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“It's such a solid book, with such a great message, that hit even harder with my teen who is being financially manipulated by an emotional abuser."
The Work
A Powerful Book About Effort, Independence & Becoming Someone You Can Rely On
A thought-provoking book for teens and young adults about one of life's most important truths: the things we work for don't just give us something to have—they help shape who we become. Not a lecture. Not another adult telling them what to do. A story that gives them something to think about.
The Work is a book for teens and young adults about effort, resilience, self-trust and learning the difference between what is earned and what is simply given. It explores difficult but important ideas around work, entitlement, manipulation, gifts with strings attached, identity and personal responsibility—helping teens think critically about what they value, who they want to become and the choices that will get them there.
The Work helps teens and young adults:
- Understand the value of effort and earning something for themselves.
- Recognize the difference between generosity and gifts that come with expectations or strings attached.
- Think critically about manipulation and outside influence.
- Build confidence in their own judgment.
- Develop resilience when doing something difficult.
- Separate their identity from what other people give them or expect from them.
- Understand how everyday choices shape who they become.
- Develop greater personal responsibility without shame or blame.
- Recognize the satisfaction and confidence that come from doing the work themselves.
AGES 12+ | POCKET-SIZED HARDCOVER | 32 PAGES
Perfect For:
📦 In stock & ships in 2–3 business days
But some of the most important things in life can't be given to them.
We want our kids to have more than we had.
We want to make things easier.
Protect them from struggle.
Help when they're falling behind.
Give them opportunities.
And there's nothing wrong with wanting life to be good to our children.
But eventually, every teenager has to discover something we can't simply hand them:
Confidence.
Capability.
Self-respect.
Independence.
The belief that “I can figure this out.”
Those things aren't bought.
They aren't gifted. And they can't be inherited.
They're built.
The Work helps teens understand that effort isn't simply the price we pay to get what we want.
The work itself changes us.
Because sometimes the most valuable thing we get from working toward something...
is the person we become along the way.
What This Book Helps Build
Written for growing up... and especially meaningful when life gets complicated.
Learning the value of effort, self-trust and personal responsibility matters for every teen. Those skills can become especially important when outside influence, gifts, pressure or complicated relationships make it harder to separate what someone else wants from what they believe is right for themselves. The Work encourages teens to think critically and trust their own judgment without telling them what—or who—to believe.
Peek Inside!
Simple enough to read quickly.
Powerful enough to keep thinking about.
✓ A relatable story rather than a lecture
✓ Written specifically for teens and young adults
✓ Explores effort, confidence, independence and self-worth
✓ Encourages reflection without telling teens what to think
✓ 32-page, 6" × 6" hardcover designed to keep and revisit
The Work doesn't tell teenagers:
“You're lazy.”
It doesn't tell them:
“You should be grateful.”
And it doesn't shame them for wanting nice things or accepting help.
Instead, it asks them to consider something much more powerful:
What do I gain when I work for for a thing... besides the thing itself?
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"Parenting is hard, especially with teens. These books make me feel like I've got someone backing me up as a parent."
Monica R.
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"Trish's books hit different. They make teens think... and then ask questions. They open conversations where I don't have to pull teeth to keep it going."
~ Sheena S.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"So simple, yet so powerful, just like all of Trish's books. Great for any teen, but a MUST HAVE for teens dealing with a narcissist parent."
~ Lisa K.
Especially when it comes with strings attached.
Money can be generous.
Gifts can be loving.
Help can be wonderful.
But sometimes gifts, money or support are used in ways that create guilt, obligation, dependence or control.
That can be incredibly confusing for a teenager.
Because something can look generous from the outside while leaving them feeling:
“I owe you.”
“I can't do this without you.”
“If I say no, I'll lose everything.”
“Maybe I'm not capable on my own.”
The Work doesn't tell teens who is good or bad.
It doesn't diagnose anyone.
It doesn't tell them what relationship they should or shouldn't have.
It gives them something much more useful: another way to see themselves.
Capable.
Growing.
Learning.
Becoming.
Able to build something of their own.
Because the answer to dependence isn't shame.
It's empowerment.
a note from the author
I Wrote This For My Son
He was struggling with parental alienation. There were so many things I wanted him to understand.
Things I knew I couldn't simply tell him.
I wanted him to know the danger of taking gifts when there were strings attached.
Especially when doing so made him feel bad about himself.
Every time we do something difficult for ourselves, we gain something no one can give us—and no one can take away.
We learn that we can trust ourselves.
That's what I want for him.
That's why I wrote The Work.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“It's such a solid book, with such a great message, that hit even harder with my teen who is being financially manipulated by an emotional abuser."
The Work
A Powerful Book About Effort, Independence & Becoming Someone You Can Rely On
A thought-provoking book for teens and young adults about one of life's most important truths: the things we work for don't just give us something to have—they help shape who we become. Not a lecture. Not another adult telling them what to do. A story that gives them something to think about.
AGES 12+ | POCKET-SIZED HARDCOVER | 32 PAGES
Perfect For:
📦 In stock & ships in 2–3 business days
Save when you get The Work as part of the Teen Bundle
trish MICHAEL
Healing Books for Teens - 2 Book Bundle
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ
What age is The Work for?
The Work was written specifically for teens and young adults. Your broader teen collection currently positions the books at approximately ages 12+.
Unlike a traditional children's book, its themes deal directly with questions that become increasingly important as young people approach adulthood: effort, capability, independence, confidence, money, motivation and learning to trust themselves.
Is The Work basically a book telling teenagers to work harder?
No. And that's an important distinction.
The point isn't that teens should struggle unnecessarily or that receiving help is somehow bad.
The deeper message is about what effort gives us beyond the thing we're working toward.
Responsibility can build confidence.
Effort can build capability.
Following through can build self-trust.
Learning to do things for ourselves can build independence.
The goal isn't struggle. It's growth.
Is this going to feel like a lecture from a parent?
That's exactly what the book was designed to avoid.
The Work is a book that doesn't lecture, disguise self-help as a story or simply tell teens what they should do. Instead, it uses a relatable story to invite them to think for themselves.
That's particularly important with teenagers.
Sometimes the most powerful lesson is the one they feel like they discovered themselves.
Is The Work only for teens dealing with narcissistic abuse?
Absolutely not.
The lessons in The Work—motivation, confidence, responsibility, resilience, independence and self-trust—are relevant to virtually every teenager approaching adulthood.
But the book can take on another layer of meaning for teens experiencing high-conflict or narcissistic family dynamics, particularly when money, gifts or “help” are being used in ways that create dependence, guilt or obligation.
Does the book tell teens that accepting gifts or financial help is bad?
No.
Giving and receiving help are normal parts of healthy relationships.
The issue isn't whether someone receives something.
It's whether support helps them become more capable and secure or leaves them feeling increasingly dependent, guilty, obligated or powerless.
The Work encourages reflection rather than telling teens what conclusion they have to reach.
Could this help a teen who lacks motivation?
Yes. Teens struggling with motivation are one of the audiences specifically identified for The Work.
But rather than simply telling a teen to “work harder,” the book gives them a reason to think differently about effort.
The reward isn't only the grade, paycheck, trophy or thing they want.
Part of the reward is discovering what they're capable of.
How quickly will my order ship?
Orders generally ship within 2–3 business days when the book is in stock.
Once your order ships, you'll receive tracking information so you can follow it on its way to you.
Would this make a good graduation gift?
Absolutely.
I'd actually promote it specifically for graduations.
Graduation gifts often celebrate what someone has already accomplished.
The Work gives them something for what comes next.
It's a reminder that adulthood isn't about having everything figured out.
It's about becoming increasingly confident that you can figure things out.
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