinking about going to college; if you know anyone that is going to college…get this book!

READER’S ANNOTATION:

This book covers everything you need to know before you go to college!

AUTHOR:

Harlan Cohen is a syndicated columnist. His column Help Me, Harlan, is for the teens and twenty-somethings. His published books are: Campus Life Exposed, The Happiest Kids on Campus, The Naked Roommate and Dad’s Pregnant Too. Each book has its own dedicated website. His website is looking for volunteers to participate in the research for his next book Naked Dating. He regularly tours high school and colleges giving lectures to teens, parents and professionals.

Harlan's writing career began at Indiana University's school newspaper, the Indiana Daily Student. He shifted his path toward advice after interning at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in the summer of 1995. Harlan was inspired to begin writing his column after meeting a writer who had penned a similar column while in college. When he returned to campus, Harlan immediately launched his "Help Me, Harlan!" advice column. Harlan's balance of honest advice, helpful resources, and sharp humor turned the column into an instant success on and off campus.

He is the producer, lead singer, and musician on his album Fortunate Accidents. He is also the founder and president of Rejection Awareness Week (February 7-14 annually)
and the International Risk-Taking Project. He lives in Chicago, Illinois, with his wife and two young children. In his spare time he thinks about how little spare time he has (and then his spare time is over, leaving him thinking about how he squandered his spare time, eating up more spare time). (Unknown)

GENRE:

Non-fiction

CURRICULUM TIES:

New York State: Health, Family and Consumer Sciences

BOOK TALKING IDEAS:

Everything you need to know about going to college
So, what do you do when you have the roommate from hell?

READING LEVEL/INTEREST AGE:

Age 16 an up

CHALLENGE ISSUES:

Sex, violence, drugs, alcohol
In order to prepare yourself should this book be challenged you may wish to take the following steps:

•Read the book or familiarize yourself with the book and its contents.
•Refer to the library’s collection development policy.
•Read the book reviews from sources such as Booklist, School Library Journal, Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), Publisher’s Weekly, or BookSpot.com
•Seek the opinion of teen readers that have read the book.

Should this book be challenged you should follow the additional steps below:

•Advise the senior staff of the challenge.
•Let the patron know that their challenge will be filed and that senior library management will review their request and notify them once a decision has been made.
•Offer any further assistance should the patron have additional questions.

WHY DID I INCLUDE THIS BOOK?
The title caught my eye while browsing the non-fiction section of the teen room.