Annie Fox is a tween/teen guru who runs a website that helps teens and tweens everywhere. She was recently interviewed about her books and the work she does with teens.She receives a lot of email with questions that deal with family life. So, the next book in Free Spirit Publishing’s Middle School Confidential Series, Book 3, seems the next logical topic choice. “What’s Up with My Family?” deals with the myriad of issues that tweens and teens face when trying to get along with family.
Overprotective parents in this century are common. This book helps children identify why parents (or any adult guardian in their lives) may be overprotective. With references to other helpful books, websites, quotes from kids who have been there too, and other strategies, kids can learn what they can do to help the situation. It isn’t about blaming parents or the kids for the situation. It’s about problem solving.
Hurt feelings caused by parents are another common issue dealt with in this book. Often times, parents don’t get the mini-messages that they send to their kids. One example in this book is the story of Abby (one of the teens in the comic-book style part of the book) whose mother constantly makes Abby feel bad about being overweight, sometimes not even realizing she’s doing so. Another mini-message was sent when Mom told the Dad that “Nothing important” was going on when Abby was fussing over her hurt feelings and Dad had walked in on the argument. That sent the message that Abby’s feelings weren’t important. These mini-messages are important for parents to learn too!
As in Book 1 and 2, with quizzes, quotes and references, readers are given the opportunity to try different strategies to change things for themselves. The lesson is given that one can only control their own behavior and not anyone else’s so the solution starts within that person.
Transitions are difficult for many kids, especially with special needs kids, and this book provides many strategies for kids to deal and cope with changes. When parents divorce or separate, those times are tough on kids. This book offers superb advice for teens that may not be so accepting of new parental figures in their lives.
Unfairness is probably one of the biggest things parents hear from their kids. “It’s so unfair!” is shouted across the nation in many a home. That issue is also covered in this book in much the same way as the other issues are: with strategies and references. Again, the strategies are focused on what the teen can do to change the situation and make it better.
Teens also seem to be walking moods and attitudes and they are well aware of it, too. It’s not intentional on their part either. This book helps address the triggers and strategies to get out of that funk teens often find themselves in.
The chapter “When someone is gone” is a tough issue. When a parent, grandparent, aunt, or any loved one is no longer in the picture, due to death or separation, it can be hard for kids to cope. Acting out can be a consequence of that inability to deal. No matter why the loss is there, the strategies in this section can help tweens and teens fill those holes.
The final chapter deals with siblings and the difficulties that are born when teens are trying to get along with their brothers and sisters, either younger or older. It seems that no matter the generations, the trials and tribulations among siblings persist: younger sibling wants to tag along with teen, older sibling gets blamed all the time, and so on. This book does a wonderful job of helping teens deal with this issue as well.
Ultimately, this book is a fount of knowledge for teens that are getting it from a good source. It’s not just the author, Annie, either. Interspersed throughout the book are quotes from tweens and teens everywhere. These quotes show that all teens experience these feelings and even share positive outcomes as well.
What makes this book so unique is that not just girls will want to read it! Boys will dig it, too. A call was made to tweens and teens to email me their impressions of this series of books and of the website (www.theinsite.org). There was only praise. Here’s some of the responses.
“Some of it seemed cheesy to me. Like, obvious. But I wasn’t doing those cheesy, obvious things and I was having these problems. So I gave it a go. Who would have thought it? It worked!” Brian- age 15
“I love those books! I can’t wait until the next one comes out. My mom has already promised to buy it when it does. I like the comics and quizzes best. The quizzes help you understand where you are and where you want to go and how to get there. It’s great!” Britteny, -age 17
“Oh, I love that site. You can actually email her and she answers!” Anonymous, age 12
“TheInSite is great. There are so many areas to explore and the visuals of the site are cool, too. I like it and all my friends and I keep up with it.” Cora- age 14
What’s Up with My Family? and all of the books in the Middle School Confidential™ series are available at Free Spirit Publishing’s Web site.
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