I have a son going into sixth grade. Middle school.
It freaks me out. I'm not going to lie. I worry about him.
I was able to review a fantastic book called Masterminds and Wingmen: Helping Your Son Cope with Schoolyard Power, Locker-Room Tests, Girlfriends, and the New Rules of Boy World by Rosalind Wiseman. (If her name sounds familiar, it should. She also wrote Queen Bees & Wannabes which is what the movie Mean Girls was based on.)
Here is what the book is about from Amazon.com:
Here is a landmark book that reveals the way boys think and that shows parents, educators and coaches how to reach out and help boys overcome their most common yet difficult challenges -- by the bestselling author who changed our conception of adolescent girls.
Do you constantly struggle to pull information from your son, student, or athlete, only to encounter mumbling or evasive assurances such as “It’s nothing” or “I’m good?” Do you sense that the boy you care about is being bullied, but that he’ll do anything to avoid your “help?” Have you repeatedly reminded him that schoolwork and chores come before video games only to spy him reaching for the controller as soon as you leave the room? Have you watched with frustration as your boy flounders with girls?
Welcome to Boy World. It’s a place where asking for help or showing emotional pain often feels impossible. Where sports and video games can mean everything, but working hard in school frequently earns ridicule from “the guys” even as they ask to copy assignments. Where “masterminds” dominate and friends ruthlessly insult each other but can never object when someone steps over the line. Where hiding problems from adults is the ironclad rule because their involvement only makes situations worse.
Boy world is governed by social hierarchies and a powerful set of unwritten rules that have huge implications for your boy’s relationships, his interactions with you, and the man he’ll become. If you want what’s best for him, you need to know what these rules are and how to work with them effectively.
What you’ll find in Masterminds and Wingmen is critically important for every parent – or anyone who cares about boys – to know. Collaborating with a large team of middle- and high-school-age editors, Rosalind Wiseman has created an unprecedented guide to the life your boy is actually experiencing – his on-the-ground reality. Not only does Wiseman challenge you to examine your assumptions, she offers innovative coping strategies aimed at helping your boy develop a positive, authentic, and strong sense of self.
My Point Of View: The book gave me a lot of insight on how to help and talk to my son if he struggles. There were various chapters from subjects like video games and girls. The book even mentioned autism, which I enjoyed seeing as most of my readers know that my son has Aspergers. The book also let me know about issues that might pop up (as in, if my boy has a "sexist ass moment.")
Basically, if you have a son you should check out this book. It was incredibly beneficial for me to read and I imagine I'll be flipping through it a lot as my boy grows.
To learn more about the author Rosalind Wiseman, check out her site here.
I have a copy of Masterminds Wingmen to giveaway to a lucky reader!
(This book released September 10th if you want to be sure to have a copy. You can purchase it on Amazon.com here and from other fine book retailers.)
Giveaway Rules:
--Must be 18 or older
--Must live in the US or Canada
Mandatory Entry: LIKE Rosalind's Facebook page
Extra Entries:
--FOLLOW Rosalind Wiseman on Twitter
For each thing you do, please leave a separate comment.
I will run this contest until August 24th.
Good luck!
**I was given a free copy of the book to review. I was not paid. My opinions are my own.**
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