This book provides helpful insights for parents dealing with the middle childhood years, a stage that often lacks resources. It covers relevant topics that many parents find important. However, some of the developmental information seems off. The use of gender-specific language throughout the book also feels outdated and could be more inclusive. Overall, while the book has potential, addressing these issues would make it more useful and appealing.

A great resource, where there are not many for this age group. As a clinician that has an 8-year-old and works with parents of this age group I will be for sure recommending this to many of my clients. The topics discussed are the ones that parents are concerned about and are definitely needing more guidance on. A very helpful one that will be added to my library.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harvest for the ARC!

I have very mixed feelings on this book. While I think the premise is so important--these in between years that have historically not been considered to matter as much as teenage years or early childhood--there were several things the author mentioned or said that did not seem to be "correct" to me, and I say that with the background of a degree in psychology as well as a doctorate in the medical field. For example, many of her "norms of development" felt off by entire years. While the information itself was good outside of this, and there were helpful aspects, this made me question her knowledge.

In addition, she discusses inclusivity yet felt it was appropriate to refer to EVERY child in the book as "he" -- as in using he as though it's gender neutral, which it's not. That alone will keep me from recommending this book to anyone. As a woman and someone who has a daughter, this language felt very exclusionary. Furthermore, it's well-known in medicine and science that many people do not fit neatly into he or she and gender neutral terms should have been included.

While I wanted so much to love this book, these aspects as a parent, as well as a DNP, made me feel like I could not read it again, nor recommend it. I would highly advise these aspects be fixed to not only be inclusive, because it's the right thing to do, but also because this will undoubtedly hurt sales.

This is a book that parents of children ages 12 and younger will want to have on their bookshelf for regular reference. Dr. Ziegler is knowledgeable and refers to research as well as past clients in her information that she shares. The book is incredibly well-researched, and most importantly, up to date. It includes recommendations for screen time, and warnings of detrimental use, vaping, pre-puberty, social media, school shootings, eating disorders and more.

The author refers to the ages of 6-12 as having been the "lost years" in research on childhood, as most parenting books focus on babies-preschoolers then zoom up to teens. This book is incredibly valuable as a resource of solid information and one I intend to purchase so I can reference it regularly.

I highly recommend this book for therapists, parents, libraries, and teachers.