Growing up powerful is a fantastic book aimed at girls between 8-14, helping them to deal with the changes in their bodies. It really is the perfect book and my daughter will definitely benefit from it.

This is a guide for girls of ages roughly 8 to 14, to being confident when your body is changing, your mind is racing and the world is complicated.
There are chapters in this title on the brain, the body, being a valuable person in one’s family, the strength in connection and, hope for making the world a better place.
The content is complemented with wonderful illustrations throughout.

Mais uma vez fico encantada com o conteúdo e a forma como os livros Rebel Girls são feitos. Pensei em como em momentos da minha jovem vida quis ter conversas que seria facilmente mediadas pelas abordagens que 'Growing up' apresenta.

Ansiosa para que saia em breve uma edição traduzida no Brasil, pois acho o tema relevante. Mulheres poderosas são bem formadas e informadas desde a infância. Nós merecemos isso, nos conhecer e conhecer o que nos aguarda na vida, bem como aprender a dialogar, expressar sentimentos e tirar as dúvidas que surgirao em meio ao caminho que é crescer.

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Once again I am delighted with the content and the way the Rebel Girls books are done. I thought about how at times in my young life I wanted to have conversations that would be easily mediated by the approaches that 'Growing up' presents.

I look forward to a translated edition coming out soon in Brazil, as I think the theme is relevant. Powerful women are well educated and informed from childhood. We deserve this, to know ourselves and what awaits us in life, as well as to learn how to dialogue, express feelings and clear up the doubts that arise in the middle of the path of growing up.

There are times in life when an instruction manual would be much appreciated and as a former tween/teen (okay many, many, years ago) I LOVED this book. To have a young women or even those who identify with the female gender will find this book one with answers to the noise of being a tween/teen. I wish I had had a book like this when I was younger and not sure of myself. Arguably tweens/teens go through so much more than we did at their age at an even younger age and social media has also played a major part in their lives and that of their peers. Pick this book up for anyone who is at this stage in life or who is about to enter it. It is worth it and gives the reader a sense that there are so many others out there feeling the same.

I would like to thank Rebel Girls for providing me with an ARC.

I really wish I had a book like this one when I was a kid that went into the detail that the book did. I had some books, but they really only skimmed over the information. Some of the information provided in this book would have made me feel better about my body and how it was changing, unlike the books I had that didn't necessarily cover information beyond certain bodies or even bodily changes. I really like that this book started with a chapter on mental health. It also covers other topics like family and physical health. There were a few areas that I did think could have been better, such as sections talking about disability. While I'm happy that visible disabilities were talked about some, it brushes over invisible disabilities and only really shows a few ways of being disabled. I otherwise absolutely loved this book. It's a great book about health that I couldn't recommend enough.

Absolutely LOVEEEEE this one. The presentation, the layout, the formatting, the Q&A with experts throughout, the real life scenarios - this one has to be the best “growing up girl” books I’ve ever read. I know I was terrified to grow up and having a book about all the changes helped tremendously - but this one, this one is a GEM. It’s so full of useful, relatable information and can really provide some good topics of discussion amongst children and adults. I loved the graphics, the detailed information (nothing left out because no taboo welcome here!), and the way the book was laid out into chapters that allows for readers to skip around as needed. Overall, what an amazing book for girls as they grow into women. Might also be a good book for boys to read to understand girls, too!

Growing Up Powerful by Nona Willis Aronowitz;.
Between the ages of 8 and 14, girls experience a major drop in confidence. Rebel Girls is on a mission to change that, by sharing the inside scoop on dealing with irritating body changes, totally understandable social anxiety, sticky friendship dilemmas, and a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming—all the while celebrating how incredible our bodies, minds, and communities can be. Growing Up Powerful tackles the tough stuff—from pimples to depression to coping with the constant news cycle—all through the lens of empowerment.
This was a really good read. Educating and true. 5*.

As ALWAYS a beautifully illustrated book about bad @$$ girls!!! I just love these books and enjoy each and every one!

5 stars!

This is a great resource, chock full of information on growing up. Very little is focused on physical changes, and much of it can be applied to anyone, not just girls. Topics include exercise nutrition, emotions, anxiety, therapy, family dynamics, friendship dynamics, bullying, online safety, peer pressure, consent, fake news, finding out what topics are important to you and how to become an activist on those topics. In short, an invaluable manual for navigating one’s preteen and teen years and the world beyond.

I intend to read much of it with my 9-year-old, as they are right at the target age range for the book and will likely find much of it helpful and illuminating.

The only real problem I have with it is the section on neurodivergence. The “how to be a good friend to a neurodivergent person” section assumes a neurotypical reader and approaches how they can be an understanding friend to a neurodivergent person. Which, fine. But it completely neglects to consider that a neurodivergent person might be reading the book. That’s also the only mention of neurodivergence in the book, which makes it feel rather othering.

Physical disabilities are treated in much the same manner, with a few short paragraphs on how ‘some people’s bodies might not look like yours.’ Which… again. Is othering and ignores the possibility that a person with a disability of some type might be reading the book.

The section on LGBT+ identities is good, but should have been included earlier in the book. The body section would have made sense, as not every girl is going to develop the same way, and nonbinary kids and trans girls won't necessarily have the same changes happening in their bodies.

Other than that, though, this book is a fantastic resource. Enough that I’m going to recommend it anyway. I just wish someone on the publishing team would have realized how othering and unhelpful those sections are.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Rebel Girls for providing an early copy for review.

Growing Up Powerful is a winning title from the makers of Rebel Girls books! Both of my kiddos (11 and 14) will enjoy this look at all the changes that come in this stage of life: physical, emotional, social, etc. The author and experts are kind, inclusive, body-positive, and sincere -- like an older cousin or mentor.

This is a terrific book for a girl to have for herself!
There are so many things for a tween to learn about herself and know that she is not alone, that girls everywhere and at every time now and before have had these same questions and fears. The encouragement is for all, including those who have physical challenges of any sort.
Rebel Girls books are the best!
The illustrations continue to be delightful, imaginative, and colorful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Rebel Girls via NetGalley. Thank you!

Growing Up Powerful is an extensive guide to help little girls understand their bodies, their emotions and their place within society. This book surpasses the usual pre-puberty guide to adolescence by digging into deeper topics. There are fun exercises included in these pages from quizzes to interviews for girls to get to know their friends and families better..
Although this is targeted toward middle grade girls, I think that even older teens can get something from this extensive read. I'm a mother of three daughters whose ages span from early adolescence to late teens and I found things to show each of my daughters as I read. I'll definitely be adding this book to my bookshelf as well as that of my nieces.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from NetGalley and Rebel Girls, Inc in exchange for my honest review.

As a mom of a tween girl, this series is so powerful to me and this is another one to buy for our bookshelf. Thank you for continuing to write books like this.

Another fabulous addition to the Rebel Girl series. Fantastically informative and engaging, it provides the perfect backdrop for finding the answers to much wondered questions and a starting point for informed discussions. A text I wish had been written when I had been growing up.

I wish this book existed when I was younger! But I am also grateful it exists in the time I am raising my daughter who is on the cusp of this point in her life. It contains a lot of valuable information, some that's already on both our minds, and some I know will be a topic in the future. The advice, wisdom, guides and even just using this as a starting point for discussion makes this book invaluable. I am excited to add this to our collection.
Thank you Rebel Girls for the copy through NetGalley!

I really love rebel girl series which always come up with powerful ideas in every books!
With the colorful and joyful stories to know more about all the characters, I love how it delivered and hit home. Can’t wait for the next rebel girls series <3

Wonderful advice book speaks directly to girls rather than at them.

The Rebel Girls series has previously published books about other strong, healthy women and girls. This one gives info on how to BE a strong girl, with conversational text and quotes from other kids and role models.

Recommend for acquisition in school libraries from grades 4-8

In a Nutshell: Unlike any Rebel Girls book so far. This book deals with the perks and the problems of adolescence. Somewhat text-intensive, but informative and relevant.

The Rebel Girls team is known for their incisive books that provide mini-bios of inspiring women from the past and present. They have always been all-encompassing in terms of their content, staying inclusive and inspiring. This new offering remains true to the Rebel Girls spirit, but in terms of content, it is a step in a new (and welcome) direction.

As the title suggests, this book is all about growing up. Not just growing up, but ‘growing up powerful.’ Aimed at the 8-14 year age group, the book covers varied topics as are necessary for little girls to transition into mature, self-loving women who know that their physical features don’t dictate who they are and who understand their body and mind.

As a mother to two girls, I already own a couple of puberty-related children’s books and have read plenty more through NetGalley. So what struck me the most was the approach of this book, which is not like any of the books I’ve read so far in this genre.

This book begins with mental health (dealing with how the brain initiates physical and hormonal changes, and covering topics such as mental health issues, calming techniques, and so on). In all the other books I have read, mental health, if it does make an appearance, gets a couple of pages towards the end. So the pride of place given to this factor helps highlight how mental health is the most important for our wellbeing.

The next section is obviously about physical health. Again, the book doesn’t just stop at talking about bodily changes during puberty, but also covers the role of muscles, the variation in physiques, and even physical disability. The first two sections thus focus on biological growth.

Next up are two sections with social growth, covering the twin factors that dominate teenage years – family and friendships. The content details out how children can connect better with the key people in their life, and also how to navigate online friendships on social media. Dealing with peer pressure, bullying, crushes,… all come under these sections.

Last but not the least is the final section that speaks of how to contribute in making the world better. After all, growing up powerful is pointless if it has only a self-serving agenda.

On the pro side, the content is quite comprehensive. There are fun interactive quizzes and case studies along the way, and also answers by experts to questions sent in by young readers. Interspersed in between are quotes by Rebel Girls champs from the other books. There’s a list of helpful resources at the end of the book. The book also covers complicated topics such as sexual orientation and gender identity. The colourful illustrations match the content perfectly, staying inclusive throughout the book.

If I have to point out the minor negative, it would be that in trying to cover everything, the book sometimes loses focus and goes in too deep. Younger kids might not understand the entire content due to this. For instance, talking about the body’s immune-defense system is still fine in the physical health section, but does the content need to talk about phagocytes and leukocytes? Or is knowing the types of bones important to understand how bones keep out body strong? Little readers who aren’t science-savvy might be scared off by the big scientific-sounding words. As it is, the content is text-intensive, so it should have kept the biological terms as generic and simplified as possible.

I read this book along with my elder daughter; her feedback was that compared to ‘Just For Girls’ – another puberty and growth related book that also has reader quizzes and questions, this one is a lot more comprehensive and focusses on topics beyond physical and mental changes during adolescence. Thus she liked this a lot more, though she shared my opinion about its getting too scattered at times. (FWIW, she rated this book 4.5 stars.)

All in all, definitely a worthy addition to the Rebel Girls repertoire, though it might suit an age group older than most current Rebel Girl readers. If you have a young girl in your life, this would make for a great addition to her personal library as it focusses on self-care in every way. That powerful title should seal your deal.

4.25 stars.

My thanks to Rebel Girls and NetGalley for the DRC of “Growing Up Powerful”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I absolutely love being selected for all things Rebel Girls and this was no exception!! While my daughter is too young to do a workbook like this, I loved previewing it. Growing Up Powerful is incredibly well thought out and perfect for preteen-adolescent girls. Topics covered include mindfulness and emotions, brain and body changes, family and friendships. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Rebel Girls for this ARC!

"Growing Up Powerful" is a book that belongs in every household where a Rebel Girl lives. It written in an approachable, easy going, friendly tone that feels akin to a chat with your friend rather than a lecture on pubity.. Each motivational chapter is filled with a wealth of information that is equally helpful to the child and parent alike. Though it focuses on the chapter in a girls life where she will encounter the most changes, really there is something helpful for everyone in this book. I really liked the QR codes dotted through the book, which you can scan for more information on the topics covered as well as the real life scenarios and expert question and answer sections at the end of each chapter. There's a brilliant section on the fakery of social media and the dos and do nots of being online. The quizzes in each chapter are great for provoking thought and self awareness. It's packed with not only empathy but practical solutions and activities that can be used to tackle any challenges your Rebel Girl encounters in her day to day life.

Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.