"Sidelights"

Rosalind Wiseman is the cofounder and president of the Empower Program, a national, nonprofit educational organization that aids youths in stopping violence. Wiseman began her career in violence prevention when she was asked to teach self-defense to high school girls. A second-degree black belt in karate, Wiseman agreed, and her experience encouraged her to continue teaching. Since that time, Wiseman has worked with numerous organizations, and she has been featured in magazines, newspapers, and various national television shows such as Oprah and Good Morning America.

Wiseman published her first book, Defending Ourselves: A Guide to Prevention, Self-Defense, and Recovery from Rape, in 1994. She followed that title with Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence, a guide to help parents understand the powerful influence that cliques have on shaping their adolescent daughter's life. The author uses anecdotes and quotes from teenage girls in the Empower Program to supplement her arguments. Wiseman also identifies different styles of parenting, provides advice on talking to teenagers, and addresses other problems concerning boys, sex, and drugs.

Reviews of Queen Bees & Wannabes were mixed. Meda Chesney-Lind, writing in the Women's Review of Books, pointed out that Wiseman's "sensible advice is offset by long sections on clique dynamics." Chesney-Lind acknowledged, however, that "there is no doubt that Wiseman really listened to girls." Likewise, New Statesman critic Kathryn Hughes felt that Wiseman "is far more plausible on the problems than she is on possible solutions," but she also stated: "Wiseman reminds us that female adolescence is, in fact, nasty, brutal and nothing like short enough." Booklist contributor Gillian Engberg maintained that the book offers "admirable, groundbreaking insight into an all-too-common issue," while a Publishers Weekly reviewer commented on the author's "straightforward humor, sound advice and practical approach."

In 2006 Wiseman published Queen Bee Moms & Kingpin Dads: Dealing with the Parents, Teachers, Coaches, and Counselors Who Can Make--or Break--Your Child's Future, written with Elizabeth Rapoport. In the book, Wiseman examines parents' responses to situations in their children's lives affects their children. She gives advice on getting involved in your child's conflicts, and how to approach other adults such as principals, coaches, and teachers.

Many reviewers praised the book. A Publishers Weekly critic felt that "Wiseman wants to show people how to behave better." Additionally, Linda Beck, writing in Library Journal, commented: "Ours is a messy, get-ahead-now world. Wiseman makes sense of it."

As the title suggests, Owning Up Curriculum: Empowering Adolescents to Confront Social Cruelty, Bullying, and Injustice is an educational program that offers educators a curricular guide they can use...