Letting Go

March 1, 2018

Gr 7 Up-Fonseca (The Girl Guide: Finding Your Place in a Mixed-Up World) offers strategies to help teens break out of anxiety cycles and find productive ways to approach challenging situations. Fifty-one activities encourage contemplation, journaling, and analysis of personality traits to help decrease negative self-talk, create goals, and navigate anticipated stressors. Part one gives a fight-or-flight physical context for stress and the body's reactions to perceived threats. Part two looks at the basics of managing anxiety. The concluding section gives strategies for moving "From Surviving to Thriving." The writing is well suited to middle schoolers and includes stories from teens who have successfully applied the strategies in their lives. Chapters end with bulleted "Do the Work" suggestions. The book is meant to be written in, which may be a hindrance for library purchase. VERDICT Solid advice for self-aware teens and those willing to take the time to work through the exercises. Consider for self-help sections.-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX

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