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Secrets: Diary of a Gutsy Teen
SECRETS received the #2015 Silver Medal in Pre-teen Fiction/General category from Moonbeam Children Book Awards! Perfect # Reading for #Girls, #Tweens, #Parents, #Teachers, #Guidance Counselors Following in the footsteps of The Truth , Diary of a Gutsy Teen begins as the thirteen-year-old protagonist makes a move with her family to a new town. The diary is a perfect coming of age read. The girl has grown up a lot over the past year--and has made a list of everything that's important to her now that she doesn't want to forget when she gets older. But now, as she enters her early teen years, and growing up becomes the order of the day, she begins to write down the secrets she wants to keep--and the ones she has no one to tell about. From new school experiences to a new baby in the family to a new crush, this new teen finally feels empowered on making her own decisions with confidence and keeping those secrets she holds dearest for herself.
In a positive and supportive diary-entry format, Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein encourages tween and early teen girls to carry the most precious parts of themselves into adulthood. A great book for mothers and daughters to read together, Secrets is aimed to improve communication, understanding, social skills and self-esteem for young girls as they enter the rocky road of teenager-dom. " Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen is a perfect book for any young teenager, helping her understand what girls development is all about. Questions & worries most of us have had or will have, are discussed and shared with her "best friend"...her diary!Dr. Holstein captures private thoughts that all of us have gone through too. Self-doubt; questioning our looks and our changing body.....are all perfectly addressed. This book is therapy, powerful and perfect for that precious teen in your life. Have her read this book...share your memories...than give her permission to make her own!Great job Barbara....you did it again!"
Eileen StrongProfessional SpeakerPresident of Strong IncentivesStrongIncentives.com
In a positive and supportive diary-entry format, Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein encourages tween and early teen girls to carry the most precious parts of themselves into adulthood. A great book for mothers and daughters to read together, Secrets is aimed to improve communication, understanding, social skills and self-esteem for young girls as they enter the rocky road of teenager-dom. " Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen is a perfect book for any young teenager, helping her understand what girls development is all about. Questions & worries most of us have had or will have, are discussed and shared with her "best friend"...her diary!Dr. Holstein captures private thoughts that all of us have gone through too. Self-doubt; questioning our looks and our changing body.....are all perfectly addressed. This book is therapy, powerful and perfect for that precious teen in your life. Have her read this book...share your memories...than give her permission to make her own!Great job Barbara....you did it again!"
Eileen StrongProfessional SpeakerPresident of Strong IncentivesStrongIncentives.com
144 pages, Hardcover
First published February 3, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 26, 2015
"The Girl" is back again, with even more challenges to face, boys to crush on and simply trying to learn what it means to be a teenager. With a new baby sister on the way, a new school, and dealing with missing old friends while trying to make new ones, the girl is even more confused than ever. As if being a tween wasn't hard enough!
Like the first book, the story is being told in the form of a diary. Weekly entries all about what it's like to teenage girl. Transitioning from kid to teen is never easy, and for the girl is harder than some. A new baby sister is coming soon and she is not happy about being the older child. Along with moving to a new town and starting a new school, the girl is more stressed out than ever before. If that wasn't enough, life is about to thrown her a curve ball when her body starts changing and growing.
Along with all of these new hardships, the girl is having fun too. She's making new friends, trying new things, but more so finding out who she really wants to be.
- There are so many amazing things I loved about this book. -
How relatable is the story was. I really feel like the book "diary" was in fact written by a teenage girl and not by an adult, which is great because teens who read it will get a better sense of the emotions and maturity of the girl. Everything she went through was things most teens have to deal and struggle with while experiencing this time in their lives.
The girl's personally has really changed since the first book. She is more outgoing, funny and even more so emotionally. At times, I was getting annoyed by her thinking and how she felt about things, but then I thought back to when I was her age and begin to understand why she acted the way she did. Being a teen is downright difficult at time and I loved the way she handled the challenges she faced. The girl's personally while different than when she was younger really made this book quite remarkable.
Being written in a diary format is probably by favorite part simply because I could see how throughout the year, in each entry how her life changed. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. She grew up so much not only physically and mentally but emotionally as well. Each time she wrote in her dairy there was always something new and exciting to read about.
Adults will love it too! I'm in my 30's and I loved reading it. I won't lie, some parts were kind of childish, but that's what made it such a fun read for me. Being able to remember what it was like when I was young was exciting. I remember thinking "Oh yeah, I remember what that felt like". Yes, this book was primarily written to speak to teens but I think adults will love it too. Reading with your children would be even more fun!
I would like to commend, author Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein for writing such a relatable, imaginative, and fun story in which teens everywhere I know will love. I highly recommend Diary of a Gusty Teen (and Tween) to all of my readers and to confused girls everywhere (hehe). This book is one not to miss!
Like the first book, the story is being told in the form of a diary. Weekly entries all about what it's like to teenage girl. Transitioning from kid to teen is never easy, and for the girl is harder than some. A new baby sister is coming soon and she is not happy about being the older child. Along with moving to a new town and starting a new school, the girl is more stressed out than ever before. If that wasn't enough, life is about to thrown her a curve ball when her body starts changing and growing.
Along with all of these new hardships, the girl is having fun too. She's making new friends, trying new things, but more so finding out who she really wants to be.
- There are so many amazing things I loved about this book. -
How relatable is the story was. I really feel like the book "diary" was in fact written by a teenage girl and not by an adult, which is great because teens who read it will get a better sense of the emotions and maturity of the girl. Everything she went through was things most teens have to deal and struggle with while experiencing this time in their lives.
The girl's personally has really changed since the first book. She is more outgoing, funny and even more so emotionally. At times, I was getting annoyed by her thinking and how she felt about things, but then I thought back to when I was her age and begin to understand why she acted the way she did. Being a teen is downright difficult at time and I loved the way she handled the challenges she faced. The girl's personally while different than when she was younger really made this book quite remarkable.
Being written in a diary format is probably by favorite part simply because I could see how throughout the year, in each entry how her life changed. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. She grew up so much not only physically and mentally but emotionally as well. Each time she wrote in her dairy there was always something new and exciting to read about.
Adults will love it too! I'm in my 30's and I loved reading it. I won't lie, some parts were kind of childish, but that's what made it such a fun read for me. Being able to remember what it was like when I was young was exciting. I remember thinking "Oh yeah, I remember what that felt like". Yes, this book was primarily written to speak to teens but I think adults will love it too. Reading with your children would be even more fun!
I would like to commend, author Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein for writing such a relatable, imaginative, and fun story in which teens everywhere I know will love. I highly recommend Diary of a Gusty Teen (and Tween) to all of my readers and to confused girls everywhere (hehe). This book is one not to miss!
March 9, 2015
Have you ever wanted to sneak a peek at someone's personal secret diary? Now with this book, you can do exactly that without getting yourself in any trouble. This is a great book for teens and enjoyable for other ages as well. It focuses on many issues which are quite relevant to most teens today. It encourages communication between child and parents which is always a good thing. It was also amusing and entertaining. Highly recommended. I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
March 25, 2015
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. A delightful book...I can see it being a hit. The things I read sounded just like a teen's diary. Wish I knew the girl's name to see if it fits her. It's great that she realizes that she can have friends near and far. And the feelings about her baby sister are normal. And the insecurities...just like I remember being. A must read for all. So glad I won this one!
July 7, 2020
I haven't read this book but I am so looking forward to reading it over the summer. It has a great summary and seems like an amazing book! :)
April 22, 2016
Barbara Becker Holstein’s book has thrown me back to my own childhood of when I kept a diary for all of the same reasons. Many times, I would find myself smiling (or even giggling) while reading, as I rolled my eyes at how ‘true’ the feelings of the young girl. I was able to relate to almost every single world from when I was a child. I feel that the book would have had even more feeling, however, if the girl writing the book was given a name, even if only mentioned once, for the sake of connection. Her obsession with her own looks is a problem which so many young people have, and I was impressed with how Barbara Becker Holstein tackled that issue in the book. ‘Secrets: Diary of a Gutsy Teen’ is a wonderful book which many younger readers will easily relate to, while taking older readers back to their own childhood. I recommend this book to children aged 12 and older, as well as the young at heart. This book would be ideally stocked in the home libraries of families with children and in school libraries worldwide.
- Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite
- Rosie Malezer for Readers' Favorite
February 16, 2015
This is not your normal fictional type of story. This book is that of so much more! It's a great book for all ages but fantastic for teens! How many can remember writing in that special diary that we'd keep hidden and dare someone to find it and read? How many times did we write down our most private secrets and dreams, things that one day we wanted so bad to happen? I can't express how much this book is just absolutely amazing! I would strongly recommend this book to be a MUST read for 2015!
*Received for an honest review*
*Received for an honest review*
March 11, 2015
Loved this. Addresses issues which are quite relevant to most teens today. Amusing and entertaining. I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads for an honest review.
March 14, 2015
I love love love loved this book it's kinda of a better but cooler Virgon of the old truths and secrets.
July 25, 2015
it was dull. good read for a preteen or young teenager, but otherwise I would pass.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews