Breaking the Spiral (Tools for Teens When Life Sucks)

Tackle anxiety, cut through the digital noise, and reclaim your focus with ten science-backed mindfulness hacks and relatable comics created by a mother-daughter social scientist–artist duo who actually get it

Life is a lot right now. Between the constant ping of notifications, friendship drama, and the pressure to keep it all together, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, distracted, or just plain stuck.

Breaking the Spiral is the ultimate life hack for your brain. Created by the mother-daughter duo of award-winning social scientist Jessica Speer and teen artist Sloane Speer, this book skips the adult-speak and gets straight to the tools you actually need to navigate the digital age.

Forget sitting still for hours—this interactive guide uses science and humor to help you reclaim your focus and tackle anxiety. Readers can ditch the stress and level up with

• ten practical hacks that offer specific strategies to manage tough moods, from starting the day with intention to winding down when the brain won’t shut off

• relatable comics by a teen artist who knows exactly what it feels like to be stressed; a deep dive into why your brain glitches and how it gets so easily hijacked by distractions, notifications, and social pressure; and

• unfiltered real talk and receipts from other teens who are dealing with the same problems and figuring it out in real time

Whether you’re looking to boost your concentration before a big game or just need a tool kit for the moments when life feels like too much, this book is the essential mental glow-up you need to stay calm, focused, and locked in.