Review Detail

Kimberly Kirberger is the coauthor of the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul books and is the president of Inspiration and Motivation for Teens, Inc. She was the perfect person to pull this compilation of stories and poems together.

No Body's Perfect includes stories and poems written by teens about their body image, their self-acceptance and their search for identity. All three topics are tightly woven together for a compelling montage.

Some of the stories will make you cry. Others will make you hopeful. And, no matter your age, you will see yourself in some of them.

The book is divided into sections such as "Get to Know Yourself" and "Sweeten Your Self-Talk" that include helpful quotes and comments to push teens towards being better to themselves. After all, we are often our own worst critics.

You can also purchase the companion No Body's Perfect Journal, which includes writing prompts to help you determine what areas you need to work on. For example, one exercise is to make a list of six things you say to yourself that are not "sweet," such as "I am fat." Then, go back over that list and write something positive next to the negative item.

I recommend this book for all teens, but especially for girls, who are most often the hardest hit when it comes to questions of body image. Most adults could also benefit from the advice contained in the book. There are some things that no one grows out of.