Tween Issues? There's an App for That!

Gone are the days when kids simply got their social cues from books, movies or TV. Now, if there’s not an app for that, they may never see it.

Fortunately, for millions of kids and parents, the San Anselmo husband and wife team of David and Annie Fox have created just that: an iPad app that brings Annie’s award-winning Middle School Confidential book series, which tackles issues like bullying, friendships, and self-confidence, to a new generation of kids.

“I envisioned kids at school, facing these situations daily, where it would be so nice if they literally had some answers in their hands,” said Annie.

The app, available on iPad and later this year on Android platforms, is more than just a book. It’s part comic strip and graphic novel and part interactive movie – using sound design from David and Fairfax sound designer Julian Kwasneski, quizzes, quotes, and art from artist Matt Kindt.

Annie and David are no newbies to the tricky world of tweens and teens.

The pair first developed a Sesame Street computer game 35 years ago and have worked on countless other games, software, and online communities as part of their multimedia design company, Electric Eggplant. David was the third employee at Lucasfilm Games back in 1982 and helped develop Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders.

And how do they know what kids are worried about or have questions on? Because for over a decade, thousands of teens and tweens have emailed and sent Annie letters as Hey Terra!

These issues kids face aren’t that different from the issues everyone faces, she said, just more magnified: how they feel about themselves, how they measure up in the eyes of their peers, and how to get someone to really like them.

“Kids need to feel that there’s someone or something that’ll give them a piece of what they need to get through the day,” she said.

She’s worked to give them that piece to help get through the day with her books like The Teen Survival Guide to Dating and her Middle School Confidential Series. She’s also created sites like The InSite for teens and CruelsNotCool.org, an anti-bullying forum.

“It’s a hard time,” she said of the middle school and high school years.

The iPad app is the last step to making these resources available to the kids that need them in a format they identify with.

Schools are purchasing the app and iPads for their students in droves. is not the only school that has gone the direction of supplying an iPad for every student, instead of loading them down with textbooks.

And the app is getting rave reviews from educational and technology journals.

“Perhaps reading ‘Be Confident in Who You Are: A Middle School Confidential Graphic Novel’ would have helped—if only it had been available back then,” said Rick Broida on CNET.

It’s a feeling lots of adults have had – if only there was an app for that back when they had to go through the rough years.

“Remember middle school? With all the insecurities, self doubt and feelings associated with 6th, 7th and 8th grade? Rather not?,” said MaggieB from Apps for iPads on Middle School Confidential’s website. “This graphic novel is sure to hit the right chord with tweens!It incorporatates their music, dance and, of course, problems unique to their age group.”

Get more information on middleschoolconfidential.com. The app is available for purchase for $3.99 in the iTunes library.