Divorce Is Not the End of the World: Zoe's and Evan's Coping Guide for Kids

by Zoe Stern, Evan Stern (With), Ellen Sue Stern (With)

Nearly one out of every two marriages ends in divorce, but it doesn't have to spell disaster for the kids. With the right guidance and encouragement, they can not only survive divorce but also truly thrive. Here is an honest, positive, and practical book Written by kids for kids, full of the things they really want to know.Fifteen-year-old Zoe and 12-year-old Evan discuss everything from dealing with anger and guilt to adjusting to different bedtimes at different houses. They answer questions from other kids and offer tips based on their own experience. Plus, Zoe's and Evan's mother, a best-selling self-help author, offers a parent's insights.

Genres: Divorce, Childrens, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published July 1, 1997

Reviews

[Randie D. Camp, M.S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe, 15, and Evan, 13, created this guide for kids coping with the divorce of their parents. The guide is brilliant. Zoe and Evan were able to use their experience with divorce to help other kids like them, it is a brilliant idea and the delivery is great. The information is not overwhelming, it is delivered in bits and pieces with lots of features to highlight certain points. I personally enjoyed the sections where Zoe and Evan added to their original content being ten years older. This is inspiring for the children reading the guide because this is reassurance that they will be okay, they will get through this and be okay years down the road. I also appreciate the "your turn" section where the children are asked to think about things, journal feelings, and other activities that help children process their thinking and apply the information from the other sections.

There are also a few sections where Zoe and Evan's mom shares some tips and adds a parent perspective to the guide. I felt her information was good but was a little out of place with the structure of the guide. Perhaps all of her thoughts should be at the end, in a separate chapter, or in her own book.

[Michelle Boyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the nicest way possible, this book puts a pretty bow around divorce. The goal, which I think is a good one at heart, it to assure children that divorce is okay, that everything will be okay, and that no matter what your parents still love you. While I wish this was entirely true, we can all step back and realize that sometimes it isn't okay. Sometimes your father may leave the family and start a new family and... yeah, he abandons you, which basically means that he doesn't love you. So while I really appreciate what this book is trying to do (and I think it exists in a good way) at the same time, I do think it is okay to be a little more honest with children. Sometimes divorce is actually a lot uglier than this book wants to show.

[Lensey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be super helpful for me as an adult who is divorced but whose parents are still happily married. I have no experience with what my kids are going through, and reading this book written by kids for kids has been super helpful for me. Now I just have to get my kiddos to read it. I think it’s very appropriate for their ages (8 and 10), and I hope it helps them realize they aren’t alone, they will be ok, and divorce is not the end of the world. I’ll update my review when they are done.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pre read before giving to my kids. Its a "safe" book, I had no concerns with content being too mature or biased for my 9 year old. My hope is she picks it up and feels a bit less alone in her feelings and that no feeling is bad right now.
Short quick read.

[Melissa Pruett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very helpful to read with my 9 year old during my divorce. It started some great discussions and questions and really reassured him (and me) that we were going to be ok!

[Tracy Katz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divorce is not the end of the World: Zoe and Evan’s Coping Guide for Kids written by Sue Ellen, Zoe and Evan Stern is a no-nonsense book written, by kids, for kids dealing with divorce. This perspective gives an inside look into what types of first-hand issues kids experience as their parents are divorcing. From “Why did this have to happen” and “Why are you making me go to that stupid support group”, to “Is there anything as a happy marriage”, the chapters are broken down into useful topics based on questions most children have. Each chapter then provides both Zoe’s and Evan’s perspective as well as their mother’s words and a letter and response about an issue another child is having and has written seeking advice. This book is an invaluable resource for children looking for answers. Its open format is very straightforward and directed. It is also organized perfectly so children may get to the areas which they are most plagued by and skip less meaningful chapters. The words are frank and conversational therefore the reader will feel like they are sitting down with a peer or sibling to discuss this topic. There are also additional questions and space for journaling for the reader at the end of each chapter so children can reflect on their own feelings. This book would be a wonderful resource to have readily available in the library or classroom for specific children. It is more of a handbook though, for children experiencing divorce and therefore seemingly would not be appropriate as the center of a reading exercise in the classroom. This is a concise guide for children and a great asset to anyone in the world of a child 8 years and up that is looking for a tool to aide their experience handling divorce.

[Alexandra Boecking · Rating 4 out of 5]

helpful book in challenging times