The Middle School Survival Guide: How to Survive from the Day Elementary School Ends until the Second High School Begins

by Arlene Erlbach, Helen Flook (Illustrations)

Middle school can be the best of times. It can be the worst of times, too. It happens at that tumultuous time in life when one's not a teenager and not a little kid. Middle school means being a middle-aged kid. Expectations-from teachers, parents, friends, siblings-can all change dramatically, causing worry and concern even for the most laid-back student.

The Middle School Survival Guide covers every issue, inside school and out, from the most trivial concerns to the most serious issues that middle school students face today. Arlene Erlbach has assembled a teen advisory board of 200 kids between fifth and tenth grade who give advice about topics from cracking a locker combination, to dealing with multiple teachers, to sex and dating.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Education

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

About the author

Arlene Erlbach is the author of more than forty books for young people — both fiction and non fiction. Her first book and first try at writing Does Your Nose Get in The Way, Too? won a Romance Writers of America Award for best Young Adult novel of the year. Her interviews and advice books The Best Friends Book, The Families Book, are recipients of Parent’s Choice awards. “Voice of Youth Advocates” called her Best Friends Book, the ultimate book on friendship. Her Middle School Survival Guide has sold over fifteen thousand copies since Fall of 2003. A Booklist review described it as strong and much needed advice for middle schoolers. The Kids’ Business Book, The Kids’ Volunteering and The Kids’ Invention Book, which are interview / how to books are notable books in social studies. Both The Kids’ Invention Book and the Kids’ Business Book have been book club editions. The Kids’ Invention Book is excerpted in Harcourt Brace’s collection series, which is the bestselling basal series in the United States. Thanksgiving Day Crafts has received the CHILDREN'S CHOICES FOR 2006 award.

Arlene is a careful observer of the school scene. She has been an elementary school teacher for 17 years and is currently working on a second masters degree in education. She was the teen advice columnist for CompuServe’s Wow! and is a frequent speaker at schools.

Series contributed to:
. Crosswinds

Reviews

[AnnieM · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is definitely the best for kids and parents going through this difficult time. I'm a firm believer that if kids can make it through this stage, the rest of their life is going to be much easier.

I love when books are challenged. While this boom is over ten years old, most of the content is solid. It covers everything from school, homework, to bullies, sex, puberty, and pregnancy.

With that list, clearly someone was going to challenge it. It is real and honest. While the information makes people uncomfortable, it didn't mean it isn't useful.

I will be looking for an updated version for our collection.

[Lila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend The Middle School Survival Guide by Arlene Erlbach. It truly prepared me for all aspects of junior high. Its four main categories- fitting in, academics, changing expectations, and serious issues are informative and extremely helpful! If I could, I would formally thank Arlene Erlbach for everything she’s done for me. This book is a must for any incoming middle schooler.

[Denisse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una guía rápida de cómo sobrevivir a la secundaria o cómo dicen aquí en Estados Unidos al “middle school”. Decidí leerlo porque mi hija entra a esta nueva etapa y quise enterarme cómo es en estos tiempos.

Aunque es un libro para jóvenes que van al 5 o 6 grado, veo muy recomendable que se lea junto a los padres por temas un poco avanzados.

El libro es muy fácil de leer e incluso tiene ilustraciones y ejemplos de personas reales y sus experiencias. Entre los temas que trata el libro vemos: el perderse en la escuela, nuevo ambiente, nuevos amigos, las expectativas de los profesores, los distintos tipos de amigos, el bullying, la atracción de sexo opuesto, los nuevos cambios en el cuerpo, evadir adicciones y enfrentarlas, entre otros temas.

Lo recomiendo totalmente a quienes necesiten informarse y quieran aprender resolver ciertos problemas que se presentan en esta escuela.

[Lena White]

Erlbach, A. (2003). The middle school survival guide: How to survive from the day elementary school ends until the second high school begins. New York: Walker & Co.

Citation by: Lena White

Type of Reference: Handdbook

Call Number: teen 373.18 erlb

Content/Scope: This open and honest guide is aimed at fifth to eighth graders. It covers topics inherent to middle school life, such as peers, home-life, and transitions. The topics are covered in no-nonsense language and can include information on sex, drugs, and other important topics for pre-teens. It includes quotations from kids as well.

Authority/Accuracy/Bias: Arlene Erlbach is the author of more than forty books for young people — both fiction and non fiction. Her interviews and advice books The Best Friends Book, The Families Book, are recipients of Parent’s Choice awards. “Voice of Youth Advocates” called her Best Friends Book, the ultimate book on friendship. She has been an elementary school teacher for 17 years and is currently working on a second masters degree in education. She was the teen advice columnist for CompuServe’s Wow! and is a frequent speaker at schools. Erlbach assembled a team of 200 teens to help give specific advice for all the problems that middle schoolers have.

Arrangement/Presentation: The 160 page book is broken into chapters that discuss different aspects of a particular topic. Those topics are then broken down into sections that allow readers to hone in on the specific piece that they want to find information that they need.

Relation to other works: There are many such guides for teens and preteens. This stands out because of the collaboration with 200 teens/preteens from age 10-15 that help to give advice to those reading the guide book. Its frank discussion is one that will appeal to students with questions and worries that want to hear honest answers.

Accessibility/Diversity: Some of the language is explicit and frank. It is delivered in a nonsexist way and is inclusive of all students in this age group.

Cost: $17.95

Professional Review: Glover, T. (2003) The middle school survival guide. The Booklist, 100(2), p. 233.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. It is exactly what it is called - a survival guide. It has a lot of information about changing from the elementary style - one class to the many classes of middle and high school. How to deal with teachers, other students and your family at this time in your life. It was challenged in a school district because it talks about things that a middle schooler will see and might be exposed to- sex, drugs, violence. The author does use correct terms for body parts and talks about puberty and the feelings you may have about people you are interested in. I think it is well written information that speaks openly to kids, information that they really need and sometimes don't get from their parents. A couple of things that bothered me - 1) a typo on page 92 - you've are... (pick one - you are or you have - and proofread!)and 2) the author talks about crushing on someone of the same sex and only in the context of admiring that person and want to be more like them. Hello, people, there are gay kids who crush on someone of the same sex and it is about love and not just admiring them because they are good at sports or are smart, etc. A sentence or two would have been all that was needed. Don't exclude people because of how you may feel about that or want to be pc. Parents should read it and let their kids read it. It's a great book to start a conversation.

[Dreamergirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so this book really had some interesting parts, but I thought it would have more stuff on other topics too, for example like Stick Up For Yourslef by Gershen Kaufman. I loved how the writer Arlene Erlbach writes with such light-hearted humor and that's what made it a fun book to read. I also liked how it was very straight forward and it makes it much easier to read than for example a book that would go "around" things because the author doesn't know what the right advice is give to young adults in difficult situations. It was surprising to see what some people are worried about and how they deal with it. All in all I would most likely recommend. I liked how the author not only dealed with things at school but also stuff outside the locker doors.

Grade level: 5th-10th

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this book a 3 because it did give a lot of useful information to get you through the somewhat tragic and difficult year of middle school. The book taught me how to "charm" a teacher, do well in school, what to do, when you should do it, what not to do, etc. I also enjoyed the book because the author added some humor into the read. Some reasons as to why I didn't rate this read 5 stars is because I noticed that it gave just general and some boring information. I felt as though the author didnt add as much detail as I would like him to do. Some of the tips the author gave were just common sense and the book became a little bit of a drag to read. I would recommend this book to any student because it is an easy and fast read which most people enjoy.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I though this book was a great book for me as an 8th grader. I thought this because I am going to be at the High School next year. This book gave a specific details about what I should do to make my teachers like me, how I should act around my friends and teachers, and many more. This gave me in depth detail. one thing I thought they could have give more information about was how to find some new friends. Over all I thought this book was good.