As I read this book and the author description of an American teenager, I found it hard for me to relate to most of the characteristics the author uses in the book. The reason might be the fact that I was not born in America nor do I have a family member who was raised here, to whom I can relate the book to. It also might be the fact that I never went to a public high school to experience the whole American teenager life. Even though I was not able to relate to some description of an American teenager in the book, I was able to relate to some part of it.

One of the parts that caught my eyes in which I was able to see a similarity to my life or culture was the part where one Irish mother seemed to worry about her daughter’s behavior changing. She worried about her coming at two O’clock and also what other folks will think (186). The worry of children changing and adopting to different culture is something I see a lot among my family and family’s friends. I remember before I came to the U.S. and until this day, every time I talk to my grandmother the thing she tells me the most is to never forget where I came from. To always act like a lady and never become a different person than what I was raised to be. Just like the early immigrants in the U.S. who feared changes in their children I’ve seen a lot similar fears in my family and family’s friends. For example, in my country (Rwanda) whether you are a man or woman you can live with your parents until you ready to marry or get married. Most time if you live with your parents you are likely to go with their rules. That’s why many parents found it difficult when they move here and their kids start to adapt to the new culture. The fear that many parents has with their kids and having their kids turn into the type of teenagers Hine describes in the book. For example, they don’t want to see their kids going out late, smoking, drinking, having sex, and more. I’ve seen many cases where parents took their kids back to Africa because they feel like this could help their kids change and become better. However, in the end I believe that the behaviors of a child is not always about where you raised them but how you raised the.