The author has spent 25 years in education and has supported many instructors in their first few years as the founder of teacherEDU, a “learning community for new teachers.” She writes that she noticed “a significant gap that exists between our teacher training programs and the realities of being a teacher in our current education systems. This book aims to fill that gap.” Thoughtfully organized into 10 lessons, the book mixes useful strategies—including tips on activities to help one develop relationships with students during the first two weeks—with essential advice in sections such as “Find Your People” (stressing the importance of having teacher friends and collaboration partners) and “Parents are Essential to Student Success.” Throughout the book are “Yeah, But…” sections that address common questions and concerns, including reservations about the applicability of advice to individual circumstances. Hazel skillfully answers each query and assures readers on how to proceed with lesson-ending “Action Steps.” The author also includes email templates and parent-communication checklists for sometimes-difficult beginning-of-the-year contacts and a guide for navigating difficult conversations with parents. Later lessons effectively extend into the broader aspects of a teacher’s life (“Lesson 6: Yes, it Is Nice to Have the Summers Off”). Additionally, the author tackles the challenges of public perception, political maneuvering at the state and school-board levels, and negative stereotypes about teachers. Overall, by blending practical advice with empathetic guidance, Hazel ably prepares new educators for the technical aspects of their roles and braces them for the emotional and social challenges they’ll likely face. There’s an array of quick-reference graphics and charts, as well, including a helpful one that interprets common student behaviors and notes what they may be attempting to convey by silence, for example, or by reluctance to participate in activities.