A nice adaptation of the original, which I think is well suited to the tween and teen set. More complete review to come.



Full review:



If you're an introvert (or an extrovert who wants to better understand the introverts in your life), and you're unfamiliar with Susan Cain, I recommend reading Quiet as soon as you can. Even though I've always known I had introverted tendencies, reading her book helped me understand a lot about myself, and make peace with what I've always seen as some of my negative

A nice adaptation of the original, which I think is well suited to the tween and teen set. More complete review to come.



Full review:



If you're an introvert (or an extrovert who wants to better understand the introverts in your life), and you're unfamiliar with Susan Cain, I recommend reading Quiet as soon as you can. Even though I've always known I had introverted tendencies, reading her book helped me understand a lot about myself, and make peace with what I've always seen as some of my negative quirks. Now, as a parent, I've entered a whole new realm of introvert confusion. My kids are introverted too, but I still find parenting demanding at times because I do get to a point where I'm fried. Cain's books have helped me to find ways to explain to them when I need some me time, while also figuring out ways to meet their needs, and I'm glad for this adapted version as I think it'll help my twelve-year-old in particular understand her own needs a little better. The cover states that the book is for kids and teens, but by kids I'd say around 10 and up. I'm not sure younger kids (like my almost seven-year-old) would get as much out of it, but if they read it with a parent, it could be a good vehicle for discussion.



Even if your introverted kids are too young for the book, it's a great read for parents, particularly if you're an extrovert who has trouble understanding why your child is quiet, has so few friends, and is seemingly shy. Though introverts can, of course, be shy, the two are often mistakenly conflated, particularly in a school setting, so this book may also be helpful for educators and anyone who works with children. Back when I was in school, the structure already leaned toward the extroverted kids, but in today's world of group work, grouped desks, and schools designed with pods to bring large groups of students together, I think it's even more important for parents, educators, and administrators to develop a better understanding of why such structures don't always bring out the best in introverted students. I've lost count of the number of times teachers have told me that my daughter is a good student and a nice kid, but that she should talk more in class, and I've come to see that as a big, red flag that maybe they don't get my introverted girl.



What I think kids will get out of this book is twofold: assurance that they're not alone, which is very important, and concrete ideas for how to work with their personality type instead of trying to fight against it and, therefore, exhausting themselves and making themselves unhappy. The book has very good advice for topics ranging from how to participate in school in a way that makes introverted kids comfortable (and how to talk to teachers to help them understand how their needs can be best served) to how to develop and sustain friendships when all you may want to do at times is hide in your room alone with a book.



This isn't what I'd call a "hard" science book in that, while Cain does reference studies, she doesn't lay them out the way she does in the version targeted to adults. Instead, she provides lots of personal anecdotes from kids from a variety of ages in which they address a particular episode or problematic area and how they went about solving it in a way that satisfied their need for privacy, quiet, and solitude. The framing of the book is very positive, showing kids that though it can be a struggle to be an introvert in a world that leans toward the more extroverted, introverts also possess some deep strengths. By learning how to harness these strengths rather than seeing them as weaknesses (i.e. "I wish your daughter would talk more in class" when, really, she's too busy listening and working through her own thoughts to be able to articulate on the spot), this book can really empower kids to speak up for themselves and to be sure their own needs are met while also strengthening their bonds with others, whether family, friends, or teachers.



The last two sections of the book are targeted at educators and parents. They're only a few pages long, so they don't have a great deal of depth, but they do have some good suggestions for how to work with introverted kids. For example, the book suggests that teachers build thinking time into their lessons, giving all kids a chance to consider information they've gained and to synthesize it rather than immediately shouting out answers. For parents, she offers some tips for helping their kids navigate their social lives while monitoring their kids' anxiety levels.



The topic of introverts versus extroverts is one that I don't think gets enough attention, but I understand the reasoning behind it. It makes sense to me that extroverts don't get why introverts want to sometimes retreat into their caves, and that introverts don't understand why extroverts are constantly nagging them to go to parties. However, it is possible to reach a happy medium when introverts and extroverts learn how to pool their strengths in order to get the best out of both personality types. I'm heartened by the thought that views may be shifting, sparing my introverted kids from some of the well-meaning but negative consequences I suffered as an introverted child. Had I known how to adopt some of the techniques this book describes, I would likely have been happier both at school and in my social life, because I would have had the tools to express to my friends, teachers, and family members what my needs were.