Now I Know Why Tigers Eat Their Young: Surviving a New Generation of Teenagers

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes novels for pre-teens; her latest books are
Jessa Be Nimble, Rebel Be Quick; Raven’s Revenge; and Tarragon Island.

Now I Know Why Tigers Eat Their Young is a parenting book that looks at
the challenges, opportunities, and realities of raising teenagers today.
By turn reassuring, entertaining, and informative, Marshall’s book
offers advice to parents who wish to help their kids not just survive
the turbulent teenage years, but to thrive and grow, hopefully to emerge
at the end as responsible, whole, and productive young adults.

Marshall discusses general parenting strategies (advocating a
democratic process that blends a degree of parental guidance and support
with the delegation of increasing levels of responsibility to the
teenager), as well as addressing specific issues like self-esteem,
gender differences and biases, achievement (or lack thereof) at school,
part-time work, and sexuality. Challenges unique to single-parent
households and stepfamilies are discussed in a separate chapter.

Throughout, Marshall uses a mixture of personal experience (he’s been
parenting for 40 years), anecdotes drawn from his clinical experience as
a child psychologist, and information drawn from current sociological
research. His sense of humor and the recognition that his way is not the
only way makes this book both accessible and reassuring. Parents are
shown there are many ways to help a young person navigate the sometimes
turbulent waters of the teen years.

For those looking for additional information, a resources section
includes a list of parenting books, tapes, and Internet sites.