The Grit Guide for Teens: A Workbook to Help You Build Perseverance, Self-Control, and a Growth Mindset

The Grit Guide is a brilliant, accessible and supportive guide for teens and for adults who are challenged to achieve certain goals in their daily lives. As a Director of Counseling for Scarsdale High School and then Director of College Counseling for SAR High School as well as a college consultant in private practice in Scarsdale, I know that the biggest obstacles teenagers face are those they impose on themselves by underestimating their ability to identify and surmount challenges. I have long equated academic success with the dedication and commitment to practice that teens undertake in athletics. This guides expands the concept of success to include academic, social, wellness, extracurricular and emotional achievement, all elements of a well integrated and successful adolescent and developing adult. While 'grit' may at first seem a simplistic response to life challenges, this guide to developing 'the ability to accomplish, in the face of setbacks and challenges, the long-term goals that are important to you' is truly a work of art, capitalizing on the desire for achievement in all important domains, identifying areas to address and undertaking realistic, encouraging steps to achieve goals. I recommend that educators build this into the counseling curricula presented to every high school student; it could be a gift for a lifetime of success and the effective persuit of happiness.Marjorie Jacobs

This book is not like other activity books. It has a "can do" upbeat attitude which is truly accessible and friendly. Parents and their teenage kids learn great tips and skills of how to really persevere to overcome any challenge that stands in their way. Also, the activities are not long or drawn out. They are really practical, thought provoking and stick with the reader after they have put the book down I enjoy Dr. Baruch-Feldman's drawing on her and her own kids' struggles and experiences. A really helpful workbook!

My daughter has read it cover to cover and will be sharing it with her girl friends.

A very accessible activity book that is truly teen-friendly. Dr. Baruch-Feldman draws upon authentic examples to which real teens can relate. The exercises are thought-provoking and not too overwhelming for teens to complete. The tone is optimistic and Dr. Baruch-Feldman provides the evidence-based research upon which this book is based in plain English and in a way that is meaningful and motivating. As a parent, I found this workbook to be very practical and realistic, and would definitely recommend purchasing this for your teenager!

When I meet with students individually, I find it helpful to develop a lesson/series of lessons based on relevancy and need. The 'Instant help book for teens - the grit guide for teens' is useful and a great resource to add to my library.

As a psychologist who regularly works with teenagers I want to applaud Caren Baruch-Feldman's guide for teens. I am currently working through the guide with two teenagers. First and foremost, the guide is respectful of teenagers and never talks down to them. Secondly, the guide synthesizes a mountain of theory and research into a highly usable format - for any age. Finally, it works from a position of strength beginning with a recognition of where the teenager is already displaying perseverance and a "can do" attitude. Parents may want to share this workbook with their teens and, if so, I recommend they buy two copies and go through it together - we can all use practical reminders about how to achieve goals at any age.

Good book that made great points. Teens understood it, but have to be motivated themselves to see a connection to what is being said. I don’t think it helped the kids I felt needed it, but I think that had more to do with the kids than the book

Writing a book about cultivating grit is challenging, but even more so when you are writing it for young adults. Caren shows her talent in reaching this group with personal and relevant examples, charts and checklists, and a guide to track your own grit growth. I particularly liked the section offering new mental strategies to reprogram your thinking to replace "I can't" statements with "I will try" types of habitual responses. This should be used in every school that is working to build grit among its students!

Really great books.

Easy to follow and use. Bite size chapters that allow easy progression. The problem is only getting the teen to engage.

Great read for teens!

Included many example and good advice and points on how to have more grit and optimism in your every day life and experience you go through.Repetition in points and used the same examples rather than different types of examples and didn't really explain how when having grit it can help you through everyday struggles and life problem people may go through.

Good. Easy to use. Not unbreakable.