The most trying times in a child’s life are during their pre-teen and teen years. Even the most well-meaning and engaged parents and teachers are often ill equipped to deal effectively with adolescents and their remarkable yet confounding social and emotional changes.

Surviving Adolescence follows the roller coaster ride parents with teenagers experience, stages that author Michael Gilbert calls Ratcheting Up, the First Drop, Loop-de-Loop, Climbing, the Steep Drop, In the Tunnel, Into the Daylight, and Leveling Off. These stages cover issues such as preparing for adolescence, the reality of confronting puberty, the family unit, and how to help teens confront a new social environment, including cyberspace. Additional areas covered are recognizing the need for productive activities, discussing burgeoning sexual issues, bullying, and substance abuse. Suggestions for communicating effectively and taking care of yourself are included, too, making this a well-rounded and valuable resource for parents and educators alike.

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Roller coaster ride may seem like an apt metaphor for those navigating the junior high and high school years. Gilbert, a professor, guardian ad litem for children in abused and neglected situations, and a father and grandfather himself, stresses how important it is for parents to help their child develop a sense of worth. Parents must start by looking inward, as remembering their own adolescence is crucial in understanding their child. Next, he encourages the development of a strong partnership between parents working as a team, discussing expectations and consulting each other before decision-making. Gilbert doesn’t leave out single or divorced parents, or stepparents. He then moves further outside the circle to discuss the family as a unit and the importance of good friendships. Sex, cyberspace, substance abuse, and other common topics of concern during the teen years each has a dedicated chapter. The chapter on communication may provide an especially helpful framework for conversations as it explores the personality type of your teen and how that can affect how to best proceed in having discussions. Straight-talking and practical, this book is a quick read with guidance on many of the topics parents “google.”