Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sweet advice scrapbook is a helpful choice for teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Actress Elizabeth Berkley uses her work at her nonprofit Ask-Elizabeth as a launching pad to create a book that looks at the tough parts of growing up: self-esteem, love, friendship, parents, etc. ASK ELIZABETH is put together like a scrapbook, with lots of hand-written notes from real teenagers, who share their advice and experiences. Berkley, too, remembers her own first heartbreaks and more -- even sharing her painful experience as the star of the cult movie Showgirls (though she doesn't mention it by name).
Is It Any Good?
The scrapbook format is fun, and the book's messages about loving and believing in yourself -- even through the hard times-- come across as genuine. Teens can learn a lot from reading the girls' various stories and will appreciate a little advice from experts. Readers have to be willing to deal with Berkley's constant asides, written in pink ink ("I'm sending you a huge hug right now"), and some of the advice may seem shallow (for example, when talking about what makes a good relationship, Berkley writes, "If you don't have an example of a good relationship in your life, you can create your own great vision").
But for teens just entering the world of complicated relationships, the book provides some smart ideas for saying strong -- like staying positive, trying new experiences, or even venting anger in writing before trying to communicate hurt feelings. More than anything, this book provides much-needed support to teens as they tangle with the tough stuff.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the best way to use this book. Is it something they want to read alone, with friends, or as a family?
This book spent several weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. Why do you think it struck such a chord with readers? Do you think it's the book's content, the author's celebrity, or a mix of both?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Advice
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : G.P. Putnam's Sons
- Publication date : March 22, 2011
- Number of pages : 240
- Last updated : June 19, 2019
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