From the bestselling author of Necessary Journeys --here is the book every mother of a maturing girl will need to have on her shelf. "Just as we once peered over the crib rails to search our newborn daughters' faces for signs of personality or family resemblance, so too, during the years of adolescence, mother and daughter alike will look into the mirror of each other's faces, searching for hints of their past and future selves, of resemblance and connection, as part of a journey of self discovery . . ." -- excerpt from Girl in the Mirror Drawing on the latest research and interviews with experts in different fields, Girl in the Mirror sheds new light on one of life's most important passages, the journey that is adolescence. Unlike other books, Girl in the Mirror focuses on the interaction between mother and daughter during this decade-long process, and illuminates how both the mother and her understanding of her parental role need to evolve and change as her child enters a new and crucial phase of emotional and psychic growth. A recognized authority in the field of women's health, Dr. Snyderman lays to rest some of the myths about adolescence, among them: "Raging" hormones and inevitable rebellion - The meaning of adolescent "autonomy" - The adolescent girl's need for "separation" from her mother - The negative role of peer influences Filled with practical wisdom and stories drawn not only from her experience with her own two adolescent daughters but those of other mothers from around the country, Girl in the Mirror offers readers a new vision: To see the years of adolescence as a time not of conflict but of opportunity for personal and spiritual growth for mothers and daughters alike. Mother, know thyself--especially mothers of daughters, for as Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D., and Peg Streep so eloquently convey in Girl in the Mirror , self-aware mothers stand a much greater chance of helping their daughters become happier, more fulfilled women. But there's a catch: oftentimes, a girl's volatile journey through puberty occurs during her mother's midlife--another physically and emotionally challenging stage of womanhood. Fusing an impressive array of research findings, expert interviews, quotations from classic texts on teens, and journal entries from regular moms (and a few dads), Snyderman and Streep clear a safe path through the brambles and muck commonly associated with "surviving" adolescence. Optimism, encouragement, and empathy fill every page of this thoughtfully compiled text. Whether they're unraveling a deceptively complex topic such as girls' friendships (from childhood "best friends" to teenage sexual partners), or reporting hard data on tough issues (chronic disorders, drug abuse, violence), Snyderman and Streep never buy in to "inevitable" scenarios. Rather, they offer practical methods to help mothers nurture a pattern of appropriate openness, trust, and respect with their maturing daughters. Excellent tools for assessing one's current perceptions, handling tough situations, and gracefully managing change add further substance to this marvelous resource. --Liane Thomas Both psychologist Manning (Undercurrents) and Snyderman, a surgeon, columnist, ABC and PBS medical news correspondent, and author, explore the mother-daughter relationship through research and personal experience. Although Snyderman restricts her study to adolescence and Manning takes a broader view, they both examine the relationship from dual perspectives, considering how mothers and daughters can bridge the gaps between them and create dynamic relationships for a lifetime. Manning argues that empathy can link mothers and daughters and identifies barriers to empathy at each life stage. Stressing that it is never too late to build a better relationship, she urges women to examine themselves and see what barriers they are creating. In an afterword, she urges all women to use empathy not only in their relationships with their mothers and daughters but in improving the status of women everywhere. Snyderman offers an in-depth analysis of the mother-daughter relationship during adolescence, suggesting that growth and change need to be experienced by the mother as well as the daughter and offering guidelines for dealing with these changes. She stresses the individual nature of each relationship for both mothers and daughters, and notes the frequent coincidence of a daughter's adolescence and a mother's entry into mid-life, times when both may be exploring expanded roles and identities. Snyderman offers concrete examples and tries to debunk certain myths of adolescence, such as inevitable rebellion and raging hormones. Both books are recommended for parenting and women's issues collections in public and academic libraries. Kay Brodie, Chesapeake Coll., Wye Mills, MD Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Snyderman, health columnist and television medical correspondent, brings personal perspective as a m