From Booklist
It's old news that adolescence brings with it a host of physical, cognitive, and emotional changes. But Machoian, a Harvard researcher and lecturer, insists that teenage girls' "vulnerability to depression in early adolescence" is serious enough to warrant special attention. Her book, which blossomed from research she did for her dissertation, gives parents a heads up that may help them make the difficult distinction between normal teen angst and the circumstances that signal real trouble. She focuses predominately on ages 14, 15, and 16, amplifying her text with personal stories and commentary that bring an immediacy to the emotions and pressures that today's young women have in common. Throughout, she makes it clear that there is no universal panacea, but at the same time, she remains optimistic about the resilience of young women and the ability of their parents, equipped with the right kind of information, to weather difficult times. Stephanie Zvirin
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Book Description
A former Harvard University researcher and lecturer offers lifesaving solutions for parents of struggling adolescent girls. Media, peers, and even parents send teen girls dangerously conflicting messages about what it means to look and act just right, to be good, hip, attractive, and desired. Frighteningly, everyday events can start a teen on a downward spiral. The growing rate of depression in teens is alarming, and parents must understand the difference between "normal adolescent angst" and trouble: o Why silence reflects a girl’s desperate wish for inclusion, not isolation o Recognizing signals in problem behavior o Vulnerabilities in dating, friendships, school, and family. Dr. Machoian also offers guidance for: o Parents—conversation topics to help girls navigate mixed messages, develop their identity, make healthy decisions, and build resilience that will empower them throughout life. o Daughters—activities, including the Emotional First-Aid Kit, that girls can use to de- stress and build character. Featuring dozens of real-life stories, this book will show parents what to look for if their daughters aren’t thriving, how to better listen and respond, and how to manage their own feelings of helplessness.

About the Author
Lisa Machoian, Ed.D., taught in Harvard’s Department of Human Development and Psychology and was also the director of their Gender Studies Concentration. She has worked for more than twenty years with teenage girls, and her articles have appeared in many publications. She now devotes her time to lecturing, consulting, and conducting workshops for parents, teens, and professionals. She holds a master’s degree and a doctorate from Harvard.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A former Harvard University researcher and lecturer offers lifesaving solutions forparents of struggling adolescent girls.

Media, peers, and even parents send teen girls dangerously conflicting messages about what it means to look and act just right, to be good, hip, attractive, and desired. Frighteningly, everyday events can start a teen on a downward spiral. The growing rate of depression in teens is alarming, and parents must understand the difference between ￯﾿ﾽnormal adolescent angst￯﾿ﾽ and trouble: o Why silence reflects a girl's desperate wish for inclusion, not isolation o Recognizing signals in problem behavior o Vulnerabilities in dating, friendships, school, and family. Dr. Machoian also offers guidance for: o Parents—conversation topics to help girls navigate mixed messages, develop their identity, make healthy decisions, and build resilience that will empower them throughout life. o Daughters—activities, including the Emotional First-Aid Kit, that girls can use to de- stress and build character.

Featuring dozens of real-life stories, this book will show parents what to look for if their daughters aren't thriving, how to better listen and respond, and how to manage their own feelings of helplessness.