parent and teenager

"San Francisco Chronicle" columnist Adair Lara recounts her attempts to juggle love and discipline during her daughter Morgan's teen years while coping with the return of her own absent father, discussing Morgan's drug use and other rebellious behavior as well as the relationship difficulties in their stepfamily.

Provides parents with tips and advice designed to help them successfully guide their children through their senior year of high school through the beginning years of college, discussing some of the most common challenges teens face during that period.

Readers who have a parent or parents that are alcohol/drug abusers learn how to survive in a chemically dependent household, and find out where to get help for their parent(s) and themselves.

April Taylor, short, sensitive, and overweight, is wounded by her once-loving father's harsh criticism, and envious of her older sister Brenda's confidence and athleticism, but things start looking up when Brenda brings her beautiful college roommate Celia home for a visit.

Describes the traumatic effects caused by cliques in American schools and offers an eight-step program designed to help parents teach their children how to avoid the common pitfalls of cliques.

Offers parents advice on how to talk to their teenagers about a variety of difficult topics.