Ah, the tween years. Not a time I would necessarily want to revisit! But it's a time that really needs some extra help and guidance, because it is such a confusing time in life. Here's one book that aims to do so. Check out an exclusive excerpt before you get your own copy. Be sure to follow the tour for even more! Best of luck entering the giveaway!
Nine Ways to Empower Tweens #LIFESKILLS is a self-help book for tweens. Fraternal twins Emma and Elliot teach tweens practical life strategies that they've learned from their parents and teachers. These life skills include how to have more confidence when presenting in class, the importance of work ethic, a simple writing technique to help deal with anger, and more. There are exercises at the end of each chapter that tweens can use to integrate what they've learned.
"Engagingly written and well-designed, NINE WAYS TO EMPOWER TWEENS #LIFESKILLS by Kathleen Boucher should be required reading for teenagers and even older readers interested in building personal strength, developing a positive mind-set and achieving goals throughout their lives."
- Andrea Karen Hammer for IndieReader
Check out an excerpt:
Chapter 1: How to Speak Confidently
"Here is how to be confident in just about anything: Write down on a piece of paper what you already do well. Are you an amazing writer, singer, or guitar player? Are you great at tying your shoes, making your bed, keeping your room neat, washing dishes, singing in the shower, feeding the dog, zooming around in your wheelchair, hugging your parents, doing schoolwork, or riding a bike? Remember that list. Each time you try something new, first remember something you are really, really good at doing. Remember something that makes you confident. Then, take that confidence and associate it with whatever you are trying that is new. It's as simple as that."
**My thoughts**
Self-help and self-empowerment are hot topics for us adults right now. It's good to start implementing some of these skills in kids, so that ideally, they can grow up to be healthier adults. And the tween years are horribly difficult. Any positive guidance at this age is fantastic.
This book is told from the point of view of fraternal twins Emma and Elliot. My guess is that's to make it seem like it is coming more from peers than an adult. And then, of course, you have one boy and one girl sharing their stories. As an adult, I didn't buy that tweens wrote this book, or at least not without a ton of adult help. But perhaps kids won't quite catch on to that as easily.
I think this is the kind of book that tweens, and even older teens, should slowly work through and process. It is a lot to take in, especially when you are already in a time of great change and growth. It could work for individuals with a trusted adult with whom they could discuss their situations and progress. I think it could also work for some small group discussions, with individual follow-up.
It reads quite similarly to some of the current adult empowerment articles and books, though the example situations are more geared toward some that tweens and teens might encounter. This is where I think the small group and/or individual discussions could come in handy, to better help the tweens apply the different chapters to their own lives. They still need to do the work in themselves, but some guidance would be good.
I'd actually love to sit down with some of my tweens and teens with whom I am still in touch from when I taught them in their younger years and work through some of these chapters with them. We already have some of these conversations, but perhaps this book could provide some further talking points.
Honestly, I think that adults would also benefit from reading this. A lot of the referenced works for further reading would also be good for adults to read.
I received a requested review copy from the author and Goddess Fish Promotions. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
CONNECT WITH KATHLEEN
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Website: https://www.boucherbooks.com/
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ReplyDeleteThanks much for sharing your book and a giveaway. Sounds great!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts. I was interested in this book, but didn't really know what to expect.
ReplyDeletethis looks great
ReplyDeleteThis book does sound like a great book for tweens and their parents! Thanks for sharing and good luck with the tour!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your review! I am thrilled to see you enjoyed the book and found that it would be valuable to tweens and young adults.
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt and giveaway. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book for tweens!
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