Notes on Being Teenage

by Rosalind Jana

How would you describe yourself? Do you like to stand out, or fit in? Are you an Instagram junkie, or is Snapchat more your thing? Are you watching Zoella on YouTube, or reading Rookie on your phone? We're all different, and no-one's teenage years are the same. But we do all have one thing in common - being a teenager is about discovering who we are, and who we want to be.

It can be tricky, building and forming your own identity and sense of self, and sometimes, advice from someone who has been there and done it in the not-too-distant past can come in useful. Enter Rosalind Jana, who's crammed more into her 20-odd years than most (including winning the Vogue Talent Contest for Young Writers AND 'Well Dressed' at the Observer Ethical Awards, but don't tell her we told you that...). Notes on Being Teenage covers all aspects of teenhood, from the serious (mental health issues, bullying, staying safe online), to the slightly-less-so (dating, style, fashion, starting a blog) and everything in between. Rooted in her own experiences as a blogger, part-time model and eco-fashion-expert, but also as a teen who struggled with scoliosis, bullying and her dad's depression, Rosalind is well-placed to offer advice and guidance to anyone navigating their teenage years.

She's also spoken to loads of teens about their experiences, too, and their stories, problems, advice and wisdom are gathered here as well, along with interviews with inspirational and interesting people like Louise O'Neill, Juno Dawson and Rosianne Halse-Rojas. All this combines to form a warm, witty, wise book not just on how to survive but how to thrive as a teen. Essential reading for smart girls of any age.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

272 pages, Paperback

Published June 9, 2016

Reviews

[Katrina Southern · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second non-fiction read since starting my blog a couple of years ago (I'm trying to read more of them) and it was one I really looked forward to. I am in fact quite sad that this book wasn't around during my teenage years, it would probably have put a lot of my anxieties at ease and given me a lot of helpful advice through those tricky times in my youth. This was a funny, poignant and honest account of what is one of the trickiest moments of a person's life: puberty and the journey to adulthood. Despite the fact that I'm a little outside of the intended age group, I decided to give this one a read and still feel like I learnt a lot!

Jana covers a huge range of topics in this book and gives some well-researched, educated opinions on each one. These topics include everything from body image and feminism to exam stress and mental health, even delving into relationship advice. It was interesting reading about each one and Jana does a great job of expressing her opinions well and backing it up with facts, interviews and quotes from other teens. I liked the varied way that the book presented information to me and I was a really big fan of the resources that Jana offered at the end of each section for advice and further education on that topic.

I think I would have appreciated this book even more if I were younger and reading it. The points in this book were well explained but not hugely detailed, they definitely require further reading for the full picture. I was also very aware that the book was aimed at an audience younger than myself, but that's not to say I didn't learn things or pick up some handy tips that can be applied to my own life. I think it's very important for young people to read books like this as it could be the thing that makes them realise they are not alone in their thoughts on certain matters. I hope to read and see more books like this in the future!

4 Stars.

For a full review, see here: http://chasedbymyimagination.blogspot...

[pali · Rating 5 out of 5]

this took me way too long to read because i've been in such a reading slump 😭

i highly recommend teenagers- especially teen girls - to read this book!!

rosalind jana is such a fun and engaging author and i feel like i'm actually talking to her it's great :))

it's helpful that she intertwines her own personal teen experiences with advice <33

might start a blog now xx

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think if I had been 10 years younger then this book would have been perfect for me, and I would encourage anyone who read Carrie Hope Fletcher's All I Know Now to continue their growing up/non-fiction journey with Rosalind's book. It gives some fantastic references and Q&A's with very influential people, and goes further than just coaching the reader on emotional struggles.

I read an uncorrected proof copy courtesy of Wayland, an imprint of Hachette Children's Group, Part of Hodder and Stoughton.

[Claire Hennessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jana is twenty-one, and a recent Oxford graduate; she is a part-time model and writer who has a poetry collection forthcoming (she performed a gorgeous poem at the YALC poetry slam. As did that Sullivan one, actually. Damn their brilliance!). But that’s not even her first book – that honour is reserved for Notes on Being Teenage (Wayland, £6.99). It’s a non-fiction guide to life, from someone young enough to be sufficiently copped-on about the internet and how it’s very much a part of existing in the world today, rather than this separate thing. But she’s also wise enough to have figured out so many of the things that most of us spend years learning and re-learning.

Follow your passions and work hard and don’t be afraid of rejection. Don’t feel you need to solve everything for your friends – but here’s how to listen to them and be supportive. Here’s how to develop your own personal style and feel confident in your own body. She’s particularly interesting on ‘ethical style’, encouraging everyone to research where their clothes are coming from, and the treatment of workers, and also has a – oh, dare I use the term ‘inspiring’? – history with a few tough issues, including dealing with a family member’s depression and recovering from serious spinal surgery to treat advanced scoliosis, that seems to have given her perspective without turning her into a Pollyanna.

Alongside her own take on life, love, friendship, confidence, and careers are interviews with writers, activists and entrepreneurs, and there are plenty of resources listed for the more serious issues tackled, like eating disorders and other mental illnesses.

My teenage self was something of a cynic but I like to think she would have been nudged over into feeling-inspired territory by this book – it avoids being preachy or unrealistically wholesome, acknowledging that we all do stupid things and make mistakes. It’s hard to feel as though someone is lecturing you when they’re also admitting to being embarrassingly drunk at a family event, or confessing that they have needed to make huge apologies to their friends at different stages.

My adult self, incidentally, adores this book. It feels like a hug, a reassuring reminder that it’s okay to be yourself, and maybe more well-adjusted humans stop needing to hear that at a certain point. But I maintain that the important life lessons are the things we keep needing to re-learn, over and over again, because it’s all easier said than done.

[Marika Lenee Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good look back on what every teenage girl should know! A look at how concerned we are with our peers and our looks, and don’t know how to deal with serious issues at that age. I definitely wish I would have had this book to guide me when I was a teenager, because parents often don’t know the direction to steer us.

[Meredith Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the fact that this book has given me a different perspective on some aspects of teenage life. Although I have thought about a lot of the issues covered in the book already, it’s always good to have a reminder on general topics in one’s life.
I also like the fact that I can relate to topics discussed.

[Mishreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was love tbh..it changed my views and way i see things...i read it when i was 14 soo it helped alot to set a positive mindset towards myself my body and my life..a worth for a teenager...it was such a beautiful book like the pages were soo good and the prints were cute..lol and it gave tht girlyyy vibeee like ALOTTT... I will not read it again though but i definitely enjoyed it lol >

[Juliano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I'm not necessarily the book's target audience, it makes for some great reading. It's just like having a conversation with Rosalind, which is always a fun occasion.

[Z.R. Southcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real, down-to-earth advice to encourage standing strong in oneself. Recommended for ages 14+

[Anya (An Awful Lot of Reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*

Even though I am out of my teenage years, I like to read non-fiction based on those years. I remember my teens with equal parts horror and love, so any helpful advice to give to my 12 year old self would be lovely, and this was just that.

I actually hadn't heard of Rosalind Jana before I saw this book but after reading it, I will have to look her up. Her story of a brief modeling career, battling surgery on her back, her parent's tough backgrounds and still having a positive outlook was inspirational.

The chapters were split into things like clothes, friendships, family life, beauty tips and school. As a fashion model and writer, she also highlighted creative outlets, like sewing your own clothes, starting a blog, getting into photography and more; admitedly, the clothes stuff kind of went over my head (as much as I'd like to, I don't know my way around a sewing machine!) but I did appreciate the brilliant continuous feminist message about self-esteem and body image.

Overall, Rosalind's advice was sound, very helpful and covered loads of topics from bullies to losing your virginity! I definitely would have loved this at age 13, especially the advice on school and exam stress. As she covered lots of aspects of life, nothing was very detailed but definitely an author to watch.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the reasons why I picked this books up is because I really interested in Rosalind Jana as a person, following her twitter and wanted to see what insight could be given from the book as I really enjoyed Carrie Hope Fletcher's All I Know Now which I really found interested and the same happened with Notes on Being Teenage. Notes on Being Teenage is an insightful book that can be read by anyone of any age as anyone could learn from Jana's wisdom.

Rosalind uses the book to share her experiences especially of her family's mental health and the modelling industry that she has been in and I felt that these were special to read about and were really interesting reads which I learn from and were quite personal to share but they could really help people who need them.

Overall, Notes of Being Teenage is a special book that contains so many insightful pieces of information that teenagers should read and learn about and I would love to read more from Rosalind Jana in the future.

The Verdict:

Rosalind Jana's Notes on Being Teenage is a highly useful book that should be read by teenagers everywhere.

[Chloe (Forever Fictional) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't exactly know what I was expecting in this book but I was both pleasantly surprised and disappointed at the same time.
This book is a collection of stories about Rosalind- exploring experiences that she's been through- and the issues with society and how we grow up within this confusing and contradicting society.
This book touches on many subjects like, identity, fitting in, sexuality and being yourself. It included many stories and quotes from many different people and had recommendations of a range of different websites and books in specific subjects.

Full review: https://forever-fictional.blogspot.co...

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. I wish I had had it in my life when I was younger because it would have definitely altered the way that I would have lived my younger teenage years, but I'll still be taking away some of what I learnt nowadays. Definitely recommend.

Thanks Maximum Pop! Books and Hachette for sending me a copy. :)

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only really picked this up because I saw Rosalind at a book event (where she was fantastic). I really wish someone had given me this book when I was a teenager, it reminded me of some of the thoughts/worries I used to have (before society and general life beat it out of me). perfect for any young feminists.

[Tahmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though its YA I felt like I learnt things too and def made notes. Truly a book, young women especially need to read. Covers a diverse range of topics. I'm giving it to all the teenage girls I know. This was bomb

[Nihaad Gamieldien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.