Judith E. Greenberg

A Girl' s Guide to Growing Up: Making the Right Choices looks at social situations a girl between the ages of 10 to fifteen faces at home, in school, and in her personal life. Judith Greenberg's self help book does a fine job in making the text accessible to young teens by focusing on issues that are paramount to growing up. Chapter scenarios on a teen getting through a particular social issue are realistic, and the choices available to her pragmatic and doable. If a student is feeling stressed out and is becoming ill as a result of that stress, or having trouble concentrating, for example, Greenberg recommends taking to one's parents about these feelings. Female professionals offer suggestions as well as how to deal with diet, low self-esteem, lack of concentration, and awakening sexual feelings.

Greenberg reinforces the type of choices a girl can make throughout the book. Numerous pictures are in each chapter with a caption to emphasis the choice: Picture: Two girls at their lockers: " Criticism may hurt, but it can be a friend's way of trying to help you.", Two girls playing basketball: "Some good activity helps work out stress.", Picture: Girl getting rose tattoo: "How will you feel about that tattoo or piercing in ten years?". These pictures are in black and white which make the book less attractive, but it emphasizes the choice exceptionally well. For girls just flipping through the book, Greenberg has random boxes on chapter pages that describe a situation and a good choice.… (meer)