Read Online A Girl Guide to Life The Truth on Growing Up Being Real and Making Your Teen Years Fabulous! Katie Meier Books

Product details Paperback 224 pages Publisher Thomas Nelson (June 20, 2010) Language English ISBN-10 9781400315949 ISBN-13 978-1400315949 ASIN 1400315948

A Girl Guide to Life The Truth on Growing Up Being Real and Making Your Teen Years Fabulous! Katie Meier Books Reviews

• My daughter loved the book
• Good Book.
• We were looking for something for a little older crowd, yet it was great for 10-14 year old girls in junior high.
• So many questions! So little time! And who to ask? To make it easier, start with your own research - this book!
  
  This book is broken into 3 main parts body, mind, and soul.
  
  With short chapters in each part, you can use this resource for "I need an answer right now!" kinds of questions, as well as an overview of what to expect in your life as a teen.
  
  Warning! Chapter 1 does start with a pop quiz. You are asked to think of 5 things about you that are great and to write them in the book. Before you roll your eyes consider this...what do you like about yourself? Got pretty eyes? List that. Like that you are nice to your younger brother? List that. Good at homework? List that. Look - we are already up to 3 items!
  
  The basic point of asking a girl to rattle off these things is to find out what's going on in her head. What are you thinking about? What do you believe to be true about yourself?
  
  If you have a tough time coming up with the answers, this can be a tell-tale sign...maybe your self-esteem isn't so hot these days? Maybe you don't realize what is good about you?
  
  The best part of this book is that it lists myths vs. the real deal. For example, it is a myth that girls are born confident. The real deal...you'd have to read the book to find out. ;-) Trust me, it will be worth it.
  
  Meier's voice in this book is straight talk. The girl is dishing in the pages of this book the way an older sister would do. That gives you 212 pages of straight girl talk.
  
  This is a great resource for girls everywhere!
• I am not a teenager anymore, but knowing my daughter will be one some day I was interested in reviewing this book for BookSneeze book review bloggers. I was impressed with how this Christian author covered difficult topics that teens have to deal with in an appropriate way. Every Christian author encounters the problem that "Christian" covers a wide range of religions with different standards and terminology. Despite this, I found myself agreeing with almost all her advice. (My religion has a stricter definition of modesty than most, so I didn't agree with her there.)
  
  Perhaps the most honest chapter of the book is Chapter 7 on Beauty. She doesn't patronize girls with lofty ideals about how it's what inside, not outside, that counts. The truth is, the way you look matters a TON in this world, even if it shouldn't. She gives great tips on making the outside pleasant and helping it to match who you are on the inside. She calls this "being true to your inner self." When I was a teen I felt like I couldn't ever compete with the "models" at my school, so many days I didn't try at all. Even in college I did very little with my hair, makeup or clothes, not realizing that I wasn't allowing people to see who I was on the inside through my outer style. I didn't really start paying attention to my appearance until my mid-twenties! I finally found a few girl friends that gave me tips on hair and makeup. How I wish I'd had those tips in junior high! I'm still not a model, but I'm happy with how I look. This information will be very useful to the average young girl, even if they are lucky enough to never have to deal with some of the more serious subjects in the book (like date rape and eating disorders.)
  
  Despite my satisfaction with how the topics were addressed, it was difficult for me to make it through this book because of the tone. It seems like the author is trying to fit in with teens and show them that she's "cool" too. It comes across a little fake. And, unfortunately, the slang will make the book obsolete before very long. When my toddler is a teen the topics in the book will still be relevant, but the language of the book will seem as old as "groovy" and "far out". I plan to find a young friend (maybe 11 or 12) to give this to, but I better hurry before it's out of date!
  
  I received this book for free from [...] and was not required to give any specific opinion, positive or negative, in my review.
• Katie Meier plunges into the teenage female brain with the boldness of a runaway horse on a mission. Indeed, she does have a mission. A mission to dispel the lies girls so easily fall for and give them the truth they so desperately need. With a quirky, sitting-across-the-table-from-you-in-a-coffee-shop style, she digs deep into the questions all girls ask.
  Packaged in an appealing cover, this book caught my attention and had me eagerly awaiting its arrival. Unfortunately, when I first opened it, it didn't hold up to my expectations. Meier's warm-hearted style was interesting and kept me reading. Her knowledge of the hearts of teenage girls was thorough, non-judgmental, and captivating. She made me think.
  
  But I disagree with her.
  
  The Soul section includes a chapter entitled Religion that encourages young girls to "work from their souls" and "look within."
  
  "The bottom line is that you're able to believe in religion because you want to."
  
  This sentence (and many others) raised red flags.
  
  Religion may be man reaching up to heaven, but I believe that Christianity is God reaching down to man.
  
  The grace of God plus nothing equals salvation. The saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross ushers us into a relationship with Almighty God. I don't have to "look within," all I have to do is look to God. He's been looking to me since time began.
  
  This book was fun to read. It was informative. It was no-nonsense. It was funny.
  That's exactly why I would and wouldn't recommend it.
  It's appealing. The other sections hit hard and are enjoyable to read.
  Therein lies the problem.
  Girls may have a hard time differentiating between the truths conveyed in the first two-thirds of the book and the misaligned last few chapters.
  
  * Disclosure of Material Connection I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."