Our preteen years, ages nine to 13, can present some of the most difficult times in our young lives, a period of tremendous physical and emotional change. We're eager to leave the "kid" stage, yet we're uncertain about what adolescence will bring; we start hearing the familiar refrain "wait until you're older" far too often. Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul is a companion guide for these transitional years.Written by and for preteens, this uplifting collection of stories touches on the emotions and situations we experience every day: making and losing friends; fitting in while keeping our personal identity; discovering the opposite sex; dealing with pressures at school including violence; and coping with family issues such as divorce.