For the 20 million parents of 10- to 15-year-olds, The Roller-Coaster Years is a lively guide to mastering the ups and downs of early adolescence. Every parent knows about the terrible twos and the brooding teens, but few have anticipated the wild ride of these magical yet maddening years that can provide all the thrills and chills of a carnival ride. Now, drawing together the latest information from experts, supported and advised by the National Middle School Association, and with surprising insights from the authors' own surveys of parents, teachers, and the children themselves, The Roller-Coaster Years covers every facet of the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of early adolescents, including: • Appearance Anxiety • Distractibility • Fears and Other Emotions • The Battle for Independence • Success in School • Friendship and Peer Pressure • Sexual Awakening • The Lure of Tobacco, Drugs, and Alcohol • The Promise and Peril of Electronic Media • Sticky Questions About Your Own Past "Honest, insightful, contemporary and helpful. Seldom will you find solid research and sound advice packaged so engagingly." --John H. Lounsbury, National Middle School Association "Parenting children during the 'tween years from ten to fifteen is like building a bridge that enables young persons to cross from childhood into adulthood. The practical and informative tools in this book will help you bring out the best in your teenager--and yourself." --William Sears, M.D. "Buckle-up and read The Roller-Coaster Years for its empathy, invaluable information, and practical tips. It is a well-researched and user-friendly guide that can help you help your child build skills, gain confidence, and prepare for the breathless ride toward high school." --Carol Weston, author of Girltalk "Honest, insightful, contemporary and helpful. Seldom will you find solid research and sound advice packaged so engagingly." --John H. Lounsbury, National Middle School Association "Parenting children during the 'tween years from ten to fifteen is like building a bridge that enables young persons to cross from childhood into adulthood. The practical and informative tools in this book will help you bring out the best in your teenager--and yourself." --William Sears, M.D. "Buckle-up and read The Roller-Coaster Years for its empathy, invaluable information, and practical tips. It is a well-researched and user-friendly guide that can help you help your child build skills, gain confidence, and prepare for the breathless ride toward high school." --Carol Weston, author of Girltalk illion parents of 10- to 15-year-olds, The Roller-Coaster Years is a lively guide to mastering the ups and downs of early adolescence. Every parent knows about the terrible twos and the brooding teens, but few have anticipated the wild ride of these magical yet maddening years that can provide all the thrills and chills of a carnival ride. Now, drawing together the latest information from experts, supported and advised by the National Middle School Association, and with surprising insights from the authors' own surveys of parents, teachers, and the children themselves, The Roller-Coaster Years covers every facet of the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of early adolescents, including: Appearance Anxiety Distractibility Fears and Other Emotions The Battle for Independence Success in School Friendship and Peer Pressure< Drawing together the latest information from experts, supported and advised by the National Middle School Association, and with surprising insights from the authors' own surveys of parents, teachers, and the children themselves, The Roller-Coaster Years covers every facet of the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development of early adolescents, including appearance anxiety; distractibility; fears and other emotions; the battle for independence; sibling rivalry; success in school; friendship and peer pressure; sexual awakening; the lure of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol; the promise and peril of electronic media; and sticky questions about your own past. Charlene C. Giannetti is a journalist and the author of three previous books.  She is the mother of two children going through the roller-coaster years and lives in New York City.   Margaret Sagarese taught young adolescents for several years and has written many books.  She is the mother of one roller-coaster-years child and lives in Long Island, New York. Getting a View from the Ferris Wheel "The biggest challenge in dealing with this age group is their roller-coaster emotions." --Middle school teacher from Washington "She's driving me crazy!" the mother of a thirteen-year-old girl confessed to a friend over the phone.  "Her math teacher called to tell me she hasn't handed in any homework for three days.  You should see her room!  I expect the board of health will soon condemn it.  And the way she dresses! The other day s