How to Stop Freaking Out

Today’s middle-grade readers are savvier and more sophisticated than any generation before them. They’re deeply curious about themselves and the world around them. They’re eager to address communal and international issues from climate change to racism. They’re emotionally sensitive and self-aware. They have big dreams and they’re willing to work hard, especially on issues they care about.

But these kids are also freaking out.

They’re freaking out because that’s what tweens with partially developed pre-frontal cortexes and raging hormones do. They’re freaking out because they’re depressed and anxious and stressed and distracted. They’re freaking out because they’re trying to figure out who they are in a world of overscheduled days, insane academic expectations, Instagram likes, and TikTok trends, not to mention the staggering global challenges noted above. 

And that’s why I’m so excited about How to Stop Freaking Out — the middle-grade companion to the best-selling How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t With Your Kids. Published in full color with amazing illustrations, this book will help readers between the ages of 8-12 learn to navigate the chaos of life without losing their cool. It’s available for pre-order now, and it hits shelves in September of 2024.