It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!

'It's Your World' by Chelsea Clinton does a nice job of anticipating questions teens (or adults) may have about a wide variety of topics, including, but certainly not limited to, poverty, inequality, illnesses, hunger, and many, many more. It also focuses on routes that will hopefully lead to solutions for these problems. The book adeptly details the connections between various issues and dilemmas throughout the world. One that stands out most is how prevalent the issue of water availability is, and how it intertwines with not only the idea of healthy living, but also with the ability for some to do their work, along with a variety of other connective tissues that truly enhance the conversational storytelling through which Clinton writes the book.

Statistics add substance and deeper meaning throughout. The charts and graphs that are included help highlight the controversies described and make it much easier to see how action and progress are sorely needed in so many cases.

The book, while focused on inspirational and thought-provoking topics, tends to be a bit long in parts. The 400-plus page book would have better served its teen demographic by cutting down on the page count. Even though the information contained is solid, interesting, and worthwhile, and the statistics a welcome addition to showcasing the many troubles throughout the world and who they are most affecting, a shorter length would help make the book even stronger. However, if one is to read this book, they may not be reading it all at once, which is probably a good idea. If one is to read the chapters and excerpts that most intrigue them as a means of identifying and exploring their particular areas of interest, the book will more likely not seem so long, as the conversational style Clinton uses helps the storytelling move along at a fairly good pace. There are just so many topics to get to, and even though Clinton does separate these by parts and chapters and discusses the importance of realizing connections, it still gets too long at times.

All in all, 'It's Your World' will capture the attention and motivational heartstrings of its readers, children and adults alike. It focuses on so much of what is wrong in the world today and how to fix it, through realistic and clear-cut anecdotes and information that will lead readers on the path to finding sustainable solutions.

I admit I never really like nonfiction. Talking about the world, this world that we live in, is definitely something hard to swallow. We can't list all of the problems on our fingers and toes, and even when we try to do good, it never seems enough. But it's progress. And that is exactly what Clinton's new book shows. She illuminates a light in the darkest parts of the world that few even knows about and gives the slightest of hope.

Chelsea talks about a lot of things. Topics include poverty, money, water, feminism, diseases, inequality, cancer, autism, water, energy, charity, governments and their influence over their citizens, child brides, human trafficking, water, and food. Oh, and have I mentioned water? (Chelsea highlights the fact that water is the most important thing to life. Multiple times in multiple chapters.) With such topics, it's clear that the book will get depressing and sorrowful. For that, I suggest readers to read IT'S YOUR WORLD bit by bit. It's incredibly hard to swallow in one sitting.

The writing remains simple and clean, and the book is very casual. Clinton isn't without her subtle opinions, but she is as neutral as possible. Weaving in topics and points of discussion with her experience (i.e. trips to India and various parts of the world), she makes the book much more interesting and passionate. Helpful charts, pictures, and maps make IT'S YOUR WORLD easier to understand, though some pictures and charts should be printed in color (not black and white, which makes it very unclear to interpret).

Kids will easily understand the larger world around them. Chelsea has helpfully provided a list of charities and ways to fight against world hunger (or human trafficking or child labor, etc.), and I'm constantly inspired by what the kids Chelsea name in the book are doing out of the kindness of their hearts. They are younger and smarter than me!

The ending is full of hope, and the last chapter remains to be the greatest of all the chapters in the book. Seriously.

Overall, IT'S YOUR WORLD is the type of nonfiction book I rarely read. But by chance (and more), I read this book - and I totally love it. It's perfect for kids who want to know about the larger world they are living in and the adults who don't mind gaining another perspective. By the end, Chelsea will have them saying, "It's really a great big world out there."

Rating: Four out of Five