Wonder
R. J. Palacio
Another excellent Juvenile Fiction for readers interested in this subject
The Amazing Generation
by Jonathan Haidt, Catherine Price
A direct-to-kids case for delaying smartphones and social media, framed less as a list of prohibitions than as an invitation to a more adventurous, self-directed childhood.
What It's About
The Amazing Generation adapts the argument of Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation for children and tweens themselves rather than their parents. Written with Catherine Price, author of How to Break Up with Your Phone, it makes the case that smartphones and social media are designed to capture attention, and that kids are better off taking their time before letting those tools shape their days.
Instead of a lecture, the book uses a mixed, magazine-like format. Based on the publisher's description, it combines short explanations, surprising facts, a graphic-novel section, challenges for readers to try, and stories from young adults who wish they had waited longer for a phone. The tone aims to be upbeat. The point is not only what to avoid but what to do instead: play, friendships, independence, and trying new things in the real world.
It is built for browsing and discussion, so it works well read alongside a parent or used in a classroom. It addresses readers who already have phones as well as those who don't, which matters because many tweens are already online. Expect a persuasive book with a clear position rather than a neutral survey of the research. Adults familiar with Haidt's work will recognize the core message, recast in language and visuals pitched at younger readers.
Read this if you…
- have a child or tween who is asking for a smartphone or just got one
- liked The Anxious Generation and want a version you can hand to kids
- want a conversation starter about screens that doesn't feel like a lecture
Skip it if you…
- want a balanced, academic look at the debate over screens and youth mental health
- are an adult hoping for new material beyond Haidt's original book
Key Ideas
- 1
Tech is designed to hook you
A central theme is that apps and feeds are not neutral tools. They are engineered by companies that profit from attention. The book shows kids how that design works so they can recognize the pull for themselves. The goal is to help readers make choices with their eyes open, rather than simply obeying a rule handed down by adults.
- 2
Waiting is a choice, not a punishment
The book presents delaying a smartphone and social media as something kids can choose for themselves. It does not frame waiting as a restriction imposed on them. Stories from young adults who regret starting early support this framing. The voices are meant to feel like advice from slightly older peers instead of warnings from parents.
- 3
Real-world life is the alternative
This is not only a 'don't' book. It points readers toward independence, unstructured play, in-person friendships, and adventure, the kinds of experiences Haidt has argued phone-based childhoods crowd out. The book wants readers to see what they gain by spending less time on screens, not just what they avoid.
- 4
Interactive format for young readers
Challenges, quick facts, and a graphic-novel section break the material into accessible pieces. This makes the book easier for reluctant readers to pick up. It also gives families and teachers natural prompts for conversation and small experiments, such as trying time away from devices and noticing how it feels.
Limitations
The book argues one side of a contested question. Some researchers dispute how strongly smartphones and social media cause the youth mental-health decline Haidt describes, and a children's book has little room to present that debate. Kids who already depend on phones for friendships may find parts of it preachy or out of step with their social reality. Its advice also works best when parents and peers coordinate, which a single reader can't control. Adults will find little here that isn't in The Anxious Generation.
Questions Readers Ask
- What age is The Amazing Generation for?
- It is written for kids and tweens, roughly the late-elementary and middle-school years when the first-phone question usually comes up. The short sections and graphic-novel elements make it accessible to younger readers. Older tweens may still get something from it, especially if read and discussed with a parent.
- How is it different from The Anxious Generation?
- The Anxious Generation is aimed at adults and focuses on research and policy. This book speaks directly to children, using a lighter, interactive format and emphasizing what kids can choose and do themselves. The underlying message is the same, so adults who read the original won't find new arguments here.
- Is it useful if my child already has a smartphone?
- Yes, according to the authors' stated aims. The book addresses readers whether or not they already own phones or social media accounts. It focuses on understanding how apps capture attention and on building a fuller offline life. That focus makes it relevant for setting new habits, not just for deciding when to buy a phone.
- Published
- 2025
- ISBN
- 9798217111916
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Category
- Children's Books
Book details and cover from Google Books.
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