Check out the glowing reviews and interviews for this exceptional teenage handbook and guide, “My Feet Aren’t Ugly, A Girl’s Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out” by Debra Beck
Radio Interviews
Award-winning author Debra Beck discusses cyber-bullying, technology and dis-connection, social skills and encouraging face-to-face contact, cell phone etiquette, good communication, technology addiction, and setting boundaries.
Your Family Matters
interview with Dr. Keith Kanner
Cyberhoodwatch Interview:
Internet Safety for your Teen:
Interview with Dave and Bill
Radio Interviewson Blog Talk Radio
Independent Reviews
iCUBED.US: Webzine For Thinking Teens
by KeriP-19
My Feet Aren’t Ugly is a book just as interesting as the title itself. It is a self-esteem self-help book for girls aged 11 to 16, and as the subtitle says it’s “A Girl’s Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out”.
Most of us may cringe at the thought of self-help books, because we expect that all the advice will just be age-old wisdom that adults have nagged teens with for years. Luckily for us, “My Feet Aren’t Ugly” came into the picture and it gives the serious topic of self-esteem a fresh twist..
We all get our fat-days and bad-hair-days. There are days when I feel like I simply couldn’t walk out the door because what was supposed to be hair settled on top of my head has turned into a bird’s nest. Yet the underlying implication of these self-loathing days is that we do not fully accept and love ourselves for who we are.
According to Beck, it is not only feeling inferior next to girls prettier or more popular than us that gives rise to a low self-esteem; things that we may not look deeply into – such as not finishing a project, or not giving your interests a chance to develop – also affect how we think of ourselves.
“My Feet Aren’t Ugly”, gives us more insight into things or bad habits that we may overlook.
What I like most about this book is that it has little activities and empty pages for us to write down what we think or feel. It gives us an immediate place to reflect and really chew on the information given.
After all, a self-help book wouldn’t be self-helping if we cannot relate it to ourselves and the real-life problems we are facing.
Being a teenager is already very mind-boggling; having someone to help us help ourselves along the way is something we can all appreciate and welcome.
KeriP-19 review, “MY FEET AREN’T UGLY: A GIRL’S GUIDE TO LOVING HERSELF FROM THE INSIDE OUT”
Curled Up With A Good Book
Much of the material here reminds readers of things they have heard or read before. There is material on eating disorders, nutrition, drugs, and teen suicide. However, there is also new material here about stress, integrity, developing positive relationships and being your own best friend.
Following each of the nine chapters is an opportunity to journal the reader’s response to what they have read. The reader is encouraged to think about what has been read and then to respond in a private but significant way through journaling.
Whether your teenager is struggling with weight issues or not being popular or just getting through the teen years, this is an excellent gift book. The introduction to journaling can also be a lifetime gift as the reader adopts this method of self-feedback and remembrance.
With the abundance of Internet websites, as well as television and movies, pushing young girls to be paper-thin and self-centered, this entry into the written world is a welcome one. The only missing ingredient is a listing of helpful websites or further reading recommendations for those who need additional information. Because young people spend so much of their time with a computer, suggestions for sites about types of nutrition or exercise, as well as knowledgeable sites on suicide, drugs and teen pregnancy would be helpful.
This is a welcome addition to the middle school and high school library collection as well as making a great gift. Although the author addresses spiritual fitness, there is no reference to religion in this section. It simply addresses mental health. Those buyers seeking religious guidance in the materials would need to look beyond this title.
Reader Views
“My Feet Aren’t Ugly: A Girl’s Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out” briefly covers many personal areas of a young teenager’s life. Beck’s goal is to get teens to make wise choices and accept who they are. She focuses on self esteem and how important making the right decisions is. There are lessons on intuition, what it is, why it’s important, and how to follow it; and advice in many areas, like sex and suicide. Every other page is flourished with an adorable illustration. After each brief lesson, there are places for you to journal and reflect on what you’ve learned. This is Beck’s way of getting the teen to actively participate and really think about what she is teaching. She wants to make you think about who you really are, and how you can be a better person. She relates to the reader by using her personal experiences from when she was at that age as well as the experiences of those she has mentored.
Writing a book that attempts to coach and direct someone is a difficult feat to accomplish. There are so many ways to slip up. The biggest problem is not knowing how to appeal to the intended audience. “My Feet Aren’t Ugly: A Girl’s Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out” is geared toward young teenage girls, but it will be their mothers that are most charmed by this book. I am 16-years-old myself, and reading this I felt as though there was not enough information, and it didn’t completely apply to me. It seemed to me that Beck should be aiming for a younger audience, but some of the information included could be considered inappropriate for them.
4 STARS from Teen Read Too
Broken down into nine main parts — Let’s Learn to Like Ourselves, What Are You Afraid Of? Oh, the Dark. Me too!, Are You Creative? Yes, Everyone Is!, Being Healthy – Both Physically and Spiritually, Who is Doing Drugs?, Kids on the Edge – Teen Suicide,
It talks about sex and drugs
Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in? Do you ever feel self conscious around other people? Have you ever been pressured to do something you don’t want to do?
The author achieved exactly what she was trying to. After I read this book, I went out to the real world and yelled “Sock it to me! I can do it!” It helped me overcome peer pressure, and I really found myself.
Parents: Do you want your teenage daughter to become more confident and self-assured? Buy “My Feet Aren’t Ugly: A Girl’s Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out” today at Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.com.