Read and Succeed!
The most important time any parent can make themselves truly available for their child is around school and homework. With Jump-Starting Boys, Pam Withers and Cynthia Gill have provided an essential resource that any parent or concerned caregiver can draw upon to ensure their sons don't encounter a slump during their crucial tween and teen years.
Kids--especially boys--grow tremendously during this crucial time, and their bodies undergo so many different changes so quickly that it's easy to forget their brains are growing and changing at the same breakneck pace. Remember what it was like to be a teenager, addled with hormones and bursting with the desire to change the world, all while having to deal with algebra homework and annoying parents? It's easy to forget how stressful that is!
Many of the patients I work with are teenage boys who can't remain focused in the classroom or don't care about school at all. One of the most common reasons for their problems are addictions to distractions--TV, video games, texting, mindless time-sinks on the Internet--and their parents need help with these 21st century issues. Is it any wonder, then, that many teen and tween boys lag behind their peers?
In my book The Available Parent, I implore parents to recognize the importance of checking in on their kids when they're not in school. Don't smother your kids (and spoil their fun) by being overbearing--just check in a couple times a day to let them know you're interested in what they do during their spare time. I promise you won't regret it, and it could lead you to uncover habits or activities that are holding your children back.
My point--along with Pam and Cynthia's--is that I think all teenagers have some dormant passions that can only be uncovered through the process of acknowledgment and listening. Your teen may be afraid to speak of their interests for various reasons, but if you stay curious, the shadows of their passions will evolve and change shape as they come into focus.
The story of how Pam and Cynthia came to research and write Jump-Starting Boys never fails to amaze me. Pam, an author writing for the young adult crowd, discovered that tween boys (a demographic that has become resistant to reading) preferred her novels because her stories matched their maturation levels so well. This inspired Pam to rise to the challenge of encouraging boys to read and succeed. Pam spoke to her sister, educator Cynthia Gill, about facing down the phenomenon of underachieving boys.
Jump-Starting Boys is their solution. This book is filled with more than 200 methods parents can use to work with their sons to discover their learning styles, ignite their passion for reading, and ultimately succeed in school and in life.
I've worked with hundreds of teen and tween boys over my career as a clinical psychologist, and I can absolutely confirm that helping your child cultivate a love for reading and lifelong learning is one of the best things you can do for them as a parent. Following the advice that Pam and Cynthia provide in Jump-Starting Boys will give you the tools you need to help your child grow into a competent, confident person.
If you have a son who is having problems at home and at school, don't panic. Pam Withers and Cynthia Gill have bottled so much wonderful reassurance, advice, and practical wisdom into this informative gem of a book that really will help you turn your struggling child's life around. I will keep a copy of Jump-Starting Boys on my shelf, and I highly recommend it to every mom and dad who is raising a son.
--Dr. John Duffy, author of The Available Parent: Radical Optimism for Raising Teens and Tweens

"Absolutely and utterly intriguing [...] it has given me some terrific skills that i want to use with my own son."
--Pat Thurston, KGO-AM/San Francisco
"I think all teachers can agree that more time spent reading and more parents modeling reading will help students, both boys and girls, become more enthusiastic readers!"
--"The Reading Zone"
"The book was filled with interesting information and tips on how you can help your son become someone who is a lifelong learner and is successful in his studies."
--"One Crazy Kid"
"Definitely a book that I would like to recommend to any and all parents of boys and teachers and educators as well."
--"Enchanted Chameleon"
"For parents of boys, it's a great book to help prepare for a new school year."
--"Chanhassen Villager"
""Jump-Starting Boys" is a great resource for parents and teachers of reluctant learners - especially boys. It is a must-read for anyone dealing with an underachieving -- and contains a wealth of advice that can be instrumental is helping that learner find success in school -- and in life!"
--"Teacher Tips and Lesson Plans"
"Withers and Gill provide messages that foster parents, social workers, and independent living coordinators can share with their sons/ clients to help them choose to prepare for the workplace with better education."
--"Foster Care to Success"
"A must read for all caregivers."
--"Maria's Space"
"If you are a mom of boys you need this book in your life!"
--"Mami's Time Out"
"Offers solid information for parents of boys"
--"Publishers Weekly"
"My son's drive to succeed took a nosedive as he hit puberty, and it has taken several years to begin to see a turnaround. I was encouraged to find this empowering book on the subject, written by two women with experience in teaching, family therapy, and parenting. This book includes relatable stories and take-action checklists."
--"Foreword Reviews"

"I think all teachers can agree that more time spent reading and more parents modeling reading will help students, both boys and girls, become more enthusiastic readers!"
--"The Reading Zone"
"The book was filled with interesting information and tips on how you can help your son become someone who is a lifelong learner and is successful in his studies."
--"One Crazy Kid"
"Definitely a book that I would like to recommend to any and all parents of boys and teachers and educators as well."
--"Enchanted Chameleon"
"For parents of boys, it's a great book to help prepare for a new school year."
--"Chanhassen Villager"
""Jump-Starting Boys" is a great resource for parents and teachers of reluctant learners - especially boys. It is a must-read for anyone dealing with an underachieving -- and contains a wealth of advice that can be instrumental is helping that learner find success in school -- and in life!"
--"Teacher Tips and Lesson Plans"
"Withers and Gill provide messages that foster parents, social workers, and independent living coordinators can share with their sons/ clients to help them choose to prepare for the workplace with better education."
--"Foster Care to Success"
"A must read for all caregivers."
--"Maria's Space"
"If you are a mom of boys you need this book in your life!"
--"Mami's Time Out"
"Offers solid information for parents of boys"
--"Publishers Weekly"
"My son's drive to succeed took a nosedive as he hit puberty, and it has taken several years to begin to see a turnaround. I was encouraged to find this empowering book on the subject, written by two women with experience in teaching, family therapy, and parenting. This book includes relatable stories and take-action checklists."
--"Foreword Reviews"
"An excellent contribution to the existing body of literature, full of practical tips on how parents can help their sons achieve their best academically."

"Definitely a book that I would like to recommend to any and all parents of boys and teachers and educators as well."
--"Enchanted Chameleon"
"For parents of boys, it's a great book to help prepare for a new school year."
--"Chanhassen Villager"
""Jump-Starting Boys" is a great resource for parents and teachers of reluctant learners - especially boys. It is a must-read for anyone dealing with an underachieving -- and contains a wealth of advice that can be instrumental is helping that learner find success in school -- and in life!"
--"Teacher Tips and Lesson Plans"
"Withers and Gill provide messages that foster parents, social workers, and independent living coordinators can share with their sons/ clients to help them choose to prepare for the workplace with better education."
--"Foster Care to Success"
"A must read for all caregivers."
--"Maria's Space"
"If you are a mom of boys you need this book in your life!"
--"Mami's Time Out"
"Offers solid information for parents of boys"
--"Publishers Weekly"
"My son's drive to succeed took a nosedive as he hit puberty, and it has taken several years to begin to see a turnaround. I was encouraged to find this empowering book on the subject, written by two women with experience in teaching, family therapy, and parenting. This book includes relatable stories and take-action checklists."
--"Foreword Reviews"
"An excellent contribution to the existing body of literature, full of practical tips on how parents can help their sons achieve their best academically."
--"Library Journal" (starred review), Julia M. Reffner
"A worthy book for parents."
--"Crux of the Matter"
"Busy parents (I feel your pain!) will appreciate the format of this book that offers a positive spin on the issues that boys face: chapters are divided by useful subheadings and offer brief tips that can be implemented right away, along with quick-fire background ('Sy