Kids Do Well If They Can! It is really that simple. This message is shifting the thinking and mindset of the staff at my school. We are becoming better problem solvers because of it as we continue our study of this book. I've already learned so much from the conversations. Check out our Padlet to see insights and questions!

Who is Dr. Ross Greene?

Ross W. Greene is an associate clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the author of The Explosive Child. He is also the founding director of the Collaborative Problem Solving Institute, a program based in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. Greene’s research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and the Stanley Medical Research Institute. 

View his website for resources and more information.

This was an absolute beautiful, lyrical read. I finished wanting to know more about the village of Konko, what happened with Joy and Blade, and if Chapel redeemed herself. And what about Storm? While she was a supporting character, she had a story to tell too. Maybe we can hope for a "Duet" next?

For young adult readers out there, especially those who are musically inclined, you'll want to grab this and go! I was inspired to create a Spotify playlist based on the mixtape Storm left Blade. Click here to listen! I'll be thinking about some of those verses for a while. This quote the most:

​"Why do we need mirrors when we can se the reflection of our goodness in the way others react to us? Look at the mirrors in your friends' eyes. That's all anyone ever needs. To see beauty and reflection in others. Those are real mirrors."
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This was such a wonderful story of strength and courage between the most interesting of friends. The characters were so engaging. I highly recommend this book for teens and young adults. There were so many beautiful moments. I especially felt connected to this story because of the theme of loss, specifically of a parent. The ending was absolutely perfect- not too contrived or predictable.  It also showed me a sliver of what horrors children and families experiencing the civil war in the Republic of Congo faced, and how refugees struggled to survive.

​This moment when Baz remembers something his mother taught him was incredible; she remained kind and giving even when she herself had lost almost everything. This lesson Baz carried with him, which influenced the character he wanted to be, and is.

​This was an amazing, practical, and insightful resource containing a wealth of research-based information on how to raise an empathetic child. Here are some of my most notable takeaways:

1. We must help children develop a sense of moral identity and build up their moral courage.
2. ​"Books can be portals to understanding other worlds and other views, to helping our children be more open to differences and cultivate new perspectives.” Use them to increase your child's/students' social-hub.
3. Create sacred unplugged times for the entire family! Increase your face-to-face communication.
4. “Depositing prosocial images in our children's identity banks so they can define themselves as caring, responsible people who value other people’s thoughts and feelings is the basis of moral identity.”
   
5. To combat peer pressure, use the acronym REFUSE:

• R- review who you are
• E- express your belief
• F- firm voice
• U- use strong posture
• S- say no and don’t give in
• E- exit​

Purchase the book via Amazon