MAP OF YOU

An interactive guide to the “magical landscape of YOU!”

Young people are invited to explore their “mountains of strength,” “wetlands of weakness,” and “forest of fears” in this fill-in-the-blank imaginative journal. The journey begins with an invitation to draw self-portraits and outline the parameters of “your world,” including its name, laws, and motto. On a double-page spread featuring a picture of a large green knapsack, it is suggested that readers pack an “emotional survival kit” for difficult times by writing down and drawing their supplies. Quizzes, creative prompts, flowcharts, and inspirational quotes encourage journalers to reflect on their hopes and fears, goals and experiences, mental health, and interpersonal relationships. Earnest nature-based metaphors are woven throughout the text, with all-caps subheadings such as “Lake of Likes,” “Kindness Cove,” and “Memory Marsh.” Most of the suggestions succeed in their intention of sparking creative reflection about one’s social-emotional well-being, although they range in practicality from exposure therapy tips to a prompt to “draw yourself as a shining star in the night sky.” Unfortunately, a section titled “Spirit Animals” perpetuates the widespread appropriation of an important facet of some Indigenous cultures; this misstep is made even more egregious by the inclusion of a “certificate of adoption” for readers to fill out in order to make their spirit animal choice “official!” The cheerful, doodlelike illustrations—some in full color, others selectively colored, and many of them busy—are filled with nature imagery and complement the text well.

A potentially fun vehicle for self-awareness and wellness but one with a glaring flaw.