There are numerous books published each year on parenting teenagers. We review a number of books each year and below are recommended resources that you might find useful. These books should be available at your local library or can be purchased online or at a bookstore.

The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls -- Joan Jacobs Brumberg’s book The Body Project follows an array of issues – periods, acne, dieting, piercing, virginity and sexual orientation – from their roots in the 1800s through the Victorian era and into modern society.

Doing School -- What do we want our adolescents to get out of high school? Do we want them to use their newly developed critical thinking skills to become decision-makers, leaders, citizens, and activists?

Girl Talk -- Ms. Harlan is encouraging girls to create equality in every context of their lives, including home, school, and the workforce.

The Giver -- In this book, Lois Lowry does a magnificent job of presenting the inherent conflict between balancing the values of freedom with security, belonging, and comfort.

MOMfulness: Mothering with Mindfulness, Compassion, and Grace -- MOMfulness is defined as the "spiritual practice of cultivating a mindful, compassionate, mothering practice."

Rainbow Parties -- Are They Real? -- This fictional book follows 13 teenagers through the day of Gin's first rainbow party.

Real Gorgeous: The Truth about Body and Beauty -- Kaz Cooke takes a stand against magazines, media and dieting in her book about body image and self-esteem.

Seeing is Achieving -- If you think your child is underachieving, or if you just want to help your child develop good visual habits, this is a must read book.

The Sex Lives of Teenagers -- In spite of all the media attention and adult worry about adolescent sexuality, we, as professionals and parents, do not seem to be actually communicating very well about sexuality with adolescents.

The Teen Survival Guide to Dating and Relating: Real World Advice on Guys, Girls, Growing Up, and Getting Along -- The book is full of current resources for teens. The goal of the book seems to be to normalize the teen experience.

Unhooked: How Young Women Pursue Sex, Delay Love and Lose at Both -- This is a well-researched and insightful book that delves into the contemporary adolescent culture of "hooking up."


Last reviewed January 2008