You're young, but you're not a little kid.

You know about the world's problems, you want to help solve them and you have the power to do it. This month's Roots & Shoots Book Club selection gives you the info, tips and inspiration to get started.

The Teen Guide to Global Action: How to Connect with Others (Near & Far) to Create Social Change, by Barbara A. Lewis is a youth-friendly handbook for maximizing your global network and taking action for important causes.

The Teen Guide to Global Action gives you ideas on how to fight hunger and poverty, promote health and human rights, save the environment and work for peace. It has real-life stories from teens—past and present—who have made significant positive change.

What you won't find in this book is cheesy, boring adult-speak about why, like peas and carrots, volunteerism is good for you. What you will find are hard-hitting statistics, hands-on activities, action-oriented tools, website resources and meaningful service opportunities.

Basically, you'll find what you need to stop wanting to make a difference and start making one.

Here are some highlights from the book:

Not Your Fashion Mag Quiz
Take the "What's your issue?" quiz on pages 8-9 to determine what you care about and what you're willing to put your energy into. From there, zoom in more closely on your service options with the Roots & Shoots Community Survey in the online Resource Center.

Good Things in Small Packages
The little "Connect" text boxes scattered throughout the book give info about a lot of youth, service and non-profit organizations—including Roots & Shoots on page 94! For more info and non-profit connections, check out The Dirt.

Throw Your Fingers in the Air
And make a peace sign! The book's "Peace and Friendship" chapter (pages 112-126) offers some inspiring stories of tolerance from around the world. If you're looking to promote peace, consider supporting Congolese Roots & Shoots members at Lugufu Refugee Camp in Tanzania or participating in Roots & Shoots Day of Peace.


Want to connect with other Roots & Shoots teens? Do an "Age Range" search for your age group in the Roots & Shoots Find a Group directory and then private message some fellow members!