On Youth and Teens Today with Vanessa Van Petten

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Testimonials for Speaking Engagements

“Vanessa Van Petten’s new book “You’re Grounded!” is a courageous venture into parent/teen relationships told with sincerity, compassion and candor. No topic is off limits and her insights are clear, valuable and immediately useful. This is a wonderful resource destined to build bridges between both generations!”

-Rosalind Sedacca, CCT

Author, How Do I Tell the Kids about the Divorce?

“Vanessa Van Petten, 22, an interesting and accomplished young woman from LA, is a builder-of-bridges between parents and teens and the author of “You’re Grounded.” She’s a prolific writer, blogger and brings her positive messages to enhance communication between parents and teenagers. I found her blog online and was fascinated to speak to this young colleague who so values the importance of parent-teen relationships…Her interesting perspective can be helpful to parents and teens alike.”

-Sue Blaney, author of Please Stop the Rollercoaster, see full article here.

“Step back mainstream self-help books, there is a new genre taking over bookshelves nationwide. You’re Grounded by Vanessa Van Petten tackles the infamous issue of parent-child relationships from the most unexpected perspective: the child’s. The book dives into the minds of both the parents and the teen in hopes of extrapolating some kind of logic and reason in understanding why each behaves in the manner in which they do and why it appears quite the opposite to the other person. Van Petten not only explains what the issues are and how they come about, but how to approach them from a parental and teenage perspective. Unlike other experts, Van Petten highlights both sides of the story pointing out their strengths, weaknesses, and necessary improvements. The first person narration sets the tone to be friendly and light, whilst at the same time experienced and knowledgeable. The latter combines with empirical evidence from recently published medical and psychological studies to bolster the book’s message and help carry it home. Van Petten confronts those issues that no one wants to talk about head on and shares a point of view that is often discarded. Well researched, well informed, and well written, You’re Grounded! offers a truly a refreshing new look at relationships from the perspective of an educated and articulate former teenager”
-Insight Magazine book review to be published when I release my book

-Lian Dolan, writer on Satellite Sisters Blog (see more comments from this blog post on Vanessa Van Petten here)

“ I read and enjoyed your book. It’s a fascinating window into the lives of today’s teens. I’m amazed at the maturity and balance with which you depict the roles of both teens and parents. You manage to give good advice without sounding preachy, which is a tough line to walk. If your readers can put to use any of the common sense tips you pass on, I’m sure they would benefit! You could probably market this in the global community as a “road map” to peace between nations, not just between teens and parents…As a teacher and a parent I enjoyed the glimpse into the lives of today’s teens. The insights Vanessa share will help me in understanding my students and give me tools to build better communication in the classroom and at home.”
-Middle School teacher and mother.

“My family (myself, my wife and two kids) all read the book at the same time. It was really helpful in just getting us talking. Some advice my kids really liked, and other sections my wife and I found extremely helpful and then we were able to talk about her strategies and make our own. A totally different kind of approach to parenting books and advice, more collaborative than I was with my parents which is what the our kids generation is all about.” -Brian Weiner, author of “Toad Catcher’s Creek” Children Literature

“I bought this book for myself, but plan to give it to my daughter who is growing up too quickly. This book is great because it tells the story from both sides of the coin, in a way that can be easily understood by all parties involved.” -Dr Chu Hsien Lin, Father, Boston MA

“This book was a fantastic eye-opening experience into the lives of teenagers from the perspective of a teenager. Ms. Van Patten really is able to show us how the world has changed for our youth today and how we better can understand what they are facing. I enjoyed the book tremendously and have been able to employ some of the ideas to strenghten the mother/daughter relationship with my daughter. I have bought copies of the books for many of my mom friends as I know they too will get a lot out this book. Thank you!”
-Catherine Nofri, Los Angeles, CA

“Family members are facing some distinct but not uncommon challenges with their teenage kids. I am gifting this book to them, in hopes that some resolution is on the horizon, due to Van Petten’s practical approach and accessible “teen speak.”"
-A Wiseman Santa Fe NM