Review by Kawther22 -- So, You're Raising Your Grandkids!
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Kawther22
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- Latest Review: So, You're Raising Your Grandkids! by Harriet Hodgson
Review by Kawther22 -- So, You're Raising Your Grandkids!
[Following is a volunteer review of "So, You're Raising Your Grandkids!" by Harriet Hodgson.]
The book So, You're Raising Your Grandkids! by Harriet Hodgson consists of eight chapters and a conclusion. Each chapter deals with some aspects of the challenges grandkid-raising grandparents face. The chapters make use of credible and academic sources to emphasize the points the author is making; this helps the ethos and credibility aspect of the author's discussion, and it inspires the readers to respect her opinions even more as they are supported by thorough research. The author also uses personal life stories which help strengthen the emotional appeal and make things more understandable, accessible, and relatable for the audience; she shares the journey of raising her twin grandchildren after the sudden and tragic death of, first, her daughter, and soon after, her son-in-law.
The chapters make use of statistics and graphs too which appeal to the audience's logic, and they conveniently end with a brief rundown of all the points mentioned in the chapter under the headline ‘’What Works’’. I feel this rundown is a brilliant move because it helped me remember the points better long after I finished reading the book. It also adds to the overall feel of the book being meticulous and reliable. Grandparents who are tasked with raising their grandchildren might feel vulnerable and in need of solid structure, and this book certainly offers that reliability.
There are a number of appendixes at the end with very useful sources including support groups, organizations, and institutions that can help taking care of grandchildren easier. Appendix A is a reminder of the helpful websites which are mentioned throughout the book. Appendix B has many interesting sections including Grandparents Raising Grandkids' (GRG) Bill of Rights which is a reminder that grandparents can turn raising their grandchildren into a joyful and fulfilling experience for everyone involved. The other section is named Ten Quick Tips for Grandparents which shows the readers that they can open this book at any page and still get a lot of useful information and insight. The Words to Know section includes important words and terms that grandparents can come across and will need to know. One example of this is the term ‘’accumulated loss’’ that some people might not be familiar with so this is very thoughtful of the author to include this section in her book.
Hodgson is a well-established author and speaker, and this really shows in her writing. Her style is dynamic, smooth, and enjoyable to read. From the very beginning, she establishes the tone of the book by encouraging her audience to imagine they are sitting with her at the kitchen table having a heartfelt conversation. She delightfully stays true to this friendly and conversational tone throughout the book. I really felt she was talking to me in person and opening her heart with no reservation.
I am not a grandmother but from the very beginning, I knew this book was going to appeal to me and also to a wide range of audiences. Besides grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, this book can offer a lot of insight and advice to anyone going through grief and trauma or finding it hard to get motivated. It can also be used as a self-help parenting book because it is very inspiring and thorough in that regard; one of my favorite quotes from the book is the following: '' There is a big difference between keeping children informed and burdening them with information they aren't mature enough to understand.'' This book offers genuine love, support, and understanding resulting from the author's fighting their personal battles and coming out triumphant. It works as a testament that tragedy does not have to win, and there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I am definitely glad I read this book, and days after reading it, I cannot stop thinking about it. It was professionally edited too which made this an even greater reading experience.
******
So, You're Raising Your Grandkids!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The book So, You're Raising Your Grandkids! by Harriet Hodgson consists of eight chapters and a conclusion. Each chapter deals with some aspects of the challenges grandkid-raising grandparents face. The chapters make use of credible and academic sources to emphasize the points the author is making; this helps the ethos and credibility aspect of the author's discussion, and it inspires the readers to respect her opinions even more as they are supported by thorough research. The author also uses personal life stories which help strengthen the emotional appeal and make things more understandable, accessible, and relatable for the audience; she shares the journey of raising her twin grandchildren after the sudden and tragic death of, first, her daughter, and soon after, her son-in-law.
The chapters make use of statistics and graphs too which appeal to the audience's logic, and they conveniently end with a brief rundown of all the points mentioned in the chapter under the headline ‘’What Works’’. I feel this rundown is a brilliant move because it helped me remember the points better long after I finished reading the book. It also adds to the overall feel of the book being meticulous and reliable. Grandparents who are tasked with raising their grandchildren might feel vulnerable and in need of solid structure, and this book certainly offers that reliability.
There are a number of appendixes at the end with very useful sources including support groups, organizations, and institutions that can help taking care of grandchildren easier. Appendix A is a reminder of the helpful websites which are mentioned throughout the book. Appendix B has many interesting sections including Grandparents Raising Grandkids' (GRG) Bill of Rights which is a reminder that grandparents can turn raising their grandchildren into a joyful and fulfilling experience for everyone involved. The other section is named Ten Quick Tips for Grandparents which shows the readers that they can open this book at any page and still get a lot of useful information and insight. The Words to Know section includes important words and terms that grandparents can come across and will need to know. One example of this is the term ‘’accumulated loss’’ that some people might not be familiar with so this is very thoughtful of the author to include this section in her book.
Hodgson is a well-established author and speaker, and this really shows in her writing. Her style is dynamic, smooth, and enjoyable to read. From the very beginning, she establishes the tone of the book by encouraging her audience to imagine they are sitting with her at the kitchen table having a heartfelt conversation. She delightfully stays true to this friendly and conversational tone throughout the book. I really felt she was talking to me in person and opening her heart with no reservation.
I am not a grandmother but from the very beginning, I knew this book was going to appeal to me and also to a wide range of audiences. Besides grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, this book can offer a lot of insight and advice to anyone going through grief and trauma or finding it hard to get motivated. It can also be used as a self-help parenting book because it is very inspiring and thorough in that regard; one of my favorite quotes from the book is the following: '' There is a big difference between keeping children informed and burdening them with information they aren't mature enough to understand.'' This book offers genuine love, support, and understanding resulting from the author's fighting their personal battles and coming out triumphant. It works as a testament that tragedy does not have to win, and there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I am definitely glad I read this book, and days after reading it, I cannot stop thinking about it. It was professionally edited too which made this an even greater reading experience.
******
So, You're Raising Your Grandkids!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.” – Groucho Marx 
Latest Review: So, You're Raising Your Grandkids! by Harriet Hodgson
