Rock What You've Got

December 20, 2010
One would be forgiven for assuming that the daughter of actor, bodybuilder, and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and journalist Maria Shriver has led a rarified and privileged life, free of strife about issues typically associated with adolescence, like body image, sexuality, and self esteem. But Schwarzenegger, currently an undergraduate at USC, uses her platform to share her experiences in a debut that rides the line between self-help and memoir. Her goal is to mine her own journey in order to empower women, and she wisely discusses eating disorders, birth control, and other hot-button issues in a direct, candid tone complimented by statistics, expert opinion, history, and insight from other women who have struggled with these concerns. "For Moms Only" boxes underscore the important positive role that mothers need to play and offer tips on helping daughters achieve confidence and a positive self- image. Despite the name on the spine, this is girl power from one (relatively) normal young woman to another.

September 15, 2010

As a preteen American girl, Schwarzenegger, daughter of the California governor, told her mother she thought herself "fat, ugly, stupid, and totally disgusting." After struggling for ten years with self-image issues, she has come out on top and wants to share with other girls how to get through physical changes, ignore media's profit-driven images, and develop one's inner beauty. A chapter for mothers warns them not to hold their daughters to society's physical standards or to become food police by constantly commenting on what their daughters eat or don't eat. Schwarzenegger writes in a style that will appeal to most teens and their moms. Despite the author's link to a celebrity family, this book definitely stands on its own.

Copyright 2010 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.