Best Parenting Books for Parents of Teens: 5 Compared

The teen years bring new questions every week, so the best parenting books for parents of teens should state their approach, their scope and their intended reader. We compared five books by stated pages, publisher, approach and features. Every figure below comes from the listings; where a listing contradicts itself, we say so.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Love and Logic Teens	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Intense Emotions	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Boundaries with Teens	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Out-of-Control Teenager	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Keep Your Cool	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

Love and Logic Teens

Foster Cline·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 320-page guide to limits and decision-making from the Love and Logic duo.

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Pros

• 320 pages, updated and expanded
• Covers divorce, ADD, addiction and sex
• Indexed for easy reference

Cons

• 2006 edition, not the newest
• 320 pages, a long read
• No workbook stated

2

Intense Emotions

Pat Harvey·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 224-page DBT-based guide for teens with intense emotions.

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Pros

• DBT skills from teen mental health experts
• 224 pages, 2015 edition
• Covers parent reactions too

Cons

• Narrower focus than general guides
• 2015 edition
• No workbook stated

3

Boundaries with Teens

John Townsend·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 288-page biblically based guide to limits from Dr. John Townsend.

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Pros

• 288 pages on limits and consequences
• Biblically based principles stated
• Workbooks and Spanish editions stated

Cons

• 2006 edition
• Faith-based, not for every reader
• 288 pages, a long read

4

Out-of-Control Teenager

Scott P. Sells·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 368-page 7-step guide from therapist Scott P. Sells.

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Pros

• 368 pages, the longest here
• 7 steps to reestablish authority
• From a master therapist stated

Cons

• 2002 edition, the oldest
• Focused on serious rebellion
• No workbook stated

5

Keep Your Cool

David Skiddy·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 150-page short guide with 7 hacks for boundaries and listening.

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Pros

• 150 pages, the shortest here
• 7 hacks stated
• 2023, the newest

Cons

• Independently published
• 150 pages, brief
• No workbook stated

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More picks to compare

• You'll Make It208 pages, 2024, faith-based.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specifications are publisher stated as listed, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs coverage, author credentials and value. For parenting books, coverage means the range of teen issues addressed; the Love and Logic pick leads with 320 pages covering divorce, ADD, addiction and sex from an updated 2006 edition. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best parenting books for parents of teens

Approach

The Love and Logic book teaches setting limits and encouraging decision-making. The Boundaries book applies biblically based principles to limits and consequences. The Intense Emotions book offers DBT skills for emotion regulation. The Out-of-Control Teenager gives 7 steps to reestablish authority. The Keep Your Cool book offers 7 hacks for boundaries and listening. Pick the approach that matches your family’s needs.

Scope

The Love and Logic book covers divorce, ADD, addiction and sex in 320 pages. The Out-of-Control Teenager runs 368 pages on serious rebellion. The Boundaries book runs 288 pages on relationships, peer pressure, school and dating. The Intense Emotions book runs 224 pages on emotion regulation. The Keep Your Cool book runs 150 pages as a short guide.

Authors and editions

The Love and Logic book is by Foster Cline and Jim Fay, updated and expanded 2006, from NavPress. The Boundaries book is by Dr. John Townsend, 2006, from Zondervan. The Intense Emotions book is by Pat Harvey and Britt H. Rathbone, 2015, from New Harbinger. The Out-of-Control Teenager is by therapist Scott P. Sells, 2002, from Griffin. The Keep Your Cool book is by David Skiddy, 2023, independently published. Also see best parenting books for raising boys.

Before you buy

• The Love and Logic book is indexed for easy reference.
• The Boundaries book has workbooks and Spanish editions stated.
• The Intense Emotions book is the DBT-based pick.
• The Keep Your Cool book is the shortest at 150 pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the longest?

The Out-of-Control Teenager at 368 pages.

Which use DBT skills?

The Intense Emotions book by Pat Harvey and Britt H. Rathbone.

Which is the newest?

The Keep Your Cool book from 2023.

Which cover boundaries?

The Boundaries with Teens and the Keep Your Cool books both address boundaries.

Still deciding? Our top pickLove and Logic Teens

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More picks: parenting books for raising boys, parenting books for raising girls.