Be Resilient Be You

Everyone goes through tough times, especially in their teenage years. This useful book suggests ways to cope – tools to build resilience – using Dr Ken Ginsburg’s ‘7cs’, i.e. the characteristics of resilient young people: competence, connection, contribution, control, confidence, character, and coping.

This sounds complicated, but the bite-size facts and friendly narrative ensures everything is clear and interesting to read.  

The advice is split into four sections: resilient thoughts, resilient actions, resilient relationships, and resilient bodies, and there are 40 topics in all across these. Familiar teen concerns are covered here, such as exam stress, bullying, and peer pressure, as well as broader themes like self-esteem and keeping fit.

The overall tone is of gentle encouragement – try something new; give it a go – and the activities suggested with each topic are easy to accomplish. Plus, each topic is only a few pages long, with illustrations, meaning readers can easily dip in and out, choosing them in any order. There is a lot of positivity in these pages – such as seeking out the ‘glimmers’ of joy in life – without dismissing real issues.  

This is a practical guide to becoming more resilient which would benefit a reader of any age, but teens should particularly appreciate its unpatronising and very helpful advice.