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Being a Girl
Navigating the Ups and Downs of Teen Life

by Kim Cattrall



      Teen girls have a lot of questions - about themselves, girlfriends, boyfriends, and growing up. Being a Girl, by award-winning actress and author Kim Cattrall, guides girls through the confusing years of adolescence. Many teens view the Sex and the City character Samantha Jones (played by Cattrall) as a sexy and determined woman. Cattrall cautions that nobody is like Samantha, including her. Cattrall shares solid advice with stories of her teenaged choices.

Cattrall reminds girls their most important resource - their self-esteem - is not found inside the Gap or a similar store. The only place to find self-esteem is within. A major concern for teens comes with body changes and growth. Those new curves and added weight can cause some girls to resort to unhealthy dieting. Cattrall tells of her mental weight battle, which started when a director told the then seventeen-year old actress she was fat. As a young adult, Cattrall realized she could look good and be healthy by exercising regularly and eating for her body type. Healthy self-esteem guides girls through adolescence and beyond.

The next best resource of self-esteem is finding a great girlfriend. A great girlfriend can be a mentor, coach, fashion advisor, and cheerleader throughout a girl’s life. What happens when your best girlfriend becomes your worst enemy? Cattrall touches on girlfriend problems like "It’s All about Her," "Envy, the Green-Eyed Monster," "Mean Girls," and "Boyfriend Theft." Battling girlfriend problems can shock a teen because these relationships are tied to her identity.

Cattrall’s hip advice touches teen problems with honesty and humor. Women may wish they had read this book when they were teenagers; I wish I had. Being a Girl builds on self-esteem through topics like weight, depression, rebellion, skin care, family, friends, dating, sexuality, and independence. Illustrations, by Marf, are quirky and fun. Chapters are highlighted with Cattrall’s teenaged and adult photos. I recommend this book for your teen so she can explore and enjoy Being a Girl.

The Book

Little, Brown and Company
October 2006
Hardcover
0-316-01102-9
Teen Non-fiction; Self-esteem, Adolescence
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE: sexuality is briefly discussed within a couple of chapters

The Reviewer

Jennifer Akers
Reviewed 2006
NOTE:
© 2006 MyShelf.com