"The Girls? Guide to AD/HD by Beth Walker (Woodbine House, 2005, 174 pages) is a treat to read 'I do that! I do that, too.' These were some of my daughter Emily's comments as she read the book. Some of the sections that had me shaking my head, such as the brain bounce on bats on page 22 and the math problem-solving example on page 20, elicited, 'See, I understand that,' from Emily.

The illustrations and funny comments by three girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), which are inserted throughout the text, are delightful, and the teen's perspective on AD/HD issues and challenges keep the presentation of information light and enjoyable. The substantive information on the disorder is quite accurate and is presented in an easy, chatty style with plenty of little quizzes to keep the reader engaged. Someone with AD/HD may appreciate the fact that the book can be digested in short spurts, and each chapter even has a cheat sheet at the end for those who are short on time and needing to decide whether to read the chapter now or later.

The general information on how AD/HD affects girls and the scientific explanations of brain chemistry are well done and easy to understand. Small digs on how little research has actually been done on the female version of AD/HD certainly earned a chuckle from me.

As the mother of a teen with AD/HD, I found the discussion of adolescence informative and the sections on dealing with the disorder practical and helpful. No matter how much a parent knows that punishment just does not work the same for those with AD/HD as it does for those without the disorder, it helps to stop and think about what can work when one is not in the middle of a minor or major rule infraction. The Oops tips for things to do when rules are broken (pg. 101-2 and 112-13) should, at the very least, open a healthy discussion between a teen and parent.

School issues can end up being the largest source of conflict between parents and teens. Knowing what learning style is most effective for a child and what kind of school might be a good fit is a good place to start when there is a choice of schools available. This section should help the newly diagnosed as well as those who have experience with school supports such as 504 plans or accommodations for understanding different learning styles and glitches. If there is any fault to be found with the book, it is this section that seems somewhat simplistic. But, please don't let that stop you from enjoying The Girls Guide to AD/HD."
--Barbara Hawkins with Emily Hawkins
Attention! Magazine, August 2005

"This refreshing book, written for teenaged girls with AD/HD, has as much spunk and character as its intended audience. Author Beth Walker, whose daughter has the condition, writes in the first person as three fictional characters, Maddy, Helen and Bo. Each represents a different way that AD/HD manifests itself in girls, making them dreamy, forgetful, talkative, or depressed, in turn.

Walker addresses the differences between girls' and boys' AD/HD, and doesn't shy from tough topics. You'll find down-to-earth discussions of friendship and dating, medication, school, siblings, drug abuse, common 'bonus conditions' (anxiety and depression), and several 'survival tactics'--including not comparing yourself to 'The Perfect Girl.' On a lighter note, the book reminds readers that 'you'll probably forget this.' From the lists of 'Fun facts to forget' at the end of each chapter to the subtitle (Don't lose this book!), The Girls' Guide encourages us to develop a sense of humor about our AD/HD traits!

The book is definitely not boring and, for some readers, it may err on the side of too busy! The Girls' Guide is chock-full of information--it even offers a diagram of the chemical structure of dopamine. A fourth character, Miss ADDvice Lady, answers 'letters' at the end of each chapter. (For example, one 'writer' prefers to play her musical instrument without medication. Another one thinks 'this book is full of hooey.') I found this abundance of elements to be a little distracting and, at times, the information was difficult to follow.

However, there's much that is valuable here, and it's so appropriately framed that the book is worth the effort it might take to read it. It offers lot of support for the fragile esteem of teenagers with AD/HD.

My recommendation is to read the book in many sittings, based on interest. Believe me, there is enough here to interest any girl--whatever her AD/HD tendencies."
--ADDitude Magazine, April/May 2005

"Life for a girl with AD/HD is not easy. Beth Walker knows this and makes AD/HD real for her readers. Packed with information, The Girls' Guide to AD/HD: Don't Lose this Book!, has many features that set it apart, but, most importantly, it's FUN to read!"
--Patricia Quinn, MD Director, National Center for Gender Issues and ADHD

"What an awesome resource for a teen just like me! The Girls' Guide to AD/HD should be kept a reach away. Great for ideas and the consolation that we are not alone. Especially important to me was The Good Stuff (Chapter 8). Thank you, Beth Walker. This is one book I won't lose."
--Christine Brady, college student and columnist of Christine on Teens, ADDitude magazine

"Written with humor and encouragement, The Girls' Guide to AD/HD is a compendium of explanatory facts and practical advice on how to live a full and successful life while dealing with peers, teachers, friends, and family despite AD/HD. To put it simply, The Girls' Guide to AD/HD is must reading for girls having to cope with this increasingly widespread condition and should be available in every school and community library."
-Children's Bookwatch, January 2005

"Having Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is not a girl's fault, but it is her problem. This accessible book, written specifically for girls in grades six through twelve, presents AD/HD as something to deal with, not to be ashamed of.

AD/HD is a neurological disorder affecting between six and nine percent of all Americans. According to the author, girls with the disorder behave differently than boys who have it. Girls are more likely to fidget rather than run around, and to whisper to a classmate rather than yell out. They are more likely to be day-dreamy in their distraction and get depressed instead of angry with people who don't understand that they are not lazy or unfocused.

The first-time author, who is the mother of a girl with AD/HD, narrates her book in the voice and mannerism of a teenage girl named Maddy (and her friends Bo and Helen, who also have AD/HD). Walker has captured the essence of teen speech, while providing research-based information. 'People with AD/HD don't focus or pay attention the way other people do,' says Maddy. 'I pay attention. It just isn't always what I'm supposed to be paying attention to.' As Maddy, she often goes off track, which is a wonderful way to demonstrate how the mind of someone affected by AD/HD works. She never strays too far, though, and keeps her discussions short so that her attention-challenged audience can stay with her. Graphics, varied fonts, and bold headlines maintain visual interest.

The book follows a safe, logical progression. Walker starts with general facts about the disorder, including the chemistry of the teenaged brain and various treatments; then she carefully makes the conversation more personal by delving into how AD/HD affects family dynamics, friendships, school, and romances. Since AD/HD is not recognized in many girls, they often develop self-esteem problems by the time they are teens. Girls with AD/HD can also have trouble sustaining friendships, adding to their potential depression. They are often late, interrupt a lot, aren't very good listeners, and have trouble picking up social cues. The author gives specific suggestions for how to make (and keep) friends. AD/HD in girls is severely under-diagnosed. Some researchers estimate that as many as seventy-five percent of girls with AD/HD aren't diagnosed. As more educators, parents, and girls become more aware of it, they will need books like this one, which offers hope, humor, and the latest research to help girls feel good about who they are.

Throughout the volume, Walker reminds her readers that there are benefits to having AD/HD, including deeper empathy, charm, energy, and lots of great ideas. Maddy will feel like new friend to readers, one who will like them, not in spite of their AD/HD, but because of it."
-ForeWord Magazine, March 2005

"[A] welcome tool for teenage girls and the adults who care for them."
-DDNA NewsNetwork, Winter/Spring 2005

"This is an invaluable resource for girls and their parents."
-NewsLine (The Federation for Children with Special Needs), Volume 26, Number 2, Fall 2005

"It is unique in its very lively and attractive presentation, and in its discussion of gender differences in attention problems, well supported by reviews of recent research on brain structure, chemistry, and hormones."
-Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, April 2006