New York Times bestselling author Bill O’Reilly has zero-tolerance for pin heads and the ultimate respect for smart operators. Among the smartest operators in American history, of course, were our founding fathers — the authors of our constitution, including the amendments known as the Bill of Rights. These were scrappy guys who really cared about individual freedoms as their in-your-face warning to potential tyrants prove. They’re the kind of guys Bill O’Reilly can really relate to. The kind of guys Bill knows kids can relate to, too.
In his latest book for young people, O’Reilly — an award-winning broadcast news journalist, husband, father of two and author of the number one best-selling book of non-fiction for kids in 2005 — writes clearly about the fine lines between a kid’s liberties and responsibilities, delves into contemporary court cases which are helping to redefine kids’ rights today, and proves by example how to be an advocate for one’s own rights no matter how old one is.
With examples from real-life reporting backed up by some of the best news researchers in the business, he explores thorny issues involving the internet, from sophisticated financial scams, personal libel, safety and privacy to potential identity theft. Tackling such questions as Can a kid wear an anti-gay T-shirt on campus?, Can the cops force open a student’s locker?, Does a school newspaper have a right to badmouth the principle?, Does a mother have the right to eavesdrop on her daughter’s telephone conversations?, Can a parent force his or her child to worship in a certain religion?, or Can a kid do whatever she wants with an inheritance from a grandparent?, Bill does what Bill does best. He surprises us, but most of all he provokes, he prods, he probes, he provides the facts and ultimately he makes us think for ourselves.
This is a book about learning to respect other people’s rights as well as about understanding and protecting one’s own rights. It’s the perfect gift to give to a loved one on the brink of young adulthood so they know what to expect, as well as what’s expected of them.
