Firstly, this is not a book so much as a pamphlet. As with many things aimed at young people, I think it's unlikely that the target market will actually read the book. And thank goodness for that! To me, the overall tone was one of trying to put an old head on young shoulders. There are preteens in my family and I think that the book is pitched beyond their reading comprehension. I found many sections concerning, eg the assumption that all girls reading the book are heterosexual and the claim that boyfriends will get sex whether you give it to them or not. I appreciate that the writer's intentions are probably good but I would be worried that the messages conveyed may cause confusion in young minds. The comments on promiscuity are judgemental and potentially harmful. Ditto the stereotyping of certain young men, eg football players. The book overall promotes ideal world scenarios which have no basis in reality beyond the author's personal experience so this is not something I would wish my own child to read. It's not well-written and descends into chaos as it proceeds. This is absolutely NOT suitable for preteens with impressionable young minds. Perhaps the writer would find it more cathartic to produce a memoir than to preach archaic beliefs at young people?

As a grandma of eight I am entering the world of the preteen for the third time and felt I should do a little revision so I can help rather than hinder the situation. I would recommend the book is read first by an adult of the preteen so it could be discussed or commented on if required.

Although not stated in the blurb this book is mainly written for preteen girls and for the most part gives helpful advice and information.  A lot of it is obvious to me but is, I think, told in a way which doesn't talk down to or over-complicate things and that is vital if any of it is to be taken on board and acted upon by the young people it is aimed at.

I wasn't so sure the role of the mature student was as relevant as the rest of the book. My granddaughter thinks 25 is old and 30 positivity ancient so have a feeling she would, at the most, only skim this section. It is also worth mentioning that the book is, education-wise, aimed at the American system and so isn't all that relevant anyway. The remainder however, is universal and may well be taken on board far more readily than if a parent or trusted adult was to tell them the exact same things.

I was able to read a copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend this to anyone who has preteens in their present or near-future.  In the UK it is still worth reading and then sharing if you disregard the final part.