Here Be Dragons Audiobook By Melanie Shankle cover art

Here Be Dragons

Treading the Deep Waters of Motherhood, Mean Girls, and Generational Trauma

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Here Be Dragons

By: Melanie Shankle
Narrated by: Melanie Shankle
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About this listen

From the New York Times bestselling author of Nobody’s Cuter than You comes a poignant, deeply personal story about trusting God to heal generational wounds so you can be a strong, loving presence for your teenage daughter.

In medieval times, uncharted waters were marked on maps as Here Be Dragons to signify that no one knew what dangers might lie ahead. Melanie Shankle quips that the years spent raising our teenage daughters could be labeled the same due to the uncertainties before us.

Like a lot of moms, Melanie found herself in need of a parenting map when her teenage daughter, Caroline, entered her sophomore year of high school where she encountered relentless mean girls and brutal heartache. While trying to equip her daughter to deal with the toxic social dynamics of high school, Melanie was hit with a cruel realization: The shame, criticism, and verbal abuse she had endured throughout her own life was wrought by one particular mean girl—her own mother.

Melanie hoped to raise her daughter to be a warrior, and she realized she couldn’t do that unless she became healthy enough to fight her own dragons. She invites you into her story as she explores her complex family dynamics, discovering what it takes for any of us to survive and ultimately thrive in spite of wounds that remain. This was the beginning of her journey of trusting God to help break generational cycles that had told the women in her family to find their value in everything but His love.

Filled with personal stories and written in the same whimsical and honest style Melanie is known for, Here Be Dragons will have you both laughing out loud and crying—as you confront the challenges of raising your own strong, independent daughter while fighting dragons along the way.

©2025 Melanie Shankle (P)2025 Random House Audio
Christian Living Christianity Dysfunctional Families Motherhood Parenting & Families Relationships Teenagers Funny

Critic reviews

“Looking back on my thirty years of counseling girls and families, I believe it’s never been harder to be a girl—or to raise one. Much of the difficulty results from what our girls are encountering, and much stems from what we encountered—or didn’t—during our own growing-up years. Raising a teenager to be emotionally and socially healthy can feel like a daunting and insurmountable task—since we didn’t have a road map to achieve this ourselves. But it doesn’t have to be, especially if we have friends a little farther down the road, who are willing to be honest about their own fears and failings, as well as the truth and hope they’ve found along the way. Melanie Shankle is such a friend. Here Be Dragons is written with the kindness and honesty of a big sister, the candor of a best friend, and the humility and grace of one whose heart is to point us to the One who has saved her from all the dragons.”—Sissy Goff, M.Ed., LPC-MHSP, executive director of Daystar Counseling and bestselling author of The Worry-Free Parent

“Girl moms have waited a long time for this guidance, and Melanie Shankle delivers it with integrity, wisdom, and perfectly timed humor. How do you handle mean girls without becoming one too? How do you rise above the childhood trauma inflicted by your own mother? In an age in which many families must navigate toxic relationships—inside their home and outside it, too—this book offers clarity, hope, and a carefully discerned road map on how best to move forward. Melanie is living proof that a healthy family can come from you, even if you don’t come from a healthy family—and that peace is possible when God is your guide. I found myself crying and cheering for Melanie and her daughter as they learned to stand up for themselves, stop the mean-girl cycle, and still choose kindness. The generational impact of Here Be Dragons can’t be overstated.”—Kari Kampakis, author of Love Her Well and host of the Girl Mom podcast

What listeners say about Here Be Dragons

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Classic Melanie!

Wow! Your book is the story of my daughter-in-law except she is your mother cloned! I cried with you as I listened. I've read all your books and loved them! As an Aggie Mom I can relate to your college years as well as your daughter's!!

You are a gifted writer and speaker! Keep listening to God and write more books!!!

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Hard-earned wisdom shared with humor and kindness

As a fan of Melanie’s other books, I knew I would read this one as well. However, I believe this one is the tops. Such a hard story to tell, but she does it with her characteristic wit, humor and faith. LOL and then tears. Thanks for unpacking this lesson for all of us.

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A must read for any woman, mother, empty-nester

Finished this book with tears in my eyes. So beautifully written, it is a story of how God can redeem the hard parts of our story…even our hard relationships. This book gives hope that no thing will be wasted. Our good God is working behind it all even when it doesn’t “feel” good. Clinging to that! I will be telling friends who are parenting daughters and friends who have difficult relationships (for years to come) THIS is the book they cannot miss!!!

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Could not put it down

This book made me laugh and cry. It is entertaining, inspiring, and profound. I love all of Melanie’s books but this one is my favorite.

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Easy Read, great content, a story for boy moms too.

I am a fan of Melanie Shankle- I have been a podcast listener for years. I read the book because of that - but gained so much more than supporting a podcaster I enjoy. This book shares so much about family life and raising children to be their best and to love Jesus. I’m a boy mom so I wasn’t sure I would get much out of it but as a daughter and mom this was a wonderful, inspiring book. Sons go through trials of mean people too. I loved the scriptures she shares and all of her funny stories.

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Wow. Such a great book.

As someone who had a similar relationship with their mom and is raising a daughter who will be a teen before I know it, this book was incredibly honest and made me not feel so alone. I laughed and cried and can’t wait to listen to it again. I even plan to buy a hard copy so I can underline and highlight key parts that I really want to remember. What a gift Melanie, thank you!!

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Well done.

Such raw emotion as Melanie tells her story. I admire her courage and vulnerability. What a gift this book was!

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Healing story

Phenomenal book. Highly recommend if you have a toxic parent. Melanie is a great storyteller.

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Beautiful!

An honest story told with mercy, grace, wisdom learned, and love. You are not alone. So many people struggle with difficult family dynamics. This author was brave to be so honest and vulnerable.

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SO GOOD

Wow! Melanie’s raw, honest, and full of wisdom. This book had me laughing, crying, and praying so hard! Thank you for sharing your story. As someone who comes from a home full of mental health issues and addiction, this book hit me hard. I am a mom of 3 daughters and have been battling generational trauma for far too long. Melanie has given me everything I need to take the next steps and to really lean in to God and what he has in store for me and for my girls.

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