Author Jessica Speer engages and entertains young readers by blending real-life stories with activities and practical insights. Her award-winning debut book, BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends), grew out of a friendship program she developed for public school students. For her follow-up, Middle School—Safety Goggles Advised, she gathered insights from hundreds of students to capture their authentic experiences.
Jessica’s research-driven writing process begins by working directly with youth. She then translates her findings into creative, accessible content using fun facts, quizzes, and relatable stories. Holding a master’s degree in social sciences, she is currently completing a second master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Jessica is a regular media contributor, sharing expertise on parenting, friendship, screen time, mindfulness, mental health, and social-emotional development.
Learn About Jessica’s School & Community Visits
“Relationships are where life really happens. Through relationships, including our relationship with ourselves,…we connect, we mess up, we grow and we learn to be our best.“
Jessica Speer
Jessica Speer is Inspired By Many Authors & Thought Leaders:
Lisa Damour (Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers)
Marshal Rosenberg (Nonviolent Communication)
John Gottman (Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child)
Trudy Ludwig (My Secret Bully, Confessions of a Former Bully, Sorry, Too Perfect, The Power of One)