This book is for all parents, especially those who are at the end of their emotional tether. The basic messages are clear and simple, but the easier said than done nitty-gritty makes the book priceless. The author has a degree to back up her experience and personal history. She understands the complexities of teenhood and the emotional storms that come with it, and helps other parents understand them too. "Seeing things from their perspective and recognizing the challenges they may face, you can improve your relationship and decrease your own feelings of anger, frustration, and fear."

The author describes what to say and do to validate your children, offering grace while recognizing that it takes practice. May's message is to be respectful and empathetic. The author's writing is clear, and her examples are specific. Her tone is nonjudgmental, allowing readers to take note and learn from the lessons without feeling defensive. This is masterfully done and not at all easy. Providing advice on a subject as passionate as child rearing, and doing so in a non-pedantic manner, showcases extremely talented writing.

Readers will notice that breaking old habits or undoing mistakes is harder than learning positive parenting approaches before problems arise. That's what makes this book valuable for parents long before the teen years. May explains, "Punishment is not an effective method for teaching new behaviors. Instead, it creates discord and long-lasting resentment in relationships." But the author isn't suggesting free-range parenting. She suggests ways to avoid punishments in favor of working on family team dynamics long before punishment is necessary. Developing healthy family dynamics can be hard. Readers will find this read chock-full of professional advice, increasing the likelihood of a peaceful life coexisting with healthy teens.

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