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. Needless to say, the isolation, disconnection, and stress of the COVID pandemic has made everything so much worse.

And that’s 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. — will do. Aimed at 8 –13-year-olds, this book will help girls, boys, and gender non-binary readers navigate the chaos of life without losing their cool. Look for it in the summer of 2023!