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The Gifted Teen Survival Guide: Smart, Sharp, and Ready for (Almost) Anything
Based on new surveys of nearly 1,500 gifted teens, this book is the ultimate guide to thriving in a world that doesn't always support or understand high ability. Full of surprising facts, survey results, step-by-step strategies, inspiring teen quotes, and insightful expert essays, the guide gives readers the tools they need to appreciate their giftedness as an asset and use it to make the most of who they are. The fourth edition has been revised for a new generation of high-end learners and includes information on twice-exceptionality, emotional and social intelligence, creativity, teen brain development, managing life online, testing and standards, homeschooling, International Baccalaureate programs, college alternatives, STEM careers, cyberbullying, and other hot topics.Book PaperbackPublication 9/1/2011 272Reading Age 11 and Up
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2007
About the author
Judy Galbraith
19 books4 followersAs a former classroom teacher and specialist in gifted education, Judy Galbraith , MA recognized a clear need for books to help children and teens navigate life’s challenges. Judy founded Free Spirit Publishing in 1983 becoming the first publisher to focus on self-help materials to help young people lead better lives. Her first books, and the first titles for Free Spirit Publishing, grew out of her master’s thesis paper and they're still in print today...The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guides (for ages 10 & under and for teens).
Not having a business or publishing background, Judy learned about growing Free Spirit the hard way. “I always tell people that I’ve done just about everything wrong...once. I’m a strong believer in the importance of persistence in the face of challenges. With every mistake or bad thing that might happen in our lives, there’s always, always an opportunity to learn, improve, and grow. By modeling this mindset for children and teens through our deeds and through resources such as the ones we create at Free Spirit, we can help young people do and be their best in all areas of their lives. I grew up around books, and I firmly believe they have the power to inspire, inform, and transform.”
Judy is proud of the accolades Free Spirit’s books consistently garner from professionals, but she says, “How do we know our books really work? The letters from our readers. Almost every day we receive fan mail about how our books have helped someone. Those letters make it easy for us to stay true to our mission which is to provide children and teens - and the adults who care about them—with the tools they need to succeed in life and to make a difference in the world.”
In addition to The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guides, Judy is the coauthor of What Teens Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Shape Your Own Future; What Kids Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids; and When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All the Answers: How to Meet Their Social and Emotional Needs.
Judy served ten years on the Board of Directors of Search Institute, a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing the well-being of children and adolescents. From 2007–2010, she was a member of Minnesota 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees. In 1996, Galbraith received the E. Paul Torrance Creativity Award; in 2004, she was named the Midwest Publisher of the Year; and in 2011, she was awarded with the California Association for the Gifted (CAG) Ruth A. Martinson Award. She has appeared on Oprah and been featured in Family Circle and Family Life, as well as numerous other magazines, newspapers, and broadcast and electronic media. She is a member of the Association of Booksellers for Children, the Association of Educational Publishers, the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, and the National Association for Gifted Children.
Judy grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, received a degree in education from the University of Wisconsin at Steven’s Point, and holds a master’s degree in guidance and counseling of the gifted from Norwich University, Vermont. She is a sailor and enjoys adventure travel, reading (of course!), community activism, and taking long walks with her rescue dogs, Sally and Twiggy. Judy lives with her partner, Gary, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Not having a business or publishing background, Judy learned about growing Free Spirit the hard way. “I always tell people that I’ve done just about everything wrong...once. I’m a strong believer in the importance of persistence in the face of challenges. With every mistake or bad thing that might happen in our lives, there’s always, always an opportunity to learn, improve, and grow. By modeling this mindset for children and teens through our deeds and through resources such as the ones we create at Free Spirit, we can help young people do and be their best in all areas of their lives. I grew up around books, and I firmly believe they have the power to inspire, inform, and transform.”
Judy is proud of the accolades Free Spirit’s books consistently garner from professionals, but she says, “How do we know our books really work? The letters from our readers. Almost every day we receive fan mail about how our books have helped someone. Those letters make it easy for us to stay true to our mission which is to provide children and teens - and the adults who care about them—with the tools they need to succeed in life and to make a difference in the world.”
In addition to The Gifted Kids’ Survival Guides, Judy is the coauthor of What Teens Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Shape Your Own Future; What Kids Need to Succeed: Proven, Practical Ways to Raise Good Kids; and When Gifted Kids Don’t Have All the Answers: How to Meet Their Social and Emotional Needs.
Judy served ten years on the Board of Directors of Search Institute, a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing the well-being of children and adolescents. From 2007–2010, she was a member of Minnesota 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees. In 1996, Galbraith received the E. Paul Torrance Creativity Award; in 2004, she was named the Midwest Publisher of the Year; and in 2011, she was awarded with the California Association for the Gifted (CAG) Ruth A. Martinson Award. She has appeared on Oprah and been featured in Family Circle and Family Life, as well as numerous other magazines, newspapers, and broadcast and electronic media. She is a member of the Association of Booksellers for Children, the Association of Educational Publishers, the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, and the National Association for Gifted Children.
Judy grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, received a degree in education from the University of Wisconsin at Steven’s Point, and holds a master’s degree in guidance and counseling of the gifted from Norwich University, Vermont. She is a sailor and enjoys adventure travel, reading (of course!), community activism, and taking long walks with her rescue dogs, Sally and Twiggy. Judy lives with her partner, Gary, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 1, 2020
I agree, this book is rather pretentious sounding and makes gifted people seem superhuman and better than the rest of society. But it also had some good advice and info.
January 30, 2021
Now, THAT was a helpful tool! I especially enjoyed the section about social skills / friendships - I bookmarked it for my son to read.
March 2, 2013
Coming from a gifted kid, this book is rather pretentious.
June 20, 2023
The Gifted Teen Survival Guide is a handbook designed to provide practical advice and guidance to teenagers and youth who have been identified as gifted. The content covers many topics, ranging from the definition of giftedness, discussions about contemporay educational options (which colleges to attend, homeschooling, etc.), and career advice. The book is written in an engaging tone, that is not too acdemic nor too simple. As a teenager myself, I truly enjoyed reading this book and would wholeheartedly endorese it not just for the youth themselves, but also for parents and teachers who work with these types of students. Thank you
July 11, 2025
A great resource that I wish I had when I was a teenager. I believe this book would have helped me understand myself a lot better then. I read it now as a father of 2 very intelligent, twice exceptional kids... one of whom is entering the teen years. I think this book will be a great way to kick off some conversations with them...
with that being said, it's pretty over saturated and could be pared down quite a bit. I did skip the section on college acceptance, as I have a while before that is an issue..
so I will definitely recommend my kids read this, and will have conversations about it... but it's not an all-encompassing reference guide or anything... just a good resource to have.
with that being said, it's pretty over saturated and could be pared down quite a bit. I did skip the section on college acceptance, as I have a while before that is an issue..
so I will definitely recommend my kids read this, and will have conversations about it... but it's not an all-encompassing reference guide or anything... just a good resource to have.
June 4, 2017
It is a little hard for me to read non-fiction but this book was kind of worth it. It's about the life of a gifted teenager and how their brains work differently. It talks about topics ranging from the way our brain is forming, to IQ and EQ, to college and the future, to relationships and even the meaning of life. All these topics are extremely relevant to my life, and I was able to resolve a lot of the problems that I constantly find myself thinking about. It also opened my view to the feature and helped me start thinking about high school, and college, and my career(s).
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April 29, 2016Galbraith, J., & Delisle, J. R. (2011). The gifted teen survival guide: Smart, sharp, and ready for (almost) anything. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit.
Citation by:
David Brooks
Type of Reference:
Handbook
Call Number:
Ref 155.5
Content/Scope:
This 261 page handbook is aimed at grades nine and up. This book covers the needs of gifted high school students and addresses several strategies that may help students. Topics ranging from tests, time management, social interactions, college, depression, and other frustrations gifted students may face are discussed.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias:
Galbraith and Delisle both have written numerous handbooks and books related to gifted students. They are both respected figures in educating and parenting involved with gifted students.
Arrangement/Presentation:
Arrangement of this book is broken into different chapters based upon different aspects of dealing with being a gifted teenager. The book begins with a focus on giftedness and different ways that they can learn. Middle to later chapters focus on how the gifted student can change their life to deal with the frustrations, school, and growing up while being a gifted student. Illustrations, charts, tables, quizzes, and surveys help present content in a way that engages the audience.
Relation to other works:
This handbook addresses the needs of students considered to have gifted abilities and needs. The handbook helps to meet the library’s need for books that will help students based upon their ability level.
Accessibility/Diversity:
This book is primarily aimed towards students that are considered gifted and talented. Though it focuses on primarily students that are considered gifted, the book deals with several concepts and issues that students of different abilities may benefit from learning.
Cost:
$15.99
Professional Review:
Murphy, N. G. (2012, January). The gifted teen survival guide: Smart, sharp, and ready for (almost) anything. School Library Journal, 58(1), 136. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.libsrv.wku.ed...
Citation by:
David Brooks
Type of Reference:
Handbook
Call Number:
Ref 155.5
Content/Scope:
This 261 page handbook is aimed at grades nine and up. This book covers the needs of gifted high school students and addresses several strategies that may help students. Topics ranging from tests, time management, social interactions, college, depression, and other frustrations gifted students may face are discussed.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias:
Galbraith and Delisle both have written numerous handbooks and books related to gifted students. They are both respected figures in educating and parenting involved with gifted students.
Arrangement/Presentation:
Arrangement of this book is broken into different chapters based upon different aspects of dealing with being a gifted teenager. The book begins with a focus on giftedness and different ways that they can learn. Middle to later chapters focus on how the gifted student can change their life to deal with the frustrations, school, and growing up while being a gifted student. Illustrations, charts, tables, quizzes, and surveys help present content in a way that engages the audience.
Relation to other works:
This handbook addresses the needs of students considered to have gifted abilities and needs. The handbook helps to meet the library’s need for books that will help students based upon their ability level.
Accessibility/Diversity:
This book is primarily aimed towards students that are considered gifted and talented. Though it focuses on primarily students that are considered gifted, the book deals with several concepts and issues that students of different abilities may benefit from learning.
Cost:
$15.99
Professional Review:
Murphy, N. G. (2012, January). The gifted teen survival guide: Smart, sharp, and ready for (almost) anything. School Library Journal, 58(1), 136. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.libsrv.wku.ed...
January 3, 2016
"The Gifted Teen Survival Guide: Smart, Sharp, and Ready for (Almost) Anything" is a book about gifted teenagers. It talks about giftedness and it's meaning and the different types of gifted teens. The first couple of books After you understand and read about giftedness the book explains how you can take advantage of your giftedness and use it in school and with other people. The book also talks about some problems that gifted teens face and how you can solve these problems. The book is written from teens around the world to teens. From the book you also learn what being gifted actually means. You can also learn how to make friends if you have trouble having them. There is just everything in this book that everyone needs.
The first important thing that I learned from this book is that there are different types of smart. A Psychologist Howard Gardner has a very popular model called "multiple intelligence". He believes that intelligence takes many forms. Visual(art smart), Verbal(word smart), Logical(number smart), Bodily(body smart), Interpersonal(people smart), intrapersonal (self smart), Musical(music smart), Naturalist(nature smart). The second thing was how to find your IQ tests. And the last one is how you can shape or mind. You can shape your mind by reading more. Try to do as many activities as you can so that you learn different things and you might find something that you like and enjoy.
I recommend this book to everyone who thinks they are not gifted because this book will prove that you are wrong. Everyone is gifted in a way. And grades doesn't mean that you are not gifted it just means that you might have a problem that's why you can't do your best in school. Well that doesn't mean you don't need to do any effort but there are some kids and teens who have different problems that stop them from being their best at school. That 's what I personally learned from the book.
The first important thing that I learned from this book is that there are different types of smart. A Psychologist Howard Gardner has a very popular model called "multiple intelligence". He believes that intelligence takes many forms. Visual(art smart), Verbal(word smart), Logical(number smart), Bodily(body smart), Interpersonal(people smart), intrapersonal (self smart), Musical(music smart), Naturalist(nature smart). The second thing was how to find your IQ tests. And the last one is how you can shape or mind. You can shape your mind by reading more. Try to do as many activities as you can so that you learn different things and you might find something that you like and enjoy.
I recommend this book to everyone who thinks they are not gifted because this book will prove that you are wrong. Everyone is gifted in a way. And grades doesn't mean that you are not gifted it just means that you might have a problem that's why you can't do your best in school. Well that doesn't mean you don't need to do any effort but there are some kids and teens who have different problems that stop them from being their best at school. That 's what I personally learned from the book.
June 11, 2012
I was surprised, but I finished the entire thing cover to cover. Yes! This book was checked out from the library as sort of a joke, as a have always been put into "gifted classes" and considered "really smart" by peers and parents. However, it has some great information regarding post-high school options and other various things. Not bad at all.
(Albeit a little pretentious and condescending. But is it possible to write a book like this without being pretentious and condescending to at least a few people?)
(Albeit a little pretentious and condescending. But is it possible to write a book like this without being pretentious and condescending to at least a few people?)
January 1, 2014
Great resource for gifted students in grades 6-12. Gives practical advice and is written in an easy to read format. Students could just read chapters that discuss issues important to them or read the book from cover to cover.
April 12, 2016
Read this slowly over a year. Tons of good stuff. Lots of quotes and essays from teens. Plenty of info about college, gap years, which I needed. Covers just about every topic EXCEPT drug abuse, which is too bad. I was a little uncomfortable with how sexuality and suicide were approached at times.
June 22, 2012
A lot of info...would be great for a teen trying to make sense of things.
August 9, 2013
I'm glad I read this book. I feel more relaxed about my own learning pace and development.
March 11, 2018
Really well written and researched. Great for teens.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews