# data[].attributes.body
I chose this novel because the main character, Greg, experiences many common teen challenges, however, the plot is presented with comedy. Most students are familiar with the series as this is a popular novel. Greg expresses his daily middle school troubles in the form of a first-person diary, which makes every page interesting. Choosing this novel was a great decision as it was not only easy to read, but humor was also involved.

# data[].attributes.body
This novel grabbed my attention in the beginning when Greg explains the loss of his friendship with Rowley and as school is starting up, many relatable challenges are faced. It kept my attention throughout the story with the idea that myself, the reader, could laugh and even relate to the pictures. According to the text, "One reason Jordan is so popular is because he always has these big blowout parties, and it's really hard to get invited. But I figure this Algebra book could be just the thing I need to get on his radar." By the end of the novel, I was glad to have read such a great piece of literature that the reader can relate to.

# data[].attributes.body
Greg Heffley acts as the main character. He is in middle school and is entering his teen years. This is the most connected character because most readers are Greg's age. For example, "My chore for the week is laundry, and I can't wait until my shift is over. It would be common a young teen could connect to chores, such as laundry. Greg stands out the most in this novel."
Frank Heffley is Greg's father.
Susan Heffley is Greg's mother.
Rodrick Heffley is Greg's older brother.
Manny Heffley is Greg's younger brother.
Rowley Jefferson is Greg's somewhat best friend.
Below is Greg in his usual presence.

# data[].attributes.body
When Greg stayed home as he was sick, only him and Isabella, the maid, were in the house. Isabella doesn't have a bright history of doing her job, but Greg heard some commotion downstairs that definitely represented imagery. According to the novel, "There was a lot of commotion downstairs. The TV was turned up really loud, and I could hear what sounded like a bunch of women talking.” This example of imagery gives the reader a clear idea of the setting and specific event if he or she was in Greg's place.

# data[].attributes.body
Greg faces conflict throughout the entire plot line. His major issues are pressures of boy-girl parties, more responsibilities, awkward changes, and losing a friendship with Rowley. Jeff Kinney portrays Greg as a kid who just wants to grow up, as most readers feel the same way. However, teen challenges begin to question Greg's idea of wanting to grow up. It is compelling to the young adult reader in specific events where the reader can most likely relate. For example, there is an event where Greg becomes invited to a popular party but is instantly turned down by his mother who says they have a wedding to attend. Thus, many teens like to go to popular parties and may not be able to go.

# data[].attributes.body
Personally, I was satisfied with the ending resolution of "The Ugly Truth". This is because Greg left off on a pleasing, but realistic note that he would make the most of his time before he faces high school problems. Greg is currently in middle school and is just beginning his teen years, so he decided to make the most of his time as that really does affect the reader to do so as well. The text states, "And after Gammie showed me what's in store over the next few years, I think I'm gonna take her advice and hang on as long as I can." On top of this, he claims his best friend, Rowley, back. The entire plotline leading up to the resolution was one the reader can easily take interest in.

# data[].attributes.body
In the end, I experienced a different view of my teen years as I'd like to make the most of my good times and try my best to manage the next 4 years of high school. Kinney wants the reader to understand that challenges will be faced during teen years. On the other hand, a strong, determined mind can face these issues. As stated in the text, "She told me that getting older is no walk in the park and that getting to be her age really stinks." Additionally, the author wants the reader to understand to enjoy the ride while it lasts!

# data[].attributes.body
STRESSFUL LIFE EVENTS

# data[].attributes.body
Before reading "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth," I knew stressful events overcome teens and their mental state. I experience some, but I know many teens struggle.

# data[].attributes.body
This novel gave me a better understanding that one should keep positive during struggles, and simply just enjoy life before issues occur. Positivity is the most important thing as keeping your head down can lead to serious mental states, such as depression.

# data[].attributes.body
What is the main source of stress for teens?
-> Teens are experiencing unhealthy levels of stress. According to the American Psychological Association, "In fact, school is the top source of stress for teens. Getting into a good college or deciding what to do after high school is the second-biggest source of tension. (apa.org)"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The pandemic pushed stress to historic highs. Here are healthy ways for children and teens to cope.

Cite this

American Psychological Association. (2022, October 19). How to help children and teens manage their stress. https://www.apa.org/topics/children/stress

In the short term, stress can push a child to practice for her piano recital or inspire a teen to study when he'd rather be out with friends. But chronic stress-for example, from unrelenting pandemic-related pressures, social unrest, or violence-is different. Left unchecked, long-term stress can contribute to a long list of physical and mental health problems. Prolonged stress can cause high blood pressure, weaken the immune system, and contribute to diseases such as obesity and heart disease. It can also lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression-disorders that are becoming more common in youth.

More than two full years into the covid-19 pandemic, mental illness is at an all-time high-especially among children. In fact, between 2016 and 2020, the number of children aged 3 to 17 diagnosed with anxiety grew by 29% and those with depression by 27%, according to a study published in 2022 in JAMA Pediatrics. The findings also suggest concerning changes in child and family well-being after the onset of the covid-19 pandemic.

At the extreme end of the stress scale, nearly 270,000 children suffered tragic loss, with covid-19 claiming one or more of their caregivers.

Stress in young people doesn't always look like stress in adults. But like adults, children and teens-even those with life-altering losses-can find healthy ways to cope. Together, young people and their parents or caregivers can learn to spot the signs of excess stress and, with the right tools, manage it.

Sources of stress in young children

For young children, tension at home is a common source of stress. Children may be troubled by family discord, divorce, or loss, for example. Even happy changes, such as a new home, the arrival of a new sibling, or a beloved new stepparent can be hard on a child.

School is another frequent source of concern for kids. Young children might be stressed about making friends, dealing with bullies, or getting along with their teachers. They might also be anxious about tests and grades.

More significant stress is also rising in this cohort. While pediatric emergency department visits declined during the pandemic, the number and proportion of mental health-related emergency department visits increased for children ages 0 to 11, compared to 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( Radhakrishnan, L., et al., Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 71, No. 8, 2022).

Sources of stress in adolescents and teens

As children get older, their sources of stress expand. Teens are more likely than young children to be stressed by events or situations outside the home.

Mental health crises are on the rise for this age group as well, with mental health-related emergency department visits increasing for kids ages 12 to 17 compared with 2019 emergency department visits. In particular, emergency departments saw increases in visits related to self-harm, drug poisonings, and eating disorders among this age group since the pandemic's onset ( Radhakrishnan, L., et al., Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 71, No. 8, 2022).

In addition, during the 2020-2021 school year, more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem, according to the Healthy Minds Study, which collects data from 373 campuses nationwide ( Lipson, S. K., et al., Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol. 306, 2022).

Peers can help buffer stress, but can also be a source of it. Social relationships are especially important in adolescence. Many teens worry about fitting in, their first romantic relationships, and peer pressure around substance use and sex.

Recognize the signs of stress

Signs of stress in youth can show up in a number of ways:

Irritability and anger: Children don't always have the words to describe how they are feeling and sometimes tension bubbles over into a bad mood. Stressed-out kids and teens might be more short-tempered or argumentative than normal.

Changes in behavior: A young child who used to be a great listener is suddenly acting out. A once-active teen now doesn't want to leave the house. Sudden changes can be a sign that stress levels are high.

Trouble sleeping: A child or teen might complain of feeling tired all the time, sleep more than usual, or have trouble falling asleep at night.

Neglecting responsibilities: If an adolescent suddenly drops the ball on homework, forgets obligations, or starts procrastinating more than usual, stress might be a factor.

Eating changes: Eating too much or too little can both be reactions to stress.

Getting sick more often: Stress often shows up as physical symptoms. Children who feel stress often report headaches or stomachaches, and might make frequent trips to the school nurse's office.

Stress management for kids and teens

Facing stressors is a fact of life, for children and adults. These strategies can help keep stress in check:

Sleep well. Sleep is essential for physical and emotional well-being. Experts recommend nine to 12 hours of sleep a night for 6- to 12-year olds. Teens need eight to 10 hours a night. Sleep needs to be a priority to keep stress in check. To protect shut-eye, limit screen use at night and avoid keeping digital devices in the bedroom.

Exercise. Physical activity is an essential stress reliever for people of all ages. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 60 minutes a day of activity for children ages 6 to 17.

Talk it out. Talking about stressful situations with a trusted adult can help kids and teens put things in perspective and find solutions.

Make time for fun-and quiet. Just like adults, kids and teens need time to do what brings them joy, whether that's unstructured time to play with building bricks or uninterrupted hours to practice music or art. Also, while some children thrive bouncing from one activity to the next, others need more down time. Find a healthy balance between favorite activities and free time.

Get outside. Spending time in nature is an effective way to relieve stress and improve overall well-being. Researchers have found that people who live in areas with more green space have less depression, anxiety, and stress.

Write about it. Research has found that expressing oneself in writing can help reduce mental distress and improve well-being. Some research has found, for example, that writing about positive feelings-such as the things you're grateful for or proud of-can ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Learn mindfulness. In a study of a 5-week mindfulness training program for 13- to 18-year-olds, researchers found that teens who learned mindfulness experienced significantly less mental distress than teens who did not.

How parents can help

Parents and other caregivers have an important part to play, by adopting their own healthy habits and helping children and teens find stress-managing strategies. Some ways parents can take action:

Model healthy coping. Caregivers can talk with children about how they've thought about and dealt with their own stressful situations.

Let kids be problem-solvers. It's natural to want to fix your child's problems. But when parents swoop in to solve every little glitch, their children don't have a chance to learn healthy coping skills. Let your children try to solve their low-stakes problems on their own, and they'll gain confidence that they can deal with stressors and setbacks.

Promote media literacy. Today's kids spend a lot of time online, where they can run into questionable content, cyberbullying, or the peer pressures of social media. Parents can help by teaching their children to be savvy digital consumers, and by limiting screen time.

Combat negative thinking. "I'm terrible at math." "I hate my hair." "I'll never make the team. Why try out?" Children and teens can easily fall into the trap of negative thinking. When children use negative self-talk, though, don't just disagree. Ask them to really think about whether what they say is true, or remind them of times they worked hard and improved. Learning to frame things positively will help them develop resilience to stress.

How psychologists can help

Thanks to psychologists Mary Alvord, PhD, and Raquel Halfond, PhD, who assisted with this article.

Recommended Reading

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to help children and teens manage their stress

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The pandemic pushed stress to historic highs. Here are healthy ways for children and teens to cope.

# data[].attributes.body
How can a teen overcome stress?
-> Many effective actions include physical activity, sleep, and enjoying yourself. Finding activities that you enjoy, such as running or biking, and turning them into a routine can cope with stress. It can be hard to get enough sleep, but the average amount of sleep for a teen of 7.4 hours is not enough. Cutting back on screen time and avoiding caffeine late can help. Teens should find a hobby that he or she enjoys and make it a point to keep doing these things.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The pandemic pushed stress to historic highs. Here are healthy ways for children and teens to cope.

Cite this

American Psychological Association. (2022, October 19). How to help children and teens manage their stress. https://www.apa.org/topics/children/stress

In the short term, stress can push a child to practice for her piano recital or inspire a teen to study when he'd rather be out with friends. But chronic stress-for example, from unrelenting pandemic-related pressures, social unrest, or violence-is different. Left unchecked, long-term stress can contribute to a long list of physical and mental health problems. Prolonged stress can cause high blood pressure, weaken the immune system, and contribute to diseases such as obesity and heart disease. It can also lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression-disorders that are becoming more common in youth.

More than two full years into the covid-19 pandemic, mental illness is at an all-time high-especially among children. In fact, between 2016 and 2020, the number of children aged 3 to 17 diagnosed with anxiety grew by 29% and those with depression by 27%, according to a study published in 2022 in JAMA Pediatrics. The findings also suggest concerning changes in child and family well-being after the onset of the covid-19 pandemic.

At the extreme end of the stress scale, nearly 270,000 children suffered tragic loss, with covid-19 claiming one or more of their caregivers.

Stress in young people doesn't always look like stress in adults. But like adults, children and teens-even those with life-altering losses-can find healthy ways to cope. Together, young people and their parents or caregivers can learn to spot the signs of excess stress and, with the right tools, manage it.

Sources of stress in young children

For young children, tension at home is a common source of stress. Children may be troubled by family discord, divorce, or loss, for example. Even happy changes, such as a new home, the arrival of a new sibling, or a beloved new stepparent can be hard on a child.

School is another frequent source of concern for kids. Young children might be stressed about making friends, dealing with bullies, or getting along with their teachers. They might also be anxious about tests and grades.

More significant stress is also rising in this cohort. While pediatric emergency department visits declined during the pandemic, the number and proportion of mental health-related emergency department visits increased for children ages 0 to 11, compared to 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( Radhakrishnan, L., et al., Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 71, No. 8, 2022).

Sources of stress in adolescents and teens

As children get older, their sources of stress expand. Teens are more likely than young children to be stressed by events or situations outside the home.

Mental health crises are on the rise for this age group as well, with mental health-related emergency department visits increasing for kids ages 12 to 17 compared with 2019 emergency department visits. In particular, emergency departments saw increases in visits related to self-harm, drug poisonings, and eating disorders among this age group since the pandemic's onset ( Radhakrishnan, L., et al., Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 71, No. 8, 2022).

In addition, during the 2020-2021 school year, more than 60% of college students met the criteria for at least one mental health problem, according to the Healthy Minds Study, which collects data from 373 campuses nationwide ( Lipson, S. K., et al., Journal of Affective Disorders, Vol. 306, 2022).

Peers can help buffer stress, but can also be a source of it. Social relationships are especially important in adolescence. Many teens worry about fitting in, their first romantic relationships, and peer pressure around substance use and sex.

Recognize the signs of stress

Signs of stress in youth can show up in a number of ways:

Irritability and anger: Children don't always have the words to describe how they are feeling and sometimes tension bubbles over into a bad mood. Stressed-out kids and teens might be more short-tempered or argumentative than normal.

Changes in behavior: A young child who used to be a great listener is suddenly acting out. A once-active teen now doesn't want to leave the house. Sudden changes can be a sign that stress levels are high.

Trouble sleeping: A child or teen might complain of feeling tired all the time, sleep more than usual, or have trouble falling asleep at night.

Neglecting responsibilities: If an adolescent suddenly drops the ball on homework, forgets obligations, or starts procrastinating more than usual, stress might be a factor.

Eating changes: Eating too much or too little can both be reactions to stress.

Getting sick more often: Stress often shows up as physical symptoms. Children who feel stress often report headaches or stomachaches, and might make frequent trips to the school nurse's office.

Stress management for kids and teens

Facing stressors is a fact of life, for children and adults. These strategies can help keep stress in check:

Sleep well. Sleep is essential for physical and emotional well-being. Experts recommend nine to 12 hours of sleep a night for 6- to 12-year olds. Teens need eight to 10 hours a night. Sleep needs to be a priority to keep stress in check. To protect shut-eye, limit screen use at night and avoid keeping digital devices in the bedroom.

Exercise. Physical activity is an essential stress reliever for people of all ages. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 60 minutes a day of activity for children ages 6 to 17.

Talk it out. Talking about stressful situations with a trusted adult can help kids and teens put things in perspective and find solutions.

Make time for fun-and quiet. Just like adults, kids and teens need time to do what brings them joy, whether that's unstructured time to play with building bricks or uninterrupted hours to practice music or art. Also, while some children thrive bouncing from one activity to the next, others need more down time. Find a healthy balance between favorite activities and free time.

Get outside. Spending time in nature is an effective way to relieve stress and improve overall well-being. Researchers have found that people who live in areas with more green space have less depression, anxiety, and stress.

Write about it. Research has found that expressing oneself in writing can help reduce mental distress and improve well-being. Some research has found, for example, that writing about positive feelings-such as the things you're grateful for or proud of-can ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Learn mindfulness. In a study of a 5-week mindfulness training program for 13- to 18-year-olds, researchers found that teens who learned mindfulness experienced significantly less mental distress than teens who did not.

How parents can help

Parents and other caregivers have an important part to play, by adopting their own healthy habits and helping children and teens find stress-managing strategies. Some ways parents can take action:

Model healthy coping. Caregivers can talk with children about how they've thought about and dealt with their own stressful situations.

Let kids be problem-solvers. It's natural to want to fix your child's problems. But when parents swoop in to solve every little glitch, their children don't have a chance to learn healthy coping skills. Let your children try to solve their low-stakes problems on their own, and they'll gain confidence that they can deal with stressors and setbacks.

Promote media literacy. Today's kids spend a lot of time online, where they can run into questionable content, cyberbullying, or the peer pressures of social media. Parents can help by teaching their children to be savvy digital consumers, and by limiting screen time.

Combat negative thinking. "I'm terrible at math." "I hate my hair." "I'll never make the team. Why try out?" Children and teens can easily fall into the trap of negative thinking. When children use negative self-talk, though, don't just disagree. Ask them to really think about whether what they say is true, or remind them of times they worked hard and improved. Learning to frame things positively will help them develop resilience to stress.

How psychologists can help

Thanks to psychologists Mary Alvord, PhD, and Raquel Halfond, PhD, who assisted with this article.

Recommended Reading

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to help children and teens manage their stress

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The pandemic pushed stress to historic highs. Here are healthy ways for children and teens to cope.

# data[].attributes.body
Who stresses more, adults or teens?
-> Adults stress rate is measured about 5.1 while teen stress is measured 5.8. Teens report that their stress level during the school year (5.8/10) far exceeds what they believe to be a healthy level of stress (3.9/10). School work and issues seem to stress teenagers the most.

# data[].attributes.body
According to Psychology Today, teens today feel a lot of pressure from parents, teachers, coaches, other family/friends to not fail. Failure has somehow gone from being viewed as a learning opportunity to being clearly unacceptable.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Teens are under more stress today than ever before. Sound like an exaggeration? Despite the fact that I am often prone to hyperbole, consider this: being a teenager is not easy.

Adolescence has always been a tricky developmental period defined by fundamental yet somewhat difficult changes (physical, cognitive, and social) experienced by teens as they make their way from childhood toward adulthood. These transitions trigger changes in the way the teen sees him/herself, and the way that others see and treat him or her. They are no longer children, but not yet adults, and this series of transitions not only has an impact on the individual experiencing the transitions, but also on parents, peers, and society as a whole.

Adolescence has always been an awkward stage where teens struggle to build their own identity, seek autonomy, and learn about intimacy and sexuality in relationships. These things all cause a certain level of angst, but they are not really new.

What is new is the environment that we live in, and it is this fast-paced, perpetually plugged-in society that sets the tone for the messages and expectations that teens receive every day. Due to varying pressures around school, work, families, relationships, social media, and the seemingly endless series of transitions involved in simply being an adolescent, teens today are indeed under more stress than ever before.

There are certain contexts that inevitably make being a teen even more difficult. Living in poverty, or being in an abusive home, for example. Other, more recent issues, such as society's pressures on young people to grow up fast, have their lives completely figured out by the time they start middle school, and today's technological and social innovations that have transformed family life, make the experience of teen transitions exponentially more difficult.

So, why are teens so "angsty" today?

School: Today, kids are expected to know what they want to do-where they want to go to school and in which field they'd like to work-earlier than ever before. They are also expected to do well, and are put on "success" tracks even in elementary school. They have to do well because it is assumed that all kids will/must go to college, and not just that, but they must get into the best college if they want to "succeed" and be competitive in today's job market. This is a lot of pressure on teens.

Work: Most teens work to earn money, which they like, but it takes time away from other things like academics, extra-curricular activities, volunteering, spending time with family and friends, having fun, and simply enjoying life.

Expectations: Whether it is real or not, teenagers' perceptions are that they are expected to be successful or good at everything. Teens today feel a lot of pressure from parents, teachers, coaches, other family/friends to not fail. Failure has somehow gone from being viewed as a learning opportunity to being clearly unacceptable. This puts even more pressure on teens.

Social Connections: Given the fact that the overwhelming majority of teens today are tethered to a smartphone or other device that keeps them linked on social networking sites, teens justifiably feel "on" all the time. Their every move is judged by their peers, whether their peers are their true, real live friends, or the 1,254 "friends" on Facebook or followers on Twitter. So, the pressure is always on to be cute, clever, sexy, smart, popular, etc., and because social networking sites are the modern-day hangout spot, where teens spend a huge chunk of each day, it can be exhausting.
What can parents do?

We, as parents of teens, must communicate. A recent study from the Pew Research Center asked a national sample of adults which skills are most important for children to have to succeed in the world today. The answer: communication. As parents, we should take our own advice and talk to our teens about expectations, goals, and ask teens about what they think, what they want, and how they feel.

This, of course, means that we should also be prepared to listen. Really listen. Teens need to know that although we clearly want what is best for them in their future lives, what's best doesn't necessarily have to equate to what we want. We should hear what they have to say and consider how they envision their future.

Our teens also need unconditional love, acceptance, and support, and we should be explicit in communicating this to them. We often assume that they know this (and they probably do), but they really need to hear it.

Parents should also help their teens to set realistic expectations and keep things in perspective. No, it's not the end of the world as we know it if our teen, for example, has not decided what she is majoring in during her freshman year of college. Nor does it make you a horrible parent to think that it is OK for our teens to fail at something... after all, failure presents an opportunity for growth! If we allow our children to fall, they can learn from their mistakes (called natural consequences) and pick themselves back up.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Teens are under more stress today than ever before. Sound like an exaggeration? Despite the fact that I am often prone to hyperbole, consider this: being a teenager is not easy. Adolescence has always been a tricky developmental period defined by fundamental yet somewhat difficult changes (physical, cognitive, and social) experienced by teens as they make their way from childhood toward adulthood.

# data[].attributes.body
Madison O. is 16 years old, so keeping up with homework and making sure grades don't plummet is a struggle. Like anywhere else in the world besides Kansas, she decompresses through breaks and watching YouTube. In the middle of the homecoming football game, she was left crying for the amount of stress. This is just one teen out of the millions, but the full story is linked below.

# data[].attributes.body
These actions and numbers below are because of the stress levels in teens.

# data[].attributes.body
"As parents, we should take our own advice and talk to our teens about expectations, goals, and ask teens about that they think, what they want, and how they feel," as stated by Sara Villanueva Ph.D. She is an associate professor of psychology at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Teens are under more stress today than ever before. Sound like an exaggeration? Despite the fact that I am often prone to hyperbole, consider this: being a teenager is not easy.

Adolescence has always been a tricky developmental period defined by fundamental yet somewhat difficult changes (physical, cognitive, and social) experienced by teens as they make their way from childhood toward adulthood. These transitions trigger changes in the way the teen sees him/herself, and the way that others see and treat him or her. They are no longer children, but not yet adults, and this series of transitions not only has an impact on the individual experiencing the transitions, but also on parents, peers, and society as a whole.

Adolescence has always been an awkward stage where teens struggle to build their own identity, seek autonomy, and learn about intimacy and sexuality in relationships. These things all cause a certain level of angst, but they are not really new.

What is new is the environment that we live in, and it is this fast-paced, perpetually plugged-in society that sets the tone for the messages and expectations that teens receive every day. Due to varying pressures around school, work, families, relationships, social media, and the seemingly endless series of transitions involved in simply being an adolescent, teens today are indeed under more stress than ever before.

There are certain contexts that inevitably make being a teen even more difficult. Living in poverty, or being in an abusive home, for example. Other, more recent issues, such as society's pressures on young people to grow up fast, have their lives completely figured out by the time they start middle school, and today's technological and social innovations that have transformed family life, make the experience of teen transitions exponentially more difficult.

So, why are teens so "angsty" today?

School: Today, kids are expected to know what they want to do-where they want to go to school and in which field they'd like to work-earlier than ever before. They are also expected to do well, and are put on "success" tracks even in elementary school. They have to do well because it is assumed that all kids will/must go to college, and not just that, but they must get into the best college if they want to "succeed" and be competitive in today's job market. This is a lot of pressure on teens.

Work: Most teens work to earn money, which they like, but it takes time away from other things like academics, extra-curricular activities, volunteering, spending time with family and friends, having fun, and simply enjoying life.

Expectations: Whether it is real or not, teenagers' perceptions are that they are expected to be successful or good at everything. Teens today feel a lot of pressure from parents, teachers, coaches, other family/friends to not fail. Failure has somehow gone from being viewed as a learning opportunity to being clearly unacceptable. This puts even more pressure on teens.

Social Connections: Given the fact that the overwhelming majority of teens today are tethered to a smartphone or other device that keeps them linked on social networking sites, teens justifiably feel "on" all the time. Their every move is judged by their peers, whether their peers are their true, real live friends, or the 1,254 "friends" on Facebook or followers on Twitter. So, the pressure is always on to be cute, clever, sexy, smart, popular, etc., and because social networking sites are the modern-day hangout spot, where teens spend a huge chunk of each day, it can be exhausting.
What can parents do?

We, as parents of teens, must communicate. A recent study from the Pew Research Center asked a national sample of adults which skills are most important for children to have to succeed in the world today. The answer: communication. As parents, we should take our own advice and talk to our teens about expectations, goals, and ask teens about what they think, what they want, and how they feel.

This, of course, means that we should also be prepared to listen. Really listen. Teens need to know that although we clearly want what is best for them in their future lives, what's best doesn't necessarily have to equate to what we want. We should hear what they have to say and consider how they envision their future.

Our teens also need unconditional love, acceptance, and support, and we should be explicit in communicating this to them. We often assume that they know this (and they probably do), but they really need to hear it.

Parents should also help their teens to set realistic expectations and keep things in perspective. No, it's not the end of the world as we know it if our teen, for example, has not decided what she is majoring in during her freshman year of college. Nor does it make you a horrible parent to think that it is OK for our teens to fail at something... after all, failure presents an opportunity for growth! If we allow our children to fall, they can learn from their mistakes (called natural consequences) and pick themselves back up.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Teens are under more stress today than ever before. Sound like an exaggeration? Despite the fact that I am often prone to hyperbole, consider this: being a teenager is not easy. Adolescence has always been a tricky developmental period defined by fundamental yet somewhat difficult changes (physical, cognitive, and social) experienced by teens as they make their way from childhood toward adulthood.

# data[].attributes.body
EVALUATION OF THE NOVEL

# data[].attributes.body
I believe the teen issue of stress was well represented in this novel, because of all the specific events through school and at home Greg faces. In the text, stress overcomes Greg when he doesn't have many friends, since his main friend Rowley does not talk to him anymore. Similar to real issues, teens struggle with friends and how their social standing is inside of school.

# data[].attributes.body
I strongly recommend this novel to any teen or preteen, because of it's content that is both realistic and hilarious.
-Reason: Teens who read can prepare for real life events and struggles headed for them.
-Gender: No matter the gender, I feel the reader will be entertained. Though the main character is a male, girls can find the issues realistic and similar to their own
-Ages/Grades: This novel is best for 11-year-olds up to 14-year-olds. Also, about 4th grade to 7th grade.
-Parental Warnings: Nothing in this book is explicit or requires parental advisory.