"Being a teenager is hard! Being the parent of a teenager is equally hard! I can't imagine anyone better at helping teens and their parents navigate this season of life than Jim Burns. Understanding Your Teen is filled with practical wisdom and great stories. Philip and I have known Jim for decades, and his wisdom on family dynamics has been a great help to us personally as well as to our church, Oasis. If you are doing your best to understand your teenager, or if you know someone who is, then I can't suggest strongly enough that you need this book!"Holly Wagner, pastor, Oasis Church, author of Find Your Brave
"'So, even though we were all teenagers once, in a very real way we were never the age of today's teens.' That sentence is so Jim Burns. A little counterintuitive perhaps, but right on the money. Of course Jim doesn't just leave you hanging with those pithy statements. Jim applies all his experience, wisdom, and communication savvy to help you understand exactly what he means. Pretty soon you'll be quoting Jim Burns too (just like I've been doing for years). Simply put, nobody is more qualified to write a book for parents about teenagers. He's been there, done that—and he's been doing it for years. He covers key developmental issues but doesn't dwell on them or keep restating the obvious. He gets to the good stuff right away: great advice, insights, and practical how-tos for parents who want to succeed with their kids and see them grow into capable, well-adjusted, fun-to-be-around grownups."Wayne Rice, cofounder, Youth Specialties, and conference director, the Legacy Coalition
"Once again, Jim Burns has written a practical, user-friendly guide for parents who are asking how to handle the predictable—and in some cases, not so predictable—issues that arise in the course of navigating the teen years. It will point parents in the right direction, keep them on the straight path, and bolster their parenting confidence."John Rosemond, family psychologist, author of Parenting by the Book
"Jim Burns is a life-giving blend of encouragement and wisdom for all parents of teenagers. Understanding Your Teen will quickly become one of your go-to books as you navigate the highs and lows of adolescence."Kara Powell, executive director of the Fuller Youth Institute, coauthor of Growing Young
"This really is the very best book I've ever read on parenting teenagers. It combines biblical wisdom, experience, discernment, and a heart attitude that builds relationships with our teenagers rather than driving them away, while setting clear expectations and boundaries. It addresses the most troubling and difficult areas of parenting teens without clichés or platitudes. It is absolutely the most practical and helpful book for youth workers, parents, and grandparents of teens I've come across. I highly recommend it!"Chip Ingram, senior pastor, Venture Christian Church, and teaching pastor, Living on the Edge Ministry
"I can't think of any twenty-first–century leader who has earned more right to speak to the topic of parent-teen relationships than Jim Burns! His sage insights come from his highly successful decades of being in the youth ministry trenches like few others. If you are the parent of a teenager, disregard this book at your own peril."Jeanne Mayo, executive director of youth and young adult outreach, Victory World Church, Atlanta
"Jim Burns consistently delivers concise yet practical helps for parents and youth workers, and Understanding Your Teen is no exception. This is a must-read for anyone who intends to influence their children toward God's best."Wayne Cordeiro, New Hope International
"There is no such thing as a perfect parent, but there can be an informed and intentional parent . . . and this book will help. If you want guidance navigating the minefields of adolescence, this is your guide. Pick it up, digest, and you'll soon learn you're not alone in your journey. Practical help is waiting for you."Doug Fields, author, Purpose Driven Youth Ministry
"As a lifelong youth worker, I'd always suspected that parenting teenagers wasn't easy; but after the fits and starts, joys and anxieties of parenting two of my own, I'm convinced that parenting teenagers is the single most difficult task in the universe. But like most difficult tasks, parenting teens can be immeasurably rewarding. What we all need—and what Jim Burns provides in this helpful book—is a wise traveling companion."Mark Oestreicher, partner in the Youth Cartel, author of Understanding Your Young Teen
"I don't know anyone I trust more to help me with my teens or you with yours than Jim Burns. He has spent his life studying teens and the youth culture helping parents make sense of it all. This book is the culmination of that work; I couldn't recommend it more. Loving and parenting your teen well begins with understanding them, and this is the resource that will get you there."Ron L. Deal, speaker, therapist, and author of The Smart Stepfamily and The Smart Stepmom
