Self-Esteem for Teens: Six Principles for Creating the Life You Want

Self-esteem doesn’t come from external sources—rather, it’s entirely within one’s own control, suggests author and social worker Schab in this guidebook, part of the Instant Help Solutions series. The author introduces six guiding principles for developing self-esteem, including “My Self-Esteem Is in My Hands” and “There Is a Reward in Every Struggle.” Schab breaks down each principle in four subsections—“Learn,” “Explore,” “Become,” and “Affirm”—and activities help readers personalize the underlying concepts (“Pretend you’re talking to a younger child who’s feeling bad after making a mistake. Describe what you’d say to that child and how you’d explain that mistakes don’t change a person’s self-worth”). This mix of concrete suggestions, frequent affirmations, and allegorical “wisdom tales” that get at the heart of what it means to have self-worth offers multiple avenues for growth. Ages 13–up. (July)