Lying: Deal with It Straight Up

Martha Lamon is a freelance writer and researcher based in Huntsville,
Ontario.

The latest books in the Deal with It series address a number of complex
social issues that youths encounter. Illustrated in bold colours, the
books include quizzes, comic strips, lists of dos and don’ts, and
letters asking advice from fictional counsellors. Each book is divided
into five sections. The first section provides basic information about
the behaviour that causes conflict. The next three sections focus on the
different roles people play with regard to the issue—the offender, the
offended, and the bystander. The final section outlines where readers
can get more help (e.g., helplines, books, and websites).

Procrastination casts light on the procrastinator, the perfectionist,
and the witness, and offers suggestions on how to deal with conflicts
that arise when people put things off or strive for perfection. Lying
discusses such things as what motivates people to lie, not wanting to
hurt someone’s feelings, and the need for tact when being honest.
Privacy explores what should be kept private, noting that people may
have different ideas about what they consider private and the need to
respect those boundaries. Strategies on how to respect privacy are
shared. Each book also delves into some grey areas. Teasing, for
example, emphasizes that this sort of behaviour can be humorous and
hurtful and that there are times when individuals being picked on may
need to develop a sense of humour about themselves.

These books are best read in a classroom or student-counsellor context.
All are recommended.