Reviewed and Recommended
by Mary Nell Maule

Your Girl, by Vicki Courtney
Vicki Courtney, a mother and Christian writer and speaker, wrote Your Girl for the mothers of girls in their tween and teen years. The book talks about the pressures our daughters face as they live in the world and it inspires and challenges mothers to fight the battle against the negative influences that are around them. The virtues of true self-worth, purity, and modesty are addressed as well as the “mean girl” sins of gossip and jealousy. The final chapters on Bible study, prayer, and faith are challenging as Courtney looks at the mother’s example for her daughter.

The Guilty Soul’s Guide to Grace: Opening the Door to Freedom in Christ, by Sam Laing
Sam Laing is a self-described “guilty soul” and he has written a book on grace which is a “must-read” for the accused hearts and should also help those who take grace for granted. This very personal book is filled with examples, scriptures, and encouragement to help us grasp and accept God’s incredible gift and to live the triumphant life He intended for us. Sam’s sense of humor is obvious in chapter titles like “Jesus Did Not Change God’s Mind about You” and “God Is Not Like Whoever It Was Who Rejected You.”

Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility and Parenting Teens with Love and Logic: Preparing Adolescents for Responsible Adulthood
by Foster Cline, M.D. and Jim Fay
These two books, written for the parents of young children and the second for the parents of adolescents, help parents prepare their children for the real world by allowing them opportunities to be responsible and make their own decisions and to live with the natural consequences of their mistakes. The books describe “helicopter” parents who hover over their children to prevent them from making mistakes and “drill sergeant” parents who bark out orders and inflict punishments. Neither teach their children to think through problems and the consequences of their actions. Cline and Fay instead advocate a consultant style for parents, especially for teens, in which the parents advise and guide, give choices, and set limits. The parents also empathize with their child and allow the logical consequences of the child’s mistakes to teach the life lessons. Both books include “Love-and-Logic Parenting Pearls,” short specific solutions for common problems and situations.

Why Girls Talk and What They’re Really Saying: A Parent’s Survival Guide to Connecting with Your Teen
by Susan Morris Shaffer and Linda Perlman Gordon
By the authors of Why Boys Don’t Talk—And Why It Matters, this book is designed to help parents guide their daughters through the roller coaster years of adolescence. The teenage girl’s life is full noise and drama, but what is she really saying? The pressures of school and peers and expectations are enormous; how can parents stay close and encourage independence? Why Girls Talk informs and, sometimes, shocks parents to help them understand the very real pressures that girls feel. It is filled with practical advice and real-life examples and closes with thirteen strategies to help parents stay close emotionally and keep the lines of communication open.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, Elaine.
This book provides a step-by-step approach to improving communication with your children. Each chapter covers a topic such as “Helping Children Deal with Their Feelings,” “Praise,” and “Encouraging Autonomy” and includes cartoon illustrations and exercises to help parents implement the strategies. Some of the problem-solving and communication techniques would be helpful for anyone, not just your kids. The new edition of this book, originally written over ten years ago, includes questions and answers describing specific situations.