Life Inside My Mind
Edited by Jessica Burkhart
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: April 10, 2018
LIFE INISDE MY MIND is an essay anthology focused on YA authors’ personal experiences with mental health. Each “chapter” is a story written by a different author, and each has a vastly different focus: the topics ranged from anxiety to depression to OCD to Alzheimer's. While some of the stories were deeply personal, some were more of a reflection on societal issues and the stigma around mental health. This book was different from any I had ever read. At first, it was hard for me to make the constant switch in tone as the authors shifted, but eventually, I was able to adapt to the format, and I’m so glad I did! This book offers some incredible insights, and I really appreciated the fact that so many of the authors emphasized that there is no one “right way” to manage mental illness.
My personal favorite essay was written in a poetry format called “This Is How You Unravel” by E.K. Anderson, which told the story of a girl living with bipolar disorder. I loved this chapter in particular because of its ability to genuinely portray the negative aspects of mental illness while offering a hopeful message. There were many essays that had a profound impact on me, though, not just this one! Even though I was skeptical about this collection at first, I would highly recommend this collection to anyone, regardless of whether they have personally experienced any of these conditions. Although I personally haven’t, I was still able to relate to all of the authors because of the honest, candid emotions that they shared with readers. Because of frequent references to suicide, addiction, abuse and violence, this book is probably best suited to older teens.
Queer, There, and Everywhere
by Sarah Prager
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: May 23, 2017
While there has been
amazing progress in the both publicity and support for the LGBTQ+
community, it is still considered a “minority” group, outside of
the norm. The best gift that QUEER, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE gives
everyone, regardless of their identity, is the normalization of being
LGBTQ+. Exploring twenty-three figures throughout history, this
fascinating and easy-to-read set of biographies reveals just how
diverse our world is. From First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (lesbian) to
an ancient Roman transgender empress, QUEER, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE
forces us to confront our own assumptions about history that we may
not even realize we have.
I found this to be
both fascinating and humbling. The breadth and depth of the LGBTQ+
community is rarely explored in conventional history classes, and
this book helped me see the world through an entirely new lens. The
writing is very accessible and fun, though the author tries a little
too hard to be “hip”—the attempted use of slang can be a little
cringe-worthy at times. Overall, however, I think this book isn’t
just a good read, but a necessary one, giving LGBTQ+ folks amazing
examples of influential world-changers with struggles and triumphs to
identify with, and helping allies better understand how we need to
view the world in order to be compassionate, understanding, and
supportive.
Girl Code
by Andrea Gonzales and Sophie Houser
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: March 7, 2017
GIRL CODE by Andrea
Gonzales and Sophie Houser is a documentation of Andy and Sophie’s
initiation into the world of coding, and their unique experiences as
they created video games and lasting friendships. Andy and Sophie’s
uplifting attitude during their adventures sends out a positive
message about what women can achieve when they set their minds to
something. The reader will find herself rooting for Andy and Sophie
as they face many trials involving coding, as well as those
encountered in typical teenage life. If you are interested in coding,
this book is great because it discusses many different concepts and
opportunities for young coders. Likewise, if you don’t know much
about coding, this book is a great introduction and showcases two
girls who knew nothing about coding and the ways they learned to
create things they never would have imagined. The reader should keep
in mind that GIRL CODE is a record of Andy and Sophie's experiences
rather than a story. Therefore it doesn't have a typical climax or
exposition. I found some parts of it a bit hard to follow, but
overall it was a very positive message and will encourage the reader
to achieve their goals.
Death on the River of Doubt
by Samantha Seiple
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: January 3, 2017
DEATH ON THE RIVER OF DOUBT by Samantha Seiple talks about a scary and somewhat unknown story about the near-death experience of Theodore Roosevelt, one of America's finest Presidents. He was on an expedition in the Amazon, when he was injured, and his group struggles to find food. They face multiple roadblocks and challenges in an attempt to get Roosevelt back to safety. I thoroughly enjoyed the book's action and how the story is kept exciting despite it being nonfiction. I personally was interested in this book because of my interest in history, and was curious as to what happened during this expedition. I would recommend the book to most people, despite the small amounts of violence, because other than that it did not strike me as inappropriate at all.
Quiet Power:
The Secret Strength of Introverts
by Susan Cain
Publisher: Dial Books
Publication Date: May 3rd, 2016
In 2012 Susan Cain wrote QUIET: THE POWER OF INTROVERTS IN A WORLD THAT WON'T STOP TALKING, sparking a
shift in what being an introvert means to people. QUIET POWER: THE SECRET STRENGTH OF INTROVERTS, is her guide
for kids and teens, discussing everything from school to friends to
extracurricular activities. As a self-proclaimed introvert, I was so excited to
read this book, and it did not disappoint. Cain used her interviews with kids
to illustrate the importance of understanding and staying true to oneself while
using one’s “quiet power” to its full potential. While extroversion is often
seen as more appealing than introversion, Cain’s book celebrates the special
qualities possessed by introverts, and offers techniques for utilizing them. I
would recommend Quiet Power to kids, teens, parents, and teachers
looking to better understand themselves, their kids, their friends, or their
students.
