The Phone Book: Stay Safe, Be Smart, and Make the World Better with the Powerful Device in Your Hand

by Jessica Speer, Lesley Imgart (Illustrations)

So . . . you got a phone! You can text your friends, play games, and take cool pictures! You have the whole world in your pocket—power to be used as a force for good or, um, not so good.

Fraught with digital drama, cyberbullying, fake stuff, tech addiction, FOMO and so much more, the digital world can be downright awkward, and nasty. But have no fear,—The Phone Book is here! Packed with research-based explanations, techy tidbits, and real stories from hundreds of teens and preteens, this phone book (the fun kind) is your guide to healthy phone habits and ways to stay safe online. And while you’re on your journey, super illustrations, activities, and secret codes will reveal the power of your phone and the superpowers you have to wield it. Go forth, be informed, and slay the dark side of technology!

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle Grade

160 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2023

About the author

Jessica Speer writes books for kids and teens, including The Phone Book - Stay Safe, Be Smart and Make the World Better with the Powerful Device in Your Hand. Her first book, BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends), was a finalist for the 2022 Kids Choice Book Awards. Her second book, Middle School - Safety Goggles Advised was a finalist for the 2023 Colorado Book Award.

Blending stories, humor, and fun activities, her writing unpacks tricky stuff that surfaces during childhood and adolescence. Jessica has a Master's Degree in Social Sciences and a knack for writing about complex topics in ways that connect with kids. For more information, visit www.JessicaSpeer.com

Reviews

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When young teens get their first smartphone, it's like a whole new digital world opens up for them. This book gives teens the tools and wisdom to navigate the online world with kindness and grace. Phone addiction is absolutely real and can have a negative impact on our lives, causing depression and anxiety as well as health issues. But it IS possible to have a healthy relationship with your phone!

This book has sections about cyberbullying, spotting fake news, tech addiction, phishing scams, and dangerous strangers online. You can learn to be careful what you put on your "digital footprint" that may come back to haunt you years later. You can remind yourself that it's not healthy to always be comparing yourself to others or worrying about FOMO. Social media does not reflect real life.

I really liked that this book gives true wisdom and practical guidelines for staying safe online and minimizing your phone usage. I found it helpful even as an adult! The book isn't all negative either. There are a lot of positive stories about kids who used their social media to promote charities, learn new skills, and spread kindness.

The cool thing about this book is that it combines a lot of different styles of text, activities, and graphics to capture your attention and make the information memorable. There are quizzes, secret codes, weird facts, and creative activities.

At the back of the book are several pages of sources, listing the studies and statistics that show how harmful a phone addiction can be. I was glad to see that this book has the research to back it up!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything it set out to do and everything I wanted it to be. The author, Jessica Speer, does a really good job teaching about the pitfalls and dangers of being online and with a cellphone in a way that's is age appropriate. I especially love that she doesn't stop there, she talks about the beauty and joy there is in the online world and how to achieve that with digital wellness. She empowers her young readers to do good in the unavoidable techy world they are growing up in.

[Jessica Vitalis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all of the author's previous work, this book is so fun and engaging that kids won't even realize they are being (gasp) educated while they are reading! They will be encouraged to evaluate their screen time usage, think about managing their digital reputations, and get straight talk from other teens while being entertained by fun quizzes, weird facts (did you know phones have ten times more bacteria than toilet seats?!!!), puzzles, and more! Highly recommended for the middle grade readers in your life!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book for middle schoolers. Our sixth grader read it in one day and really enjoyed it. He said some of the information was new to him (e.g., texting abbreviations and slang, information about social drama that can happen with phones) and some was a good review of stuff that he already knew but had maybe forgotten (e.g., safety tips, balancing screen time with other interests). He was a big fan of all of the activities, quizzes, weird facts, and anecdotes. All in all, a great resource and conversation starter.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phone fans of all ages will learn useful and engaging information in THE PHONE BOOK. This creative guide is equal parts science, anecdotes, weird facts and fun. It’s chock full of easy-to-read stats, eye opening case studies, quotable snippets from young people and relevant activities to bring new learning to life. This would make a great independent read or read aloud for teens and tweens and a helpful refresher for adults - especially those responsible for young people who love to be on devices

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know some adults who would benefit from this well-done book intended to help young people understand the complexities of our handheld devices.

[Jolene Gutiérrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Jessica Speer's books--I have copies of her books BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends) and Middle School - Safety Goggles Advised, and they've been wonderful additions to my school library. Jessica's books are helpful for kids and the adults who work with them and raise them. Her newest book, The Phone Book, is so powerful! It touches on many of the facets of digital citizenship including managing your digital footprint, being safe online, dealing with social media, and watching for misinformation. The Phone Book also addresses topics like being safe online, tech addiction, and cyberbullying. This interactive, fun, and easily digestible book is a must to help kids set limits and find balance. I highly recommend this book for all parents, teachers, counselors, and kids of a phone-bearing age!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 9 chapter, 152 page book is a great tool for parents and teachers to use with young people who own (or will own) a cell phone. Speer’s text is conversational and filled with facts about these powerful devices used by nearly everyone as well as real life examples of use and misuse, tips to stay safe and more. To keep young readers engaged, there are codes to solve and hands on activities in each chapter. Visually, the book is appealing with print variation, symbols for each type of information and lots of white space to keep readers from being distracted or tiring eyes. Seems like a good idea for parents to use this guide with their child, together, before gifting them with a cell phone. I can see this book incorporated into digital citizenship lessons at school as well.

Thanks for providing #BookAllies with a finished copy to review, Jessica Speer.

[Rina Heisel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book for teens and tweens! Both my kids (15 & 10) enjoyed this book and learned quite a bit. (I did too.) The topic is something they are of course interested in: Smartphones. The author has a wonderful way of presenting useful information in a fun and easily understandable way. Real-life anecdotes from teens, fun facts, and illustrations all help convey the perils and pitfalls of this advanced technology and all its consequences if the user isn't careful. Young people need all the tools available to navigate this digital world, and I can't recommend Speer's THE PHONE BOOK enough.

[Karen Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important, informative guide to managing screen time

An essential book for any new (or existing) cell phone/social media user.
With interesting questions and screen stories from phone users, to secret code-cracking and advice from others who have been there, this book takes readers through the do’s and don’ts of healthy and safe phone use and helps with navigating the world of social interaction in a positive way.

A must-read for all phone users - parents and grandparents alike! A guide to help make safe and smart choices. The layout and illustrations make it easy to read and refer back to.

[Angela Hawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Phone Book is a wonderful book to gift alongside a first phone for any teen or tween. Using humor, anecdotes, quizzes, interesting facts, games, and fun dialog, Speer clearly explains the various pitfalls and tools that accompany owning a phone. She includes definitions of words we often throw around which teens might not always know. Speer explains both the negative and positive aspects of phone use, empowers teens with ideas of using it for good, and points out how they can be in control. I also appreciate that Speer speaks to teens on their level and skillfully appeals to their intelligence.

This would be a great resource for schools, or discussions as a family about phone use.

[The Children's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, a book that talks to kids about phones without being preachy! My tween loved the quizzes, secret codes, and real teen stories throughout. As a parent, I appreciated how it explains the "why" behind tech companies' designs and helps kids understand digital citizenship. It's not all doom and gloom—it acknowledges the positives while teaching healthy habits. We used it to create our family tech agreement and have had some really great conversations because of it. Highly recommend for any family navigating the smartphone journey with kids ages 8-14!

[Hilary Margitich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect book to buy your child when or before they are to receive their very first smart phone. It provides guidance that is smart but not preachy, and also educates children on how new media works and how to be savvy and self-preserving with it. Visually appealing (the book itself looks like a phone) with many different types of features to keep kids engaged (i.e., real-life scenarios to get them thinking, quotes from kids, and fun quizzes to complete.

[Sam Subity · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for both kids and parents when they make that first cell phone purchase. Covering topics such as managing your online reputation, tech addiction, and how to detect creepers and scams, it's the missing manual for getting started with not just phones but with establishing a presence in the online world.

[Carla Manly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tremendously positive, much-needed book filled with vital information for parents, grandparents, caregivers, and children. Jessica Speer, thank you for creating a guide that helps us all use our phones more wisely--and for the good of us all.

[McKenna R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and informative look at cell phone etiquette and usage for teens.

[Mary Jeneverre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reminders on conducting professionalism through one's cell phone

[Emily Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for teenagers.

[Alysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE PHONE BOOK turns learning about digital literacy on its head in this fun and engaging primer. I'd have LOVED to have something like this before handing my own kids their first phones - and if I had it to do all over again, I'd make this required reading before handing over any device.
What I love about this book, like Speer's previous books, is that it speaks to kids in an easy, fun, and accessible way. Rather than telling them how to be a good digital citizen, it engages the reader with quizzes, fun facts, and straight talk all of which makes responsible usage feel natural.

Thank you to the author and Familius for the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Library copy

This is a great book to give to a child who has just gotten a smart phone for the first time, and would be even better to read WITH the child before the phone is allowed to be used. I didn't realize that this had activity pages and puzzles; this is fun if it's a personal copy, but I might not have bought it for my school library had I known that. I'm afraid that my students who would benefit from reading this might not be the people who pick it up. We'll see how it circulates.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Phone Book is the book I wish I had before my daughter got her first phone. It's fun and easy to read, engaging, and smart. This book should be required reading for both parents and children alike!

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be in the hands of every tween and teen with a phone. Seriously. It's entertaining and informative. Help your kids avoid making the kind of mistakes that last as long as the internet and buy this book today.