120 ways to annoy your mother (And influence people)

Even before they reach their teens, young girls are bombarded with imagery and expectations of what a teenage girl is: how they should dress, what they should be interested in, and how they should conduct themselves. But what is there for preteen girls who don’t want to conform? This is the book for them. Ana Benaroya has brought together 120 tips that provide an ironic, witty, and gently subversive twist on all the “guides to life” for would-be prom queens and cheerleaders. The book includes the things that really matter for an independent teenage girl, including “How Not to Make Eye Contact with Your Mother” and “How to Turn Your Life into a Soap Opera,” alongside humorous pointers for cultural and social advancement, such as “How to Appreciate Jazz Music,” and dreamy, surreal ideas, such as “How to Fly” and “How to Breathe Fireballs.” Benaroya wonderfully captures what it feels like to be a young girl who needs an outlet to rebel, think for herself, or just annoy her mother. Part journal, part sketchbook and cheeky guide, this book, vibrantly printed in bright colors, includes space for readers to sketch and scrawl their thoughts on each tip and to chart their successes and failures. 120 color illustrations.