Stepchildren Speak: 10 Grown-Up Stepchildren Teach Us How to Build Healthy Stepfamilies [Paperback]

Susan Philips (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 2004

We've heard from the parents and stepparents. We've heard from the child psychologists and family counselors. Now let the children speak.

Here are the wise words of ten children who grew up in stepfamilies. They are young enough to remember the experience well and old enough to have learned from it. They not only offer their poignant stories, but they add advice specifically marked for parents, stepparents, and even stepchildren. They come from different races, economic levels and from various parts of the country, but all of their stories reverberate with truth and a desire to help others.

The author, a parent and stepparent herself, knew the right questions to ask and knew how to help them translate their sometimes painful experience into lessons from which all of us can learn.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" A vital book! At last from the children so impacted by divorce and remarriage. We must listen to their voices." -- Jeanette Lofas, President, Stepfamily Foundation, Inc., New York, N.Y.

"...provides parents with the inside knowledge of true life experiences so that they can more thoroughly plan for their remarriage." -- Jayne A. Major Ph.D., Breakthrough Parenting Services Inc. Los Angeles, CA

"I plan to give this book to all my clients to help them adjust to their new families." -- Steve Larin, Family Lawyer, Los Angeles, CA

About the Author

Susan Philips is a Senior Consultant for the Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF), a national citizenship and law-related educational organization. She also consults with LACER Hollywood Stars, an organization that promotes arts and literacy in middle schools in Los Angeles. Susan received a Master's Degree in Journalism from the University of Southern California. She is mother and stepmother to four grown children. This is her first book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: AWYN Publications (November 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893471098
• ISBN-13: 978-1893471092
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,115,590 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars from the mouths of babes, December 2, 2004

By 

William P. Brown "corner folder" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stepchildren Speak: 10 Grown-Up Stepchildren Teach Us How to Build Healthy Stepfamilies (Paperback)

How brilliant and selfless of Susan Philips to let the stepchildren give advice and insight into stepparenting, rather than put it in her own words. The experiences that these ten stepchildren share are diverse, but the commonality of feelings are strikingly similiar. For anyone who is in the midst of stepparenting, or about to embark on this journey, I would strongly recommend that they read this heartfelt book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stepchildren speak, January 16, 2005

By 

Marcille Nay (Spokane WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stepchildren Speak: 10 Grown-Up Stepchildren Teach Us How to Build Healthy Stepfamilies (Paperback)

Stepchildren Speak competently answers a grave need of our families today. Straight "from the horse's mouth," so to speak, this book provides an intimate, caring view into those who have walked this path -- and survived. A "must read" for anyone contemplating marriage to one with children.

Marcille M. Nay

Grandmother to 39

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Always from the other side, February 13, 2007

By 

Anna-maryke Grey (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stepchildren Speak: 10 Grown-Up Stepchildren Teach Us How to Build Healthy Stepfamilies (Paperback)

While this book is well conceived, researched, written, and is an interesting concept, I found it tiresome to hear again the grievances from the stepchildren's side. Being a stepchild and a stepmother, I can appreciate the difficulties from both sides, however it always seems to end up being about the stepchildren, their plight, their sensitive feelings, and what we can all do to cushion their fragility. Little thought or consideration being given for the 'dreaded' stepmother/father. It would have been a nice adjunct to have an equal number of stepparents interviewed to give their view, advice, and insights.