Here Be Dragons: Treading the Deep Waters of Motherhood, Mean Girls, and Generational Trauma

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the author of Nobody’s Cuter than You and co-author (with her daughter, Caroline Shankle) of The Lion and the Bear comes a poignant, deeply personal story about trusting God to heal generational wounds so we can show up for our teenage girls.

“Written with the kindness and honesty of a big sister, the candor of a best friend, and the humility and grace of one whose heart points us to the One who saved her from all the dragons.”—Sissy Goff, author of The Worry-Free Parent

Medieval cartographers marked maps with “Here Be Dragons” to warn of unknown dangers ahead, and now Melanie Shankle humorously applies this to raising teenage daughters. Navigating the tumultuous teenage years can be daunting, with mean girls, dramatic breakups, and self-worth struggles often occurring in a single day. As a mom, you might long for a guide to help you through these unpredictable times.

When her daughter, Caroline, faced high school challenges, Melanie felt overwhelmed. She embarked on a journey to break the vicious cycles rooted in her past, realizing that to help Caroline face her dragons, she first needed to confront her own. In Here Be Dragons, Melanie candidly explores past struggles and generational wounds that shaped her approach to parenting. With deep insight and empathy, she demonstrates how facing your own dragons empowers you to help your daughter confront hers.

Here Be Dragons is a heartfelt—and aptly humorous—source of camaraderie and practical advice for those feeling overwhelmed by raising a teenage daughter. It serves as a road map to thriving amid chaos and trusting God to transform you into a healthier woman, mom, wife, and friend. Laugh, cry, and find solidarity in Melanie’s transformative journey as you embrace your own path toward building an unbreakable mother-daughter bond and a more empowered future together.