At the risk of sounding like a real helicopter mom, tiger mom, mom with too much time on her hands (that one is DEF not the case), fill-in-the-blank mom, my bedside stack currently consists of three titles that the seventh grader will be reading. Soooo… while I hated every second of required reading in middle school, I’m over here voluntarily reading these things at age 42. Life is funny like that.
When Honey and I were at parent night, his ELA teacher mentioned they would be reading the Legend Series. He whispered to me that he had read it and that it was a great book. I whispered back “write that down”. (Does anyone else forget anything that isn’t written down?)
A few minutes later when we were in reading, the teacher said they would be reading one chapter of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens each month and really working on developing each habit. They would also apply their learnings to the classic The Outsiders, which they would be simultaneously reading. Again, I’m whispering “write that down” and “write that down too”. To which I got a whisper back “you really need your own pen”.
And so, I came home and ordered the books. When they arrived, John said they already had the books in school. I told him they were for me and that I was auditing seventh grade. It was an amazing moment in all of my mom-of-an-almost-teen moments. The look on his face was absolutely priceless. “You’re what?????” bwahahahaha. I told him I just thought they all sounded really interesting and assured him that I would neither show up in his classes nor do his homework for him. :-)
So, in the event you are looking for a new read or some self help on raising a teen….
Legend by Marie Lu
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic’s wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic’s highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country’s most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths – until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.
Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey
With more than five million copies in print all around the world, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens is the ultimate teenage success guide—now updated for the digital age.
Imagine you had a roadmap—a step-by-step guide to help you get from where you are now, to where you want to be in the future. Your goals, your dreams, your plans…they are all within reach. You just need the tools to help you get there.
That’s what Sean Covey’s landmark book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, has been to millions of teens: a handbook to self-esteem and success. Now updated for the digital age, this classic book applies the timeless principles of the 7 Habits to the tough issues and life-changing decisions teens face. In an entertaining style, Covey provides a simple approach to help teens improve self-image, build friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve their goals, and get along with their parents, as well as tackle the new challenges of our time, like cyberbullying and social media. In addition, this book is stuffed with cartoons, clever ideas, great quotes, and incredible stories about real teens from all over the world.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
50 years of an iconic classic! This international bestseller and inspiration for a beloved movie is a heroic story of friendship and belonging.
No one ever said life was easy. But Ponyboy is pretty sure that he’s got things figured out. He knows that he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop. And he knows that he can count on his friends—true friends who would do anything for him, like Johnny and Two-Bit. But not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids whose idea of a good time is beating up on “greasers” like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect—until the night someone takes things too far.
The Outsiders is a dramatic and enduring work of fiction that laid the groundwork for the YA genre. S. E. Hinton’s classic story of a boy who finds himself on the outskirts of regular society remains as powerful today as it was the day it was first published.
I’ll report back afterwards. I started Legend last night and am hooked!
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