Review Detail

13 Things Strong Kids Do: Think Big, Feel Good, Act Brave

Middle Grade Non-Fiction 397

Self-Help for Troubled Times

April 06, 2022

Overall rating

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Learning Value

4.0

Putting a kid-friendly, more positive spin on her 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, Morin offers young readers a constructive work book to change their outlook on life. Covering important coping skills like "They Adapt to Change", "They Know When to Say No", and "They Persist", the chapters on each are set up in similar ways. Starting with an anecdote about a fictional child as an example, the principal being covered is then examined. Readers are encouraged to "Check Yourself" and reflect on their personal reactions to similar situations. There is a "Closer Look" at other experiences children might have. There is a space to write a reflection, "Proof Positive" going back to the fictional example, and a question about the character's growth using the suggestions that the book has offered. There are also exercises, traps to avoid, and quick tips to help process the emotions of given situations. There are engaging line illustrations to illustrate the stories and add interest.

Good Points

Young readers who might be struggling with coping mechanisms will be able to see themselves in these stories, but also be able to distance themselves from their own emotions while learning to understand how their reactions can help form their experiences. This generally has a positive tone, and since the author is a psychologist, I will assume that the latest research is reflected in these strategies. This would be a useful book for parents to read as well, since much of the introductory chapter seemed directly at odds with the way I was taught to process emotion! Things do change, and sometimes it is hard for those of us who are older to keep up with current trends.

This is a paper over board binding, so the price point should be slightly lower than a dust jacketed hardcover, and would be a good book for a young readers who struggles with emotions, organization, or event processing to have as a personal copy. Reading this at one sitting is not the most effective way to digest the information, and clearly none of the recommended work gets done consuming the book in this fashion. This is best used a chapter or a section at a time, so that appropriate thought and reflection can be given to each component.

I'm sure there are many children's self-help books out there, especially since children are all a bit fragile after the pandemic. Sadly, I don't know any titles to recommend. My mother would have scoffed at this one, since her approach to life , which she drilled into me, is completely dismantled in the first chapter as "trying to look tough". This is a great book to have if you, like me, think it best to pretend you don't have any feelings and try hard to look like you are doing well to other people. Of course, that wouldn't be enough for my mother; she would also admonish you to stand up straight and get your hands out of your pockets.

More on Ms. Morin can be found on her website: https://amymorinlcsw.com/