Knowing What to Say

A friend talks about you behind your back. What do you say? You need a bigger allowance. How do you ask your parents? You ruin your friend's favorite book. How do you apologize? Here are the exact words you'll need in these situations -- plus more than 200 others. Look inside for the tools, tips, techniques (and actual words!) to help you untangle your tongue and speak out with confidence and grace.

Patti has been a clinical social worker for over twenty years. She specializes in working with girls and young women, and their families. She is the award-winning author of many American Girl® titles, including A Smart Girl’s Guide: Friendship Troubles (Revised), Friends: Making Them and Keeping Them, The Book Club Kit, Go for It, Stand Up for Yourself, A Smart Girl’s Guide to Knowing What to Say, and What Would You Do? Patti is also a featured author in the parenting book, Raising an American Girl, and has been a consultant to American Girl for more than 13 years. In addition to her clinical practice, Patti teaches in the School of Social Work at Western Michigan University. Patti writes and speaks nationally on the topics of girl aggression and body image, and her work has been featured in print, on radio, and on television. She lives near Kalamazoo, Michigan, with her husband, Brian, and two children, Natalie and Jeff.