There have always been the "in-crowds" and outsiders among adolescents, but today the social castes of the American high school are proving to be more incendiary, destructive, and even life?threatening to students than ever before. From playgrounds to senior-high parking lots, kids of all ages need more help than ever in navigating the cruel pressures that can be inflicted by these groups. The first book to hone in on this problem, Cliques provides hands-on strategies for parents facing this ubiquitous, volatile issue, including:

• Why stepping in to "quietly take care of the problem" won't work
• Helping the child who doesn't fit in
• Disarming bullies
• Getting bystanders involved
• Teaching tolerance
• Leading by example
• Lobbying for change

More than just a manual for cheering your child on, Cliques brings hope and a truly comprehensive understanding of adolescent society to the millions of families struggling against this divisive—and sometimes permanently scarring—force. About the Authors:Charlene C. Giannetti is a journalist and the author of five previous books. Her articles had appeared in national publications, including The New York Times and Working Woman. Also the mother of two teenage children, she lives in New York City. Margaret Sagarese has taught young adolescents and has written many books. She is the mother of a teenage girl and lives on Long Island, New York. Together, Charlene and Margaret host a weekly on-line chat on iVillage's Parent Soup. They also cowrote Parenting 911 and The Roller-Coaster Years, which was named on of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 1997.

Charlene C. Giannetti is the author of six previous books, most recently Who Am I?...And Other Questions of Adopted Kids. The mother of two teenage children, she lives in New York City. Margaret Sagarese has written ten books. She is the mother of a teenage girl and lives in Long Island, New York. Together, they host a weekly on-line chat on iVillage's Parent Soup. They also cowrote Parenting 911 and The Roller-Coaster Years, which was named one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 1997.

Tags: cliques