Middle School Matters

Starred review from June 1, 2019
When the words middle school are mentioned, most adults recall a time when they felt awkward both physically and socially. No matter the school setting, the transition between childhood and adolescence can be challenging for kids. Counselor, mother of three, and Washington Post contributor Fagell encourages parents and educators to consider the middle-school years in a different way. Instead of a rite of passage for kids to survive, the years between elementary and high school are a crucial time to teach kids how to thrive. She highlights four essential areas: social skills, values and integrity, empowerment, and resilience and learning. Each chapter begins with a list of key skills to focus on, ranging from how to make good friend choices and negotiate conflict to how to self-advocate and make responsible, healthy, and ethical choices. Fagell includes relatable examples from her years of guiding middle schoolers and concludes each chapter with top tips for parents and helpful conversation starters. Readers will appreciate Fagell's straightforward advice on the wide array of challenges that can appear during the influential years between elementary and high school. This is a must-read for all parents and educators of kids in this unique and often misunderstood age group.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)