YOUR LIFE, YOUR WAY

This self-help workbook offers practical interventions to help teens navigate their life journeys.

Some readers may initially be drawn in by the example of environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who struggled with depression but brought about change in herself, and, eventually, many other people, by tapping into her deepest values and acting on them. Straightforward truisms encourage teens to read on, and the text promises that it will help them understand how some adults end up unhappy and unfulfilled. Readers learn to identify three aspects of their inner selves—the discoverer, noticer, and adviser. Specific exercises encourage them to figure out how to use these skills for their own empowerment. Whatever the chapter’s specific concern—anxiety, bullying, internet addiction, and more—the text reassures readers of their self-worth. Teens are encouraged to create unique personal choices when their first choice in problem-solving has failed, with the caveat that aggression is rarely a successful strategy. At appropriate moments, adult intervention is advised, and overall, the language used is accessible and nonpatronizing. One chapter mentions post-traumatic growth in the context of overcoming abuse and identity-based prejudice, but teens struggling with serious bias and oppression may find the examples in this book do not resonate. Whimsical ink drawings, pithy quotations, and frequent use of humor enhance this handbook for healthy living.

Be the change!