Growing Up Powerful: A Guide to Growing Up Powerful, Embracing Change, and Untangling Your World, from Rebel Girls

 

Author Nona Willis Aronowitz, illustrations by Caribay Marquina 

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Wish I'd had this manual handy when I was the age of the target audience. While it's often hard to tread that fine line between a book containing tons of insightful, meaningful information and still keep it fun, Rebel Girls does their usual excellent job. The colors are bright and vivid, while the illustrations show diversity, movement, and emotion while still somehow retaining their direct simplicity. The info itself is nicely organized, frequently broken down into smaller bits via boxed text and captions. Thus, easy to read and navigate while maintaining it's goal of being there for pre-teen girls. As I said, where was this book when I needed it?

As I've become more familiar with the Rebel Girls world, I've found that I rarely simply sit down and read straight through. That was the case again this time. After settling in with much of the first chapter, which deals with girls as emotional human beings, talking about ways to deal with new friends, stress and the blues, it also delves with coping with the loss of a loved one. That's one topic often neglected and remembering my own adult emotions of dealing with death, one I was glad to see included. 

I found myself drawn to chapter five, however, as I flipped around using the contents and index as my guide. Given the uncertainties and fears even adults have felt over the last few years or turmoil and a worldwide pandemic, how could I not jump into that chapter's first section on coping with a scary world? The advice was targeted and while it offered no easy solutions, provided solid advice that can be used. That chapter also reminded us that epic fails along the way don't mean we're losers. Quite the contrary. It reminds young girls of the courage it took to simply try, building them up. You'll love the short scenarios throughout the book, btw, dealing with not just this topic but others. 

Bottom line, I recommend this book without hesitation. Even if you don't have a growing, ever changing pre-teen girl in your realm, it would make an excellent gift for those who might. Thank you so much #NetGalley and #RebelGirls for reminding me what it was like to navigate those scary years as an "almost teenager". I haven't clicked on all the QR codes yet but will definitely be doing so to see what other great advice is available.