Enough: 10- Things We Should Be Telling Teenage Girls by Kate Conner (book review and giveaway)

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Since we're talking about teenagers today, I figured a double header was in order!

The world wide web- it offers the bad and the good, doesn't it?

In this case, one VERY popular blog post spurned the author to flesh it out and write a book,

which we are very happy to have the opportunity to review!

Synopsis:

In a book based on her post, Kate Conner calls us to action in Enough: 10 Things You Should Be Telling Teenage Girls. We all have teenage girls in our lives who we love, whether it’s a sister, friend, or daughter. Kate has identified 10 things these girls need to hear today from someone who loves her. Peppered with wit and laced with grace, Kate’s list tackles relevant issues like Facebook, emotions, drama, tanning beds, modesty, and flirtation. Woven into each chapter is a powerful message of worth that transcends age, and will touch the souls of women, young and old alike: You are beautiful. You are valuable. You are enough. 

A former youth-worker, wife to a college minister, and a young mom in her twenties, Conner stands squarely in generational gap, the perfect place from which to bridge it. Conner offers herself as a translator, helping you to speak your teenager’s language and equipping you with a fresh perspective from which to engage your teenage girl—one that may enable her to truly hear your heart (and your wisdom) for the first time since puberty.

Review:
As Kate says, modern teenage life is NOTHING like it was for us as teens. We didn't have the web, and the constant access to media, all with one aim- to see us something we don't need. No matter what we do as parents, our girls will be bombarded from the moment they start watching cartoons with 'perfect' looking princesses and even makeup to be 'pretty'. The emphasis is taken off of playing like mommy, to making them'better'. It takes strident parenting to try to keep the media influences to a minimum. But by the time they are teens, our girls are so barraged by the media that wants them to act and be older, that there is no wonder that they are questioning and making bad decision. Unfortunately with modern media everywhere, in every had, those bad decisions will follow them everywhere. Kate's book takes a stab and makes teens rethink these decisions. While this book is aimed mostly at teens, I would say many of the discussions can he be held much earlier (go try to find a swimsuit for an 8 yr old that doesn't make her look like a hooker in training, and you'll understand what I mean). in an age when our 'community' of family, church members and friends, are no longer helping us to raise our kids with the same consistent morals, helping our girls to see how God has given them the advice they need, at an early age, can ONLY be beneficial! Kate handles all of the topics in the book (dressing, makeup,pack mentality,smoking, eating, even reputations) in a respectful manner- both kids and parents will understand and see her examples as great conversation starters. This is a book to keep on the nightstand, and to reread as the situations arise. I'd love to see ministries adopting the book as part of their teen group reading. There is strength in numbers, and seeing other girls understanding and living by these simple rules, is empowering in itself. I urge all parents of young girls to get this book and to share it with family and friends. Maybe if we all take a stand and take our kids lives back from outside influences, they will become the adults we know they can be!

About the Author:

Kate Elizabeth Conner is a 27-year-old writer, speaker, and first generation southerner who spends her days learning braille, counseling teenagers via text message, and adjusting to life in middle Georgia. This is her third book. Check out her website for more.

Giveaway:

One BTHM reader will win their own copy of this wonderful book!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note:

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.