In an effort to better understand her daughter, the author spent more than a year immersed in her daughter Lizzie's life. She observed Lizzie's seventh and eighth grade classes (including a week of sex ed), went to summer camp with her, and attended Lizzie's wrestling and track practices (and all the matches and meets too). She writes about all this in the book, and along the way also includes research she has gleaned about the brain of a teenager. For example, scientists have discovered that the prefrontal cortex of a teenage brain is still developing and forming. Since this is the part of the brain dealing with moral reasoning, rational decision making, and emotional control, this (along with fluctuating hormones) explains why Lizzie is screaming "I hate you!" one hour, and then acting like a perfect angel the next. Whether you are a mother or you just know a teenager, this is an interesting analysis of teenagers and a peek into the world of mother-daughter relationships. ( )