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Reviewed by: Becki Truelson, High School Librarian Title: A Perfectionist's Guide to Not Being Perfect Author: Bonnie Zucker Publisher: Magination Press
Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 8-12 Genre/Type of Book: Self Help
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: No Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: Yes If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
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Review:
More and more often my students are asking for books about mental health. More and more our often counselors are sending students to choose an SEL book to use during counseling sessions. A Perfectionist's Guide to Not Being Perfect is one of the titles I chose to build up this collection. Many of the books in our self help collection are adult books that are appropriate for teens. This book is a true young adult book. The author explains that she uses the same strategies in the book to help her clients in her own therapy practice.
The book begins with the basics - definition, signs and types of perfectionism. The scenario example are all realistic teen situations. Embedded within chapters are quick activities for self-reflection and improvement. There are also quotes from recognizable people such as Reese Witherspoon, Beyonce, and Michael Jordan. The font is large with generous space in the page, making the reading less dense and daunting.
The book covers many areas of teen life and how to handle them as a perfectionist. Some examples are physical appearance, social media, handling mistakes, resilient thinking and self-care. In addition, there are many resources provided for readers to continue their work on perfectionism. Some examples are: a book list for further reading, mobile apps such as Calm and Headspace, and lists of affirmations readers can use in their daily lives.
It was clear from reading this book that Bonnie Zucker understands teens and wrote this book just for them. Every section of the book is relevant to teens and I think it is a wonderful tool for any teen struggling with being a perfectionist. Recommend!
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Find more resources for A Perfectionist's Guide to Not Being Perfect at Teachingbooks.net
For more information about this book, see the Publishers Website