The Angst of Adolescence: How to Parent Your Teen (and Live to laugh About It)

Villanueva, a developmental psychologist, uses an informal, conversational style in this helpful parenting book, sharing anecdotes from her own experiences as a mother of four who is currently raising two teens, as well as up-to-date information on brain development. Describing her realization that she has fallen off a “colossal, golden pedestal” in her kids’ eyes as they’ve grown up, she explores changing roles and family dynamics, assuring parents that physical and emotional distancing is normal and part of the teen’s journey to independence. Villanueva reminds readers that risky behaviors by teens reflect the fact that their brains are not yet fully developed. She also warns against “drawing a line in the sand” as teens are likely to respond to “forbidden fruits” with rebellion. In a clear-eyed chapter on teens and sex, the author urges parents to communicate honestly and often; even college-aged youths, she reveals, may be misinformed about pregnancy, STDs, and other issues. With its encouraging tone, Villanueva’s friendly primer will help parents learn to appreciate, enjoy, and accept their teens as they are, while patiently negotiating the challenges and changes inherent in adolescence. Agent: Leticia Gomez, Savvy Literary Services. (Sept.)