As someone who has worked in the field of youth mentoring for over 30 years, this is a book I've been waiting for. Ms. Rhodes combines research with readability, validating what a lot of us already know about the power of mentoring. Equally important are her concerns as mentoring programs expand into new venues and plan on significant growth. Her research reminds us of the challenges and care that must be taken to build sustainable, long term relationships.
Having read the original Public Private Ventures research on Big Brother Big Sister, I found her deeper analysis of their data and findings an excellent addition to the original findings of the study.
The chapters on why some relationships work and others fail,is insightful and should be read by any adult involved in a mentoring relationship or considering the possibility. Again,
her ability to translate her research into practical how to advice, and explain why it works is extraordinary.
For program planners, her step-by-step advice on how to develop an effective mentoring program is invaluable and research based. Her emphasis on training and the infrastructure of support needed for mentors to be successful, is an important reminder as mentoring goes "to scale".
There is a wealth of information in this easily readable book and I highly recommend it to anyone who cares about effective, quality mentoring for today's youth.
