Overview
“We were all hanging out at Jack’s house waiting for Jen. That’s when Mateo’s phone rang . . .”
So begins the third book in the Middle School Confidential series. This time around it’s family life that Jack, Jen, Chris, Abby, Mateo, and Michelle are trying hard to figure out—for example, how to negotiate family rules, routines, and responsibilities. Like previous books in the series, What’s Up with My Family? is packed with tips, tools, quotes, quizzes, and other fun features that complement the character narratives. The book offers expert information for getting along with parents and handling common concerns that come up at home. Readers will find advice for dealing with sibling conflicts, coping with divorce and life in a blended family, and being assertive when adults are genuinely unfair. The result? Teen and tween readers are able to strengthen relationships at home even as they become more independent.
Synopsis
“We were all hanging out at Jack’s house waiting for Jen. That’s when Mateo’s phone rang . . .”
So begins the third book in the Middle School Confidential series. This time around it’s family life that Jack, Jen, Chris, Abby, Mateo, and Michelle are trying hard to figure out—for example, how to negotiate family rules, routines, and responsibilities. Like previous books in the series, What’s Up with My Family? is packed with tips, tools, quotes, quizzes, and other fun features that complement the character narratives. The book offers expert information for getting along with parents and handling common concerns that come up at home. Readers will find advice for dealing with sibling conflicts, coping with divorce and life in a blended family, and being assertive when adults are genuinely unfair. The result? Teen and tween readers are able to strengthen relationships at home even as they become more independent.
VOYA
Using a magazine-style format that is part graphic novel and part nonfiction advice, Fox helps teens work out family problems like sibling rivalry, blended families, overprotective parents, and dealing with loss. The graphic novel follows the six teens in the previous Middle School Confidential books, using their stories to illustrate the problems discussed and giving examples of how to handle them. The book is full of tips on strengthening family relationships while working through the challenges every family faces. Throughout are comments from teens sharing their feelings on the topics, while "Need to Know?" sidebars in each chapter give a few Web sites and books that teens can read for more information. Quizzes help readers think through their own situations and relate the information in the chapter to individual needs. This short, readable book will attract even reluctant readers with the format and give practical advice for all teens on improving family life. The author is an educator and an online advisor for a teen Web site. Although the information would be useful for older teens as well, the series title limits the appeal to middle schoolers. It would be a useful book in a school library or for counselors and their teen clients. Reviewer: Deborah L. Dubois