So, when a big site like SheKnows.com says that BOYOLOGY and HOW TO RAISE YOUR PARENTS are in the top 5 books for teens/tweens, it means a lot. Parenting expert Melissa Chapman picked both of them in her recent list of top 15 books for preschoolers, kids and teens (they’re in the teen bracket, obviously). And her goal was to pick books that parents could get teens – that teens would actually like! So, this is like a double scoop of rocky road with a cherry on top (and a few chocolate sprinkles). It’s so exciting to have this recommendation from someone like Melissa and a big site like SheKnows, and even bigger that they say teens will like them. Yay!

LEXINGTON, KY – Monday, September 7th @ 7:00pm
Joseph Beth Booksellers
161 Lexington Green Circle, #B
Lexington, KY 40503
859-273-2911

CINCINNATI, OH – Tuesday, September 8th @ 7:00pm
Joseph Beth Booksellers
2692 Madison Road
Cincinnati, OH 45208
513-396-8960

LOUISVILLE, KY – Wednesday, September 9th @ 7:30pm
Borders Books & Music
2520 S. Hurstbourne Gem Lane (and Taylorsville Road)
Louisville, KY 40220
502-495-6640

MIAMI, FL – Friday, September 11th @ 8:00pm
SPECIAL GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT with CARMINDY from WHAT NOT TO WEAR!
Books & Books
265 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, FL
305-442-4408

• Maria Shilaos did an interview with me for her Kids Stuff feature on KSL Radio in Salt Lake City. My best friend Jill came to the interview with me and started telling Maria stories about when we were teenagers. Lucky for me, Maria didn’t put that stuff on air!
• Walking on Air with Betsy and Sal – gotta say, I love these ladies. We really got into the boy breeds during this interview, and we all agreed that most guys never grow out of these completely.
• The Jackson Heights Times story is great because the reporter was a guy (the very cool Jeremy Walsh) and we’re about the same age. He had a good perspective on dating and was fun to talk with. Plus, it’s my local paper. Hometown pride! (even though the picture of me is terrible).
• Amy Barry’s column, Parent’s Eye View, in Connecticut’s The Day newspaper was fun, too. Amy was just totally down to earth asked great questions. She didn’t hedge around important topics like setting your boundaries and sex. And I like that. We’ve gotta talk about that stuff!

Here's a quick shot of the segment on ABC News Now

I love the parenting host of ABC News Now, Annie Pleshette Murphy. She’s really in touch with what’s happening on the YA scene and had some good questions during our interview about BOYOLOGY. One of the recurring questions I’m getting from TV anchors and radio hosts is, “So how different IS it being a teenager today than when we were teens?”

But before I go into differences, I have to say that the butterflies, the heartbreak, the awkward first phone conversations are still the same. Not much really changes when it comes to love. But technology has added a few elements to dating, so here’s a quick primer:

1. CELL PHONES: Welcome to easy, breezy, and lower-risk communication. Texting can make that initial conversation less awkward because you’re not face-to-face. But that said, you can’t do the whole relationship by text. Make sure you can actually talk to each other. And be sure you’re smart about what you send out. This is important for everything you do online. I’ve heard some heartbreaking stories from girls who sent pics of themselves to boyfriends that were then sent to everyone. Remember that once you hit send – on anything! – you lose control of it.

2. FACEBOOK: I will just say, I love facebook. I’ve reconnected with some old friends and it’s an easy way to keep up with people. But when it comes to break-ups, facebook can make things that much more painful. The broken heart icon, having everyone comment on your wall to see what happened, not knowing whether or not to de-friend your now “ex.” I always say, when you first break-up with someone, step away from the computer and take a little break. Give yourself at least a day to think things over before you have to face the barrage of “friends” online.

3. IM’ing: So much easier than email. And emoticons can be cute, unless used to often and then they’re just annoying. But again, tone is hard to read. (Even with those smiley faces.) One guy I met told me his girlfriend broke up with him because he wasn’t “emotive enough” over IM. Seriously? This guy really liked her and I think he still does. But how many guys are really going to write love poems over IM? How do I love thee… I wouldn’t count on that. Remember, you must talk! IM is for quickie conversations or when you’re stuck in the library and everyone is shushing you.

It’s been one of the best days ever – and it’s not over yet! I leave tonight for Phoenix and the start of my BOYOLOGY book tour. If you live in Phoenix, Salt Lake City or Seattle, come see me! Not only do I want some company, but these bookstores ROCK! Changing Hands, King’s English, Third Place Books, not to mention libraries!…these are what author dreams are made of.

PHOENIX, AZ – Thursday, June 4th @ 7:00pm
Changing Hands
6428 S. McClintock Dr.
Tempe, AZ 85283
480-730-0205

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Friday, June 5th @ 7:00pm
The King’s English
1519 S. 1500 E.
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
801-484-9100

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Saturday, June 6th @ 11:00am
East Millcreek Library
2266 Evergreen Ave.
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
801-944-7622

SEATTLE, WA – Sunday, June 7th
Ft. Lewis Military Base @ 12:30pm
Building 5280 Pendelton Avenue
Ft. Lewis, WA 98433

Third Place Books @ 5:30pm
17171 Bothell Way
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
206-366-3333

And mark your calendars for one of my all-time favorite stores, RJ Julia in Madison, Connecticut.

MADISON, CT – Wednesday, June 24th @ 7:00pm
RJ Julia Booksellers
768 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT 06443
203-245-3959

And without further adieu…the review! (I’ve bolded the really good parts just to make myself feel good.)

FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:

This humorous guide provides insight into the elusive universe of boys, using questions, answers and quotations from real teens. Nebulous topics like “hooking up” (“by definition, hook-ups don’t lead to boyfriends”) and being “just friends” (in one image, a beaming girl is clearly thinking “skateboarding partner” while the boy beside her has a heart in his thought bubble) are addressed with oodles of pop-culture literacy. The plethora of “how to” sections (an illustrated guide to kissing), lists (including mood-setting playlists featuring Avril Lavigne and Sleater-Kinney) and “Extra Credit” quizzes provide an entertaining tour of love and dating etiquette for beginners. More seasoned daters may find the advice formulaic. Ages 13-up.

But really, how many of us are “seasoned daters”? (OK, I admit it. That wasn’t in the review. But it’s a valid question, don’t you think?)

FROM KIRKUS REVIEWS:

Adolescent girls seeking a deeper understanding of the opposite sex will appreciate this appealing, entertaining guide full of useful facts and sound advice. Burningham, author of the equally wise and witty How to Raise Your Parents (2008), explores a wide range of subjects, including how to determine which “breed” of boy you’re dealing with, first dates and the rules of the dating game, setting boundaries, peer conflicts and pressures, dealing with parents, the difference between having a boyfriend and boy friends and coping with the inevitable breakup. The author also discusses “e-love” and offers sensible advice on navigating the online world of social networking. Entertaining and informative asides and sidebars feature quotes from young celebrities and regular teens, quizzes, polling results from her own MySpace page and lists like the ten best songs for the “I-Want-a-Kiss-at-the-End-of-the-Night Romance Mix.” The whimsical cartoon illustrations are a good complement to the breezy, conversational style.