How to Handle Stress for Middle School Success

Gr 4-7–The middle school transition can be a stressful time for tweens and teens. In the latest “Kid Confident” installment, Guerra provides readers helpful information on where stress comes from, as well as tools and tips for how they can manage it. Using a video game format, this guide asks readers to move from level to level, learning about new “hacks” to manage stress. Topics range from breathing strategies and managing emotions to developing a growth mindset and challenging their brain mistakes. Readers are provided with research-based and practical solutions for dealing with stress. Chapter ending “quests,” the most effective element of this text, give readers a chance to put these strategies to good use, and extensive back matter provides a plethora of resources. Setting a conversational tone throughout, this volume is highly practical and will be encouraging to middle schoolers in need of support. Directions for new exercises or strategies are well laid out and easy to follow. Visual elements, particularly charts, organize the information thoughtfully. At times, the conversational language may come across as too informal, making it less appealing to older middle school students.