Happy, Healthy Minds: A Children’s Guide to Emotional Wellbeing

This nonfiction guide for preteens and teenagers aims to demystify and verbalize difficult emotions and experiences that many adolescents go through. In 15 chapters covering topics including “screens,” “feeling misunderstood,” and “the adult world,” the book relays scenarios, strategies, interpretations, and activities that aim to help young people understand their surroundings and themselves (“But as we grow up, we start to see something odd: grown-ups aren’t in control of their lives,” reads the book’s explanation for why parents may sometimes act hypocritically). Softly colored, thinly outlined cartoon-style illustrations by Stewart provide a welcome respite from the typically staid fare often found in self-help books. Characters are portrayed inclusively, and have varying skin tones, hair textures, religions, genders, and sexualities. Dialogue bubbles, photographs, and works of European art are also interspersed throughout, ensuring sustained reader attention. Though the book has its limitations (discussions of gender lean heavily on the binary, and some topics, such as sexual orientation, are not addressed at all, despite intersection with the covered topics), it’s still a solid beginning resource for those navigating the emotional terrain of young adulthood. Ages 9–15. (Oct.)