4 out of 4 stars
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Nine Ways to Empower Tweens with Emma and Elliot by Kathleen Boucher is a nonfiction book that teaches valuable life skills to children who are 10-12 years old.
Emma and Elliot are twins sharing their tips about succeeding in life. From anger management to having a good work ethic to positive self-talk, there is a lot of valuable information in this book. Any tween can certainly benefit from the advice given. There are also catchy phrases like, “Be prepared so you won't be scared” and “You learn more from your mistakes than from all your successes”.
Elliot and Emma both narrate different sections of the book. Each chapter switches speakers, but the author does a good job making it easy to follow who is speaking. It would have been nicer if something actually distinguished one character from the other, but I suppose simply having a boy and a girl taking turns speaking helps tweens of either gender relate more to the book.
I really enjoyed reading the nine tips in this book. While the information given is simple enough for tweens to understand, it does not feel dumbed down in any way. There is a lot of great advice that even adults will find helpful. Personally, there are a few things that I learned and plan on putting into practice. I also appreciate that the writing is clear, concise, and well organized. This makes for a quick and easy read with the added benefit of learning.
One thing that I am not certain about is how tweens will react to being given advice by Emma and Elliot. I like the fact that having them as narrators gives the book a conversational tone. However, my concern is that it is not written by actual tweens, but fictional tweens who have all the answers. Some children may feel like they are being talked down to because the advice is actually coming from an adult in the form of two children. I suppose it depends on who reads the book and their personality. If they are willing to take advice easily, they probably will not have a problem with the presentation.
All in all, the author did a great job. This book is very well written and full of great advice. That is why it has earned 4 out of 4 stars. Anyone who has a willing mind can learn something from this book whether they are a child or an adult.
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nine ways to empower tweens with emma and elliot
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