A book review of Things Every Kid Needs to Know by 13 That You Won’t Learn in School by Hayden Fox
Stars: *****
Self Published (2025)
For (Almost) Teens
145 pages
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review. This post contains affiliate links.
Summary: Let’s be real—school teaches you a lot, but it doesn’t teach you everything. Things Every Kid Needs to Know by 13 is the ultimate life guide packed with fun, practical, and actually useful advice to help kids thrive—not just survive—growing up.
If you’ve ever wished for a handbook on “how to do life”, this is it! Whether it’s making great friends, handling tough situations, building confidence, or understanding money, this book has you covered. Why This Book?
Parents love it, kids actually read it. It’s written in a fun, relatable way that speaks directly to young readers without being preachy or boring. No long lectures, no confusing jargon—just real, useful advice that makes growing up a whole lot easier.
If you want to feel more confident, make smarter choices, and handle anything life throws at you, this book is for you.
Things Every Kid Should Know By 13
This is a cute little book that would make a great gift for a preteen, or required reading in a homeschool. In fact I will be making it required reading as part of our health class.
Important topics are covered such as making friends, understanding emotions, staying safe online, communicating clearly, happiness and gratitude, time management and more.
The book is laid out simply with larger type and a few cute line drawing illustrations for fun. It’s so simple it’s perfect. It’s written TO a child ages 8-12, not to the parent which is nice. My daughter will enjoy not being talked down to like some books designed with adults in mind can seem.
I appreciate as well that each topic is not just talked about but specific steps to take to implement the advice. Small steps make things easier for everyone, but especially for children.
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