The Middle School Survival Guide for Girls - by Geraldine O'Sullivan (Paperback)

About the Book

Middle school is a time of big, big changes--especially for girls. Written by a teen mental health expert, The Middle School Survival Guide for Girls is packed with empowering tools to help preteen girls adjust to the pressures of middle school--as well as their changing minds and bodies. Using the skills outlined in this book, readers will build the resilience needed to thrive personally, socially, and academically, and gain new understanding of themselves as they face the challenges of middle school and beyond.

Book Synopsis

"Invaluable in helping girls prepare for their teen years."
--Booklist review

Middle school is a time of big, BIG changes. This empowering guide will help you survive and thrive at home, with friends, in school--and beyond!

As a preteen or young teen girl, you're changing more than ever before--and it's natural to feel a mix of excitement and worry. You're seeing the world in new ways. Your social life has gotten a lot more complicated. And whether you're experiencing the onset of puberty, or have already begun menstruation, the physical changes you're going through can also feel overwhelming. Add in the pressures of school, social media, crushes, and family life, and you may find yourself grappling with a whirlwind of unfamiliar emotions. So, how can you navigate all of this, and prepare yourself for middle school?

Written by a teen mental health expert, The Middle School Survival Guide for Girls is packed with tips and tools to help you adjust to the pressures of middle school--as well as to your changing mind and body. With this fun and engaging guide, written just for girls ages 11 to 13, you'll learn to build the resilience needed to thrive personally, socially, and academically, and gain a greater understanding of yourself as you face new challenges.

This book will give you the inside scoop on:

• How to deal with friendships, crushes, and academic pressure
• What to do you if you experience bullying or cyberbullying
• How to improve relationships with family
• Setting limits on social media and drawing boundaries with others
• Dealing with romantic feelings and understanding consent
• How to handle embarrassment and stop comparing yourself to others
• And much, much more!

Being a tween girl in today's world is tough, and it's OKAY to ask for help. With this fun go-to guide, you'll feel prepared to face any challenge that life--and middle school--throws your way.

Review Quotes

"The Middle School Survival Guide for Girls is the book I wish I had when I was younger! Geraldine O'Sullivan is like the cool aunt you trust to go to for advice. She does a fantastic job using warmth and relatability to address the real concerns of incoming middle schoolers with checklists, mental exercises, and tips--all while normalizing and comforting the reader so they feel prepared. From dating to locker combinations, changing friendships and hygiene, and handling bullies and nerves, this book really covers everything that might be on your mind--and feels like a warm hug. This should be part of the mandatory reading for all rising fifth graders, I could not recommend this book enough!"
--Sara Brenner, LCSW, author of A Kids Book About Therapy--Sara Brenner, LCSW

"This fun and reassuring book offers advice specifically for girls on how to navigate and thrive throughout their middle-grade years. Chapters cover a variety of experiences, from first-day-of-school jitters, puberty, friendships, cyberbullying, developing study skills, healthy habits, handling crushes and dating, consent and setting boundaries, social media safety, peer pressure, vaping, drugs, and drinking. Psychologist O'Sullivan emphasizes that girls need to understand their emotions and identify the values and strengths that are important to them. She offers ways to develop self-esteem and explains the importance of relying on family for support. Checklists, exercises, and activities using journaling will help girls manage different scenarios. Proposing that girls build a support system and write a list of people whom they can count on is just one
notable exercise included. Readers will relate to the real-life experiences shared by their peers. This practical and down-to-earth book is full of useful information that is invaluable in helping girls prepare for their teen years. Includes a disclaimer and references."
--Booklist-- "Booklist" (4/1/2025 12:00:00 AM)

"A complete resource book written in easy-to-understand language, The Middle School Survival Guide for Girls is a must-read for preteen-to-adolescent girls. Geraldine O'Sullivan has created easily accessible narratives, activities, and tools to help girls navigate this often-difficult time period. From the emotions they might feel at school to engaging appropriately in social media, girls (and their parents) will embrace the social, emotional, and psychological lessons in this workbook."
--Tory Cox, EdD, LCSW, author of The Art of Becoming Indispensable--Tory Cox, EdD, LCSW

"As an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) expert and psychologist--and a parent who's navigating the middle school years--I highly recommend The Middle School Survival Guide for Girls. This workbook combines practical tools, like a first-day checklist, with deeper life skills such as goal setting and values exploration. It empowers girls to navigate challenges, discover their strengths, and build resilience--making it an essential guide for thriving during this pivotal stage of life."
--Diana Hill, PhD, host of the Wise Effort podcast, and author of The Self-Compassion Daily Journal--Diana Hill, PhD

"Geraldine touches on all the key topics essential for surviving middle school emotionally, physically, and socially. Her thoughtfully designed exercises offer valuable support to every young girl navigating her place at school and in social circles. My favorite aspect is how Geraldine seamlessly integrates discussions about social pressures with practical activities, like 'positive self-talk, ' to counter the negative voices so many of us hear as women."
--Sally Annjanece Stevens, LCSW, school social worker, and author of Social Anxiety Workbook for Teens--Sally Annjanece Stevens, LCSW

"Geraldine's book delivers what it promises! From info on first-day jitters and managing crushes to navigating menstruation, academics, and social media, readers get solid advice and learn necessary coping skills. Quotes from preteens and example scenarios normalize fears and feelings that come with middle school challenges. Activities and checklists help girls personalize and organize it all. This book will be a welcome addition to any backpack!"
--Lisa M. Schab, LCSW, psychotherapist; and author of twenty books, including The Anxiety Workbook for Teens and the teen creative journal, Put Your Worries Here--Lisa M. Schab, LCSW

About the Author

Geraldine O'Sullivan, LCSW, PPSC, is a licensed clinical social worker with a pupil personnel services credential in school social work and child welfare and attendance. She currently practices as a school social worker in San Diego County, CA, where she provides mental health counseling services and crisis intervention to teens using therapeutic modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy. In 2022, she was awarded High School Social Worker of the Year for San Diego County. O'Sullivan is coauthor of The Girl's Guide to Relationships, Sexuality, and Consent. She is also known for her published research on the topic of eustress.

Foreword writer Lucie Hemmen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice. For thirty years she has worked with teens, their parents, and their communities in programs designed to maximize health and well-being. She is author of Parenting a Teen Girl, The Teen Girl's Survival Guide, and The Teen Girl's Anxiety Survival Guide.