Our Last Best Shot: Guiding our Children Through Early Adolescence

by Laura Sessions Stepp

Our Last Best Shot presents the personal stories of twelve girls and boys from across America. Their stories, and Laura Sessions Stepp's extensive research, provide real insight for parents trying to raise well-adjusted children in this difficult age. Filled with wisdom and common sense, based on cutting-edge research, and featuring an invaluable resource list, this is a book that parents and educators cannot afford to be without.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Laura Sessions Stepp was an American author and journalist.

Reviews

[madeline santman · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is BRILLIANT

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information but I was looking for the author to really point out the good actions by parents within the adolescent stories. Sometimes it was difficult to determine if the author thought a particular parenting style was good or bad. I like it that the book did really emphasize the importance of having several supportive adults in our childrens' lives.

[Princess Peach · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok. An updated study would be more interesting and helpful. This book is pre-smartphone adolescence.

[Annm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was pretty helpful. The writer clearly cares for the people she is writing about, and the richness of the stories of those people is wonderful. While no specific case study would be like any other child, the collection together I think is a good resource for me to think about my own kids.

[Kerry Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very helpful to me as the parent of tweens. I read it when my oldest was in that age range. We applied many of the suggestions contained in the book. She is now about to turn 20 years old and is a smart, witty, remarkable, kind and loving person. I'd like to think this booked helped us to be great parents to her and helped her become the amazing woman she is.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When parenting teens becomes your day-to-day struggle, count this as a solid reference book, but beware that you will have to shed old stereotypes (maybe even your own upbringing) and follow your heart, not your head in raising good kids. Or better yet, follow THEIR hearts. The difficult journey will be worth it and this book will keep you staying the course.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was full of good reminders of things I knew as a youth worker but haven't thought about the same way as a parent. At this age, kids are developing incredibly rapidly and unevenly. They need meaningful responsibilities. Relationships with adults who aren't their parents can be essential.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good refresher on my rusty adolescent psychology studies. The pop-culture and technology references are dated, but the fundamentals haven't changed. To be fair, this book deserves 4 stars, but I had to deduct because I didn't learn anything new.

[Julianne]

The first section has been interesting so far.

[Margy Levine Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent guide to parenting sixth to eight graders. I read it in 2003 when this was on my mind.