Not Much Just Chillin’ the hidden lives of middle schoolers By: Linda Perlstein

Some of the people you will meet---maybe you know them---just different names! Trying to figure out this puberty stuff Juggle the pressure of trying to be perfect Popular-can’t understand why Dealing with divorce Trying to be the #1 friend Always the faithful friend Lazy Still a child bored

THE Book for anyone with Q’s needing A’s !CAUTION! This book is not for the faint of heart! Neither is the world of the Middle Schooler But you will be enlightened with a rare look Into the minds and lives of real middle school Students.

“why won’t they open up to me anymore” “this used to be so much easier” “I never say the right thing” “She’s at the age where she’s not telling us anything” Twenty minute car rides, no talking What are they thinking??? They used to love this She’s at that age, she’s just not telling us much.

I did my homework, I just can’t find it. That teacher just picks on me because she doesn’t like me! One boy asks” In high school a D is failing?” “No, you pass unless you get an F” “Whoo-hoo,” Eric says, “I’m gonna make it!” He knows his teachers care, he doesn’t think caring is sufficient. They need to understand. Absent=No homework

It’s all about muscles now Best friends one day, hate each other the next Instant messaging I don’t want to go out with him! Freak dancing The boys all like her just because she’s hot What if nobody likes my outfit? I wish I had a boyfriend The Mall He’s just not popular enough to hang out with

“Even though they are adolescents, they are still little children inside” The girls don’t like the wrong kind of attention from the boys, they just want attention The kids are getting new bodies that they aren’t sure what to do with Every issue seems life threatening Highly emotional Self-centered Self-absorbed

This book, while extremely insightful, is also Disturbing. To think that our middleschool Students are this distanced from parents is a Scary thought. To hear what the students are Actually thinking and reasoning is also eye- Opening. It was a relief to hear that although sex is a large topic discussed, most middle schoolers are not sexually active yet. To actually hear the insecurities over friend acceptance expressed, was heart-breaking

I had a love/hate relationship with this book in that I hated to see the child sell themselves short and let others interpretation dictate what they wore, how they talked, what the would express about likes and dislikes. The part I loved, was the same. If aware of their world, we can reach them. We can maybe help them through some of the tougher parts. Let them know they are not alone, they ARE special while they are NOT the center of the universe. As teachers we need to heed Eric’s advice, care and understand.

Read this book and you will enter the world of the middleschooler; gain insight as a teacher and lose sleep as a parent. It’s a tough journey, but it’s temporary.