The Amazing Generation

Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World

Illustrated by Cynthia Yuan Cheng
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$24.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | Rocky Pond Books
12 per carton
On sale Dec 30, 2025 | 9798217111909
Age 9-12 years
Reading Level: Lexile 1040L | Fountas & Pinnell S
Sales rights: US, Canada, Open Mkt

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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Inspired by the award-winning phenomenon The Anxious Generation, this new book for kids and tweens is a comprehensive guide for living a happy and exciting life that isn’t hijacked by a smartphone.

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year!


Jonathan Haidt’s blockbuster book, The Anxious Generation, has sparked a global conversation about the effects of smartphones and social media on young people’s development, and has inspired millions of parents, teachers, and leaders to take action. Now, Haidt and Catherine Price, author of the bestselling How to Break Up with Your Phone, have teamed up to create a new book that speaks directly to kids. Their goal? To empower young people to stand up for themselves by choosing a life not dominated by screens and social media.

Whether or not kids already have smartphones or social media accounts, this engaging guide is packed with surprising facts, a graphic novel, interactive challenges, secrets that tech leaders don’t want kids to know, and real-life anecdotes from young adults who regret getting smartphones at a young age and want to help the next generation avoid making the same mistakes.

But this isn’t just a book about what not to do. It’s a bold, optimistic, and practical guide to growing into your most authentic, confident, and adventurous self. Readers won’t just discover how to avoid becoming the next Anxious Generation. They’ll learn how to become amazing.
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“A book of tips, tricks, and the science behind smartphone and device addiction that completely respects its audience. This brilliant volume is filled with hard truths that still ring with positivity, and the design and comic-style illustrations will keep readers’ interest while making a case for the importance of unplugging.”—School Library Journal (Best Books of the Year)

"The book’s design provides plenty of attention-grabbing material, but it’s the research that makes it relevant and convincing, particularly since the authors never blame the users of technology. The book addresses the importance of choosing a better path to support and maintain mental health with conviction. Will inspire balanced and thoughtful decision-making in a world where technology is designed to promote impulsivity." —Kirkus

"[An] eye-rollproof script for calmer boundaries and fewer power struggles."—Oprah Daily

"This is an eye-opening book, designed for kids but also incredibly readable for parents who know that we need to do something, anything to proactively get them away from screens—but who aren’t quite sure how to convince them."—The Boston Globe

★"What makes this book stand out is its upbeat, encouraging approach.. Haidt and Price offer kid-friendly strategies... Their book’s illustrations and graphics are bright, fun, and engaging and feature a diverse set of teens. A fresh, motivating guide recommended for students and educators who want to encourage independence, curiosity, and real-world adventures, and a fun reminder that life off-screen can be just as exciting as the digital world, if not more.” —School Library Journal, starred review

"An important antidote to the daily pull and messaging of the online world."—NPR.org

"Kids should appreciate the way the book puts responsibility in their hands and empowers them to fight back. The advice is specific and persuasive: Delete your account. Put down your phone. Go outside."—Washington Post Book Club

Educator Guide for The Amazing Generation

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Discussion Guide for The Amazing Generation

Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

About

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Inspired by the award-winning phenomenon The Anxious Generation, this new book for kids and tweens is a comprehensive guide for living a happy and exciting life that isn’t hijacked by a smartphone.

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year!


Jonathan Haidt’s blockbuster book, The Anxious Generation, has sparked a global conversation about the effects of smartphones and social media on young people’s development, and has inspired millions of parents, teachers, and leaders to take action. Now, Haidt and Catherine Price, author of the bestselling How to Break Up with Your Phone, have teamed up to create a new book that speaks directly to kids. Their goal? To empower young people to stand up for themselves by choosing a life not dominated by screens and social media.

Whether or not kids already have smartphones or social media accounts, this engaging guide is packed with surprising facts, a graphic novel, interactive challenges, secrets that tech leaders don’t want kids to know, and real-life anecdotes from young adults who regret getting smartphones at a young age and want to help the next generation avoid making the same mistakes.

But this isn’t just a book about what not to do. It’s a bold, optimistic, and practical guide to growing into your most authentic, confident, and adventurous self. Readers won’t just discover how to avoid becoming the next Anxious Generation. They’ll learn how to become amazing.

Photos

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Praise

“A book of tips, tricks, and the science behind smartphone and device addiction that completely respects its audience. This brilliant volume is filled with hard truths that still ring with positivity, and the design and comic-style illustrations will keep readers’ interest while making a case for the importance of unplugging.”—School Library Journal (Best Books of the Year)

"The book’s design provides plenty of attention-grabbing material, but it’s the research that makes it relevant and convincing, particularly since the authors never blame the users of technology. The book addresses the importance of choosing a better path to support and maintain mental health with conviction. Will inspire balanced and thoughtful decision-making in a world where technology is designed to promote impulsivity." —Kirkus

"[An] eye-rollproof script for calmer boundaries and fewer power struggles."—Oprah Daily

"This is an eye-opening book, designed for kids but also incredibly readable for parents who know that we need to do something, anything to proactively get them away from screens—but who aren’t quite sure how to convince them."—The Boston Globe

★"What makes this book stand out is its upbeat, encouraging approach.. Haidt and Price offer kid-friendly strategies... Their book’s illustrations and graphics are bright, fun, and engaging and feature a diverse set of teens. A fresh, motivating guide recommended for students and educators who want to encourage independence, curiosity, and real-world adventures, and a fun reminder that life off-screen can be just as exciting as the digital world, if not more.” —School Library Journal, starred review

"An important antidote to the daily pull and messaging of the online world."—NPR.org

"Kids should appreciate the way the book puts responsibility in their hands and empowers them to fight back. The advice is specific and persuasive: Delete your account. Put down your phone. Go outside."—Washington Post Book Club

Guides

Educator Guide for The Amazing Generation

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Discussion Guide for The Amazing Generation

Provides questions, discussion topics, suggested reading lists, introductions and/or author Q&As, which are intended to enhance reading groups’ experiences.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)