As the life skills coach, author Neera Maini Srivastav understands the common issues faced by teenagers. She also understands that this is the age where parental communication can break down causing a rift between the parent and child. Often, this is the cause of teenage rebellion. While the parents may be saying the right thing, they may not be saying it the right way. This book puts forth the ideas in a succinct and non-preachy way. I can imagine why such a book will be more palatable to the teenagers than what their parents say. They can also read this at their own pace unlike a sit-down talk with the family elders.
What I Liked
- Easy flowing language. The focus of the author is on getting the idea across in the simplest way possible. The language, the illustrations and the titles are all directed to teens. The book does not come across as preachy at all.
- I feel this book has a takeaway for not just the teenagers but adults as well. Especially the third part Mind Your Spirit. It reminds us of small things that we forget to do but can actually make our lives richer. I especially liked the Affirmations.
- The positive tone of the book is a delight. There is an attempt to educate and enlighten the reader instead of scaring them. The same ideas like Law of Attraction are repeated across multiple ideas which I believe will help them grasp the practical aspects.
- The best part about the book was that no topic is taboo. From body positivity to sex, from periods to dating, Neera covers it all. She also strikes a gender balance covering things relevant to both boys and girls.
What I Did Not Like
There were no stories in the book. For someone of Neera’s profile, who has worked with youngsters extensively, I imagined there will be stories that make it easy to relate to. Other than this minor gripe, it was all great!
Final Thoughts
I say my daughter is 6 going on 16 in jest. I am actually terrified about the issues we will face when she hits teenage. Having read this book, I got a sense of how to communicate with her when she approaches the years and what I should be sensitive about when dealing with her feelings. Am sure this book will help teens and parents alike.