Book Review: Attention Girls! by Patricia O. Quinn, MD

In most situations, I think it is extremely important for kids to be familiar with how ADHD may affect them. This helps to foster a positive self image, and limit the negative self-talk that I often see persist into adulthood. Too many times patients come into my office using words like "lazy" or "stupid" when talking about their day-to-day struggles--which is almost always due to hearing these words directed at them since childhood. So I am always on the lookout for well-written books for children about ADHD.
Attention Girls! A Guide to Learn All About Your AD/HD by Patricia O. Quinn, MD (Magination Press; 2009) is one of my favorite books for kids, and I recommend it to almost every young girl who comes into my office. This book is aimed at older elementary/adolescent girls, but can be helpful for parents to look through as well. 
The format is what I consider "ADHD friendly", allowing for jumping around easily to different sections, and with text broken into small chunks. Illustrations are also well done, meaning up-to-date and engaging. The first part of the book explains ADHD, using character descriptions of different girls with ADHD who present very differently. I particularly like this aspect of the book, as it is easy to read and helps girls to relate to and understand these characters, even if they see parts of themselves in several different ones. The book goes on to give examples of ways to manage ADHD symptoms, tools that may be helpful, and who to talk with for more support. There is also a fairly kid-friendly section on understanding medication, stressing that only the reader, her parents, and her doctor can decide if medication is the right choice for her.
I always encourage parents to read books on sensitive topics before sharing them with their child, to ensure it delivers information in a way that you are comfortable with. I find this book is a great introduction for girls to understand ADHD and how it affects them. It is a quick and engaging read, with a positive yet realistic tone. Recommended for ages 8-13.