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13 Things Strong Kids Do: Think Big, Feel Good, Act Brave
The internationally bestselling author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, Amy Morin, empowers tweens, teaching them how to think, feel, and act stronger than ever! Perfect for fans of The Confidence Code for Girls, this book tackles mental strength in a relatable way. Filled with fun graphics and illustrations throughout.
“This book is a powerful gift to kids—it shows them how to help themselves!” —Claire Shipman, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Confidence Code for Girls
Do you worry that you don’t fit in? Do you feel insecure sometimes? Do you wish your life looked as perfect as everyone else on social media? Do you have anxiety about things you can’t control? Being a tween can be really hard, especially in today’s world.
You balance it all—homework, extracurricular activities, chores, friendship drama, and family, all while trying to give the impression that you know exactly what you’re doing. Sometimes when we try to look perfect on the outside, we can feel rotten in the inside. Do you want to become a stronger person, inside and out? By picking up this book, you’re already taking the first step toward becoming a better person where it counts—by training your brain.
Prominent psychotherapist and social worker Amy Morin offers relatable scenarios, then shows tweens the ways they can develop healthy habits, build mental strength, and take action toward becoming their best selves. 13 Things Strong Kids Do gives tweens the tools needed to overcome life’s toughest challenges.
This nonfiction middle grade book is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 8, including those living through the stresses of homeschooling, returning to the classroom, and navigating a changed and stressful world.
“This book is a powerful gift to kids—it shows them how to help themselves!” —Claire Shipman, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Confidence Code for Girls
Do you worry that you don’t fit in? Do you feel insecure sometimes? Do you wish your life looked as perfect as everyone else on social media? Do you have anxiety about things you can’t control? Being a tween can be really hard, especially in today’s world.
You balance it all—homework, extracurricular activities, chores, friendship drama, and family, all while trying to give the impression that you know exactly what you’re doing. Sometimes when we try to look perfect on the outside, we can feel rotten in the inside. Do you want to become a stronger person, inside and out? By picking up this book, you’re already taking the first step toward becoming a better person where it counts—by training your brain.
Prominent psychotherapist and social worker Amy Morin offers relatable scenarios, then shows tweens the ways they can develop healthy habits, build mental strength, and take action toward becoming their best selves. 13 Things Strong Kids Do gives tweens the tools needed to overcome life’s toughest challenges.
This nonfiction middle grade book is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 8, including those living through the stresses of homeschooling, returning to the classroom, and navigating a changed and stressful world.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2021
53 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
About the author
Amy Morin
24 books639 followersAmy Morin is a psychotherapist and the award-winning host of Mentally Stronger, one of the top health podcasts in the world.
She's an international bestselling author of five books on mental strength. Her books, including 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Forbes calls her a "thought leadership star" and The Guardian dubbed her "the self-help guru of the moment."
She's an international bestselling author of five books on mental strength. Her books, including 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Forbes calls her a "thought leadership star" and The Guardian dubbed her "the self-help guru of the moment."
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 8, 2021
I read this aloud to my daughter and it was excellent. I thought it was good for ME too! Every "thing" starts with a short scenario, so it provides a good framework to think about how to approach problems and attitudes.
January 30, 2025
A great mental health resource book with doable skills for kids beginning at pre-teen. It’s written to be entertaining enough for kids to read by themselves, but it would be a great discussion book with a parent.
May 26, 2024
Guidelines really helpful
October 4, 2020
This book provides kids with self-help tips without feeling preachy or condescending. Each chapter starts with a story showing a problem or mistake that kids can make, then follows it up with concrete steps to overcome the negative thoughts and behaviors. What I like about this book is that they do not sugar-coat things. Sometimes other people have nicer things than you have or are more successful. Sometimes bad things happen to you that are out of your control and people take your power away from you. This book helps you figure out how to move on from those things and to change what you do have control over. There are exercises for kids to help them build the skills they need. And the librarian in me loves the list of research sources in the back of the book.
Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 11, 2021
This is such a great book! Highly recommended for tweens and even into early teens. (Really the ideas discussed are good for any age, but the examples are geared toward tweens.) It is very empowering and teaches really great life skills. I want all my kids to read this. It can be a little overwhelming with so much information and so many great ideas, but is great to keep around as a reference. Might be a good idea to read it over time or just focus on a chapter at a time.
March 20, 2022
Read to my 10 year old son. Worthwhile read for kids towards positive psychology principles
November 2, 2022
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
Putting a kid-friendly, more positive spin on her 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, Morin offers young readers a constructive work book to change their outlook on life. Covering important coping skills like "They Adapt to Change", "They Know When to Say No", and "They Persist", the chapters on each are set up in similar ways. Starting with an anecdote about a fictional child as an example, the principal being covered is then examined. Readers are encouraged to "Check Yourself" and reflect on their personal reactions to similar situations. There is a "Closer Look" at other experiences children might have. There is a space to write a reflection, "Proof Positive" going back to the fictional example, and a question about the character's growth using the suggestions that the book has offered. There are also exercises, traps to avoid, and quick tips to help process the emotions of given situations. There are engaging line illustrations to illustrate the stories and add interest.
Young readers who might be struggling with coping mechanisms will be able to see themselves in these stories, but also be able to distance themselves from their own emotions while learning to understand how their reactions can help form their experiences. This generally has a positive tone, and since the author is a psychologist, I will assume that the latest research is reflected in these strategies. This would be a useful book for parents to read as well, since much of the introductory chapter seemed directly at odds with the way I was taught to process emotion! Things do change, and sometimes it is hard for those of us who are older to keep up with current trends.
This is a paper over board binding, so the price point should be slightly lower than a dust jacketed hardcover and would be a good book for a young readers who struggles with emotions, organization, or event processing to have as a personal copy. Reading this at one sitting is not the most effective way to digest the information, and clearly none of the recommended work gets done consuming the book in this fashion. This is best used a chapter or a section at a time, so that appropriate thought and reflection can be given to each component.
I'm sure there are many children's self-help books out there, especially since children are all a bit fragile after the pandemic. Sadly, I don't know any titles to recommend. My mother would have scoffed at this one, since her approach to life , which she drilled into me, is completely dismantled in the first chapter as "trying to look tough". This is a great book to have if you, like me, think it best to pretend you don't have any feelings and try hard to look like you are doing well to other people. Of course, that wouldn't be enough for my mother; she would also admonish you to stand up straight and get your hands out of your pockets.
More on Ms. Morin can be found on her website: https://amymorinlcsw.com
Putting a kid-friendly, more positive spin on her 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do, Morin offers young readers a constructive work book to change their outlook on life. Covering important coping skills like "They Adapt to Change", "They Know When to Say No", and "They Persist", the chapters on each are set up in similar ways. Starting with an anecdote about a fictional child as an example, the principal being covered is then examined. Readers are encouraged to "Check Yourself" and reflect on their personal reactions to similar situations. There is a "Closer Look" at other experiences children might have. There is a space to write a reflection, "Proof Positive" going back to the fictional example, and a question about the character's growth using the suggestions that the book has offered. There are also exercises, traps to avoid, and quick tips to help process the emotions of given situations. There are engaging line illustrations to illustrate the stories and add interest.
Young readers who might be struggling with coping mechanisms will be able to see themselves in these stories, but also be able to distance themselves from their own emotions while learning to understand how their reactions can help form their experiences. This generally has a positive tone, and since the author is a psychologist, I will assume that the latest research is reflected in these strategies. This would be a useful book for parents to read as well, since much of the introductory chapter seemed directly at odds with the way I was taught to process emotion! Things do change, and sometimes it is hard for those of us who are older to keep up with current trends.
This is a paper over board binding, so the price point should be slightly lower than a dust jacketed hardcover and would be a good book for a young readers who struggles with emotions, organization, or event processing to have as a personal copy. Reading this at one sitting is not the most effective way to digest the information, and clearly none of the recommended work gets done consuming the book in this fashion. This is best used a chapter or a section at a time, so that appropriate thought and reflection can be given to each component.
I'm sure there are many children's self-help books out there, especially since children are all a bit fragile after the pandemic. Sadly, I don't know any titles to recommend. My mother would have scoffed at this one, since her approach to life , which she drilled into me, is completely dismantled in the first chapter as "trying to look tough". This is a great book to have if you, like me, think it best to pretend you don't have any feelings and try hard to look like you are doing well to other people. Of course, that wouldn't be enough for my mother; she would also admonish you to stand up straight and get your hands out of your pockets.
More on Ms. Morin can be found on her website: https://amymorinlcsw.com
April 12, 2021
I like how readable and usable this book is. The format and layout is great. Each chapter revolves around a kid (a different kid per chapter) and a hypothetical situation, such as auditioning or trying out for something, dealing with jealousy, lying about homework and then bombing a test, starting in a new school, etc., and how each kid is at first set back by their situation, and then grows from it. Each chapter provides easy to follow tools and tips for changing mindsets and creating good mental health habits to build resiliency and self empowerment and reduce anxiety and negative self-talk.
The tone is readable, and each chapter is broken into very manageable chunks. I think a kid could just read the chapters that catch their attention, but the skills do build on each other and refer to each other a bit, so I think readers will get the most out of it if they read it straight through.
A couple potential negatives that stood out to me:
One kid is shown wearing a headscarf in the illustrations, but the story just says she goes to church. If the book was aiming towards inclusion, it would have been nice if they changed that to mosque.
The book does not specifically mention mental health issues, or matters of systematic injustice (such as race), though a couple of kids are not as financially well-off as the others are presumed to be and that plays into their chapters (most kids appear comfortably middle/upper middle class). The chapters do mention that there are things that you do an do not have control over, and gives tips for how to focus on the things you are able to change, and these techniques will probably work for kids who have anxiety issues (I have anxiety, I think this book would've been helpful for younger me), but it was a gap I noticed. I appreciate that one book cannot be all things to all people, but, like I said, I did notice.
The author uses a lot of exclamation marks. The tone isn't particularly patronizing, and I appreciate that she made no effort to not sound like an adult, but she did use a lot of exclamation marks. Not necessarily a downfall, but again, a thing I noticed. She also assumed a few times that kids would want to play with their siblings. That one might be called wishful thinking, but what do I know.
It's a quick, easy read. It's helpful, not dry, the illustrations are good, and I think it would be relevant for kids ages about 9 - 14 without feeling too young (some stories reference middle school and starting high school). A solid addition to non-fiction collections about dealing with big emotions and building resilience.
The tone is readable, and each chapter is broken into very manageable chunks. I think a kid could just read the chapters that catch their attention, but the skills do build on each other and refer to each other a bit, so I think readers will get the most out of it if they read it straight through.
A couple potential negatives that stood out to me:
One kid is shown wearing a headscarf in the illustrations, but the story just says she goes to church. If the book was aiming towards inclusion, it would have been nice if they changed that to mosque.
The book does not specifically mention mental health issues, or matters of systematic injustice (such as race), though a couple of kids are not as financially well-off as the others are presumed to be and that plays into their chapters (most kids appear comfortably middle/upper middle class). The chapters do mention that there are things that you do an do not have control over, and gives tips for how to focus on the things you are able to change, and these techniques will probably work for kids who have anxiety issues (I have anxiety, I think this book would've been helpful for younger me), but it was a gap I noticed. I appreciate that one book cannot be all things to all people, but, like I said, I did notice.
The author uses a lot of exclamation marks. The tone isn't particularly patronizing, and I appreciate that she made no effort to not sound like an adult, but she did use a lot of exclamation marks. Not necessarily a downfall, but again, a thing I noticed. She also assumed a few times that kids would want to play with their siblings. That one might be called wishful thinking, but what do I know.
It's a quick, easy read. It's helpful, not dry, the illustrations are good, and I think it would be relevant for kids ages about 9 - 14 without feeling too young (some stories reference middle school and starting high school). A solid addition to non-fiction collections about dealing with big emotions and building resilience.
April 6, 2021
I received an electronic ARC from HarperCollins Children's Books through NetGalley.
Morin has adapted points from her book for adults - 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do - to the level for middle grade readers. The language she uses is simple to follow for readers at this level. She uses a short paragraph style mixed with bullet points and action items to engage with the audience and challenge them to see themselves and see how they can become strong.
I like the consistent pattern in each chapter for readers to interact with the text. By the end of the book, readers see all of the exercises listed in one location (conclusion). This would be a terrific small group book for upper elementary or middle school levels. It would also work for a family who needs to boost confidence in their tween or needs to encourage continued growth without tipping into difficult habits.
Morin has adapted points from her book for adults - 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do - to the level for middle grade readers. The language she uses is simple to follow for readers at this level. She uses a short paragraph style mixed with bullet points and action items to engage with the audience and challenge them to see themselves and see how they can become strong.
I like the consistent pattern in each chapter for readers to interact with the text. By the end of the book, readers see all of the exercises listed in one location (conclusion). This would be a terrific small group book for upper elementary or middle school levels. It would also work for a family who needs to boost confidence in their tween or needs to encourage continued growth without tipping into difficult habits.
November 10, 2021
This is not the type of book to read straight thru. It is meant for reading, then thinking and pondering as the author presents different scenarios and how the child at the center of each is effected. Then the author explains different approaches to assist tweens in finding their own better ways to deal with similar situations. This book needs to be presented, possibly book-talked, to make it accessible for those who need it but might shy away from the subject material.
November 26, 2023
I read this book with my boys and will often pull it out for reference! It taught me to reflect on my parenting skills as the reflection questions I loved my boys in discussion. But more importantly it teaches kids how to develop grit and determination! Lifelong skills! Please read this book with your kids!
August 29, 2023
Every parent, teacher and child should read this book. It's well crafted for younger audience and does a great job of using relatable scenarios and pairing them with practical advice. Perfect for a whole school read or parent book club.
I will be gifting this to many young parents I know.
I will be gifting this to many young parents I know.
August 2, 2023
Very practic approach; clear explanations and story based examples
June 21, 2024
Solid ideas, but one mention of “your phone” in a kids book is too many and this one had far more.
December 21, 2024
G
13 lessons with 13 different scenarios teaching kids of all ages how to develop bigger mental muscles!
13 lessons with 13 different scenarios teaching kids of all ages how to develop bigger mental muscles!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews