Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting! (And Lives to Tell About It.)
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The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know Katie Friedman Gives Up Texting! (And Lives to Tell About It.) focuses on a girl's attempt to give up texting after she accidentally sends a mean text about a classmate to that classmate's cell phone. There is typical middle school relationship stuff that gets sorted out and worked through, including fights with friends, secrets, and some heartbreak.
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What's the story?
Katie Friedman has a big problem. But when she wants to talk about it, all her friends are completely engrossed in their phones. Katie will be the first to admit she spends the majority of her out-of-school time texting the day away, but now she's starting to wonder about her addiction. After she sends a mean text to the person she was talking about, she vows to give up her phone. Can she do it, and, more importantly, will others join her?
Is it any good?
This is a fun read that addresses technology addiction without being too preachy or simplistic. Author Tommy Greenwald creates a great story that begins with an all-too-common occurrence: sending a text to the wrong person. As the characters deal with the fallout of the mistext, Greenwald shows them to be tweens who are surprisingly open and forthcoming in their face-to-face communication.
A fun romp, the book isn't designed to get kids to give up tech, but it will make them think twice about "keyboard courage." It also serves as a great opportunity to engage in discussions about tech time and things friends can do outside of tech to connect.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the use of texting and social media in their own homes. What are the rules? How can you tell when you're relying too heavily on electronic communication?
How important is downtime from social media and texting? What activities and events do you do with friends that would not require you to have your phone with you?
Have you ever posted things about someone you'd never say to them face-to-face? Talk about social media safety and etiquette.
Book details
- Author: Tommy Greenwald
- Illustrator: J. P. Coovert
- Genre: Friendship
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Music and Sing-Along
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date: February 14, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 9 - 12
- Number of pages: 240
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: February 11, 2020
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For kids who love middle school stories
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