Understanding Gifted Adolescents: Accepting the Exceptional provides extensive research and knowledge in regards to America’s failing education system for the gifted. It makes a significant contribution to the study of adolescence by discussing how limitations on gifted children’s education are detrimental to their development. (2018)

Journal of Youth and Adolescence

Educators Simpson and Adams provide an accessible guide for parents and teachers on supporting and advocating for gifted students, with a special focus on those who are under recognized because of poverty, race, or ethnicity.... The authors’ intentions are excellent, and the text is enlivened with stories and imparts enthusiasm for the subject.... Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries.

Choice Reviews

Understanding Gifted Adolescents: Accepting the Exceptional helps one understand gifted adolescents and how acceptance is necessary to ensure success. Studies throughout put emphasis on the effects that environment, curricular choices, elitism, marginalization, and social inequality all play on adolescents’ futures in a positive or negative way depending on the circumstances of each. In doing so, the text does a great service to developmental research focusing on adolescence.... This book does more than challenge researchers. It offers advice and insight on past research for parents and educators to devise plans and methods of ways to help their gifted adolescents receive emotional support while also making sure they advocate for the adolescents to receive the education that best fits their gifted abilities. (2017)

Journal of Youth and Adolescence

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the most up-to-date research regarding gifted adolescents and their social-emotional development. Simpson and Adams indulge the reader by providing gifted student scenarios with helpful tips to deal with gifted tendencies.

Patty Messer, The Odyssey Preparatory Academy