Let's Clear the Air

Book excerpt: (ages 9 - 12) This collection of stories and interviews is the result of a simple question: "Why won't you start smoking?" Readers won't feel like they are being preached to, because the anti-tobacco message is being delivered by kids just like them. The stories, based on life experiences and observations, are diverse, personal, and smart – sometimes painful, sometimes funny. The ten reasons include the poor health of parents who smoke, addiction, self-image, the environment, and relationships. Our young contributors also bring up issues that kids might not consider, such as how cigarettes affect one's personal appearance, athletic performance, and bank account. The media's portrayal of smoking and the unscrupulous marketing tactics used by tobacco companies are also discussed. The stories are complemented by edgy illustrations, examples of anti-tobacco activism, quotes from nonsmoking celebrities, a foreword by Christy Turlington, important health facts, "instant history facts," and other sidebars which present the ugly truth about cigarettes.