My Feet Aren't Ugly: A Girl's Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out [Paperback]

Debra Beck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 9, 2011

Do you ever feel bad about yourself or have trouble being yourself while still fitting in? Do you have tough questions you are afraid to ask?

In this funny, honest book, teen mentor Debra Beck provides personal stories, quizzes, journaling exercises, and thoughts from teens themselves to help you develop your self-confidence. Learn how to make healthy decisions in the face of peer pressure, have strong relationships with family and friends, and respect and love yourself for who you are. This revised and updated edition also has new chapters on bullying and internet safety.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A must-read for all girls facing the huge challenge of being a teenager today!

-Sue Scheff, parent advocate and author of Google Bomb and Wit's End

My Feet Aren't Ugly is an excellent read and a great tool for parents, teachers, and counselors. Young readers will gain self-esteem and new skills in positive thinking and goal setting thanks to the affirmation and self-reflection led by Debra.

-Michelle Rossi, author of All About Me and contributing author in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series

My Feet Aren't Ugly is both funny and deep, and reveals the challenges teen girls face today. Debra reaches out to teens in their own language, and offers solutions to difficult problems. Every teen girl should read this book!

-Vanessa Van Petten, author of Do I Get My Allowance before or after I'm Grounded? and founder of RadicalParenting.com

From the Publisher

2009 Mom's Choice Award for Self-Improvement- Gold medal
Moonbeam Award for Best First Book Young Adult, Non-Fiction- Bronze medal
Nautilus Book Award for Young Adult, Non-Fiction -Silver medal
USA Book News Best Book Award Winner- Gold medal --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Beaufort Books; REV edition (September 9, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825306027
• ISBN-13: 978-0825306020
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #52 in Books > Teens > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Esteem
  • #88 in Books > Teens > Education & Reference > Social Science

More About the Author

Debra Beck is the Author of the Amazon Best Seller, Award Winning Book, My Feet Aren't Ugly and Co-Author of Amazon Best Seller, Healthy, Wise and Amazing Women.

Debra mentors teens and parents through retreats, phone and face-to-face consults and workshops. She also does speaking engagements for organizations, conferences and schools.

As a teenage girl, she struggled with the same issues that normal teenage girls face - anxiety about school, friends, peer pressure, family life, not liking or even knowing who she was, and not fitting in. What Debra didn't realize was that these difficult years were preparing her for her life's work.

Debra's goal is to help teenage girls develop the self-confidence they need to make good decisions for themselves and to help parents relate to their teens and stay connected. She mentors through her heart, knowing how difficult these years can be for both the teen and parent.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A like-yourself guide April 6, 2007

By Armchair Interviews

Format:Paperback

For 15 years Debra Beck has also mentored teen girls. She is the founder of Spirited Youth--an organization devoted to nurturing young women with guidance and support, and has led workshops with Girl Power.

"It is important to surround ourselves with people who are trying to improve themselves," Beck says, "...they encourage us to grow and to become the best we can be."

Now Beck has written a guide for pre- and early teen girls, drawing upon her personal coming-of-age experiences and also those of her daughters. The author provides a step-by-step process for building self-acceptance and developing self-esteem.

Helpful chapters are devoted to such topics as how to choose friends, how to develop creativity, maintaining physical and spiritual health, overcoming fears, and lowering stress. Throughout the book the author provides pages for journaling and reflection, helping her readers stop and take the time to apply what they're learning to their own lives and their own pathways.

Beck tackles the tough subjects--eating disorders, drugs, suicide, and sexual pressure--with no-nonsense advice drawn from experience and observation. She builds a strong case for helping young girls decline sexual activity, pointing out the possible risks: pregnancy, STDs, and a potential lowering of self-esteem.

Beck argues that young girls should make wise choices and accept themselves. "Learning to like yourself is key: make sure you are doing things in your life that promote self-acceptance." Girls who are soon to enter their teen years, or who are early in their teens, will learn from and identify with many of the struggles and pressures the author raises.

At times I felt the book was a bit thin on information--and would have benefited with a good editing, however, anything that helps teen girls have better self-images is a noble cause. I just felt the book could have done more.

Armchair Interviews says: Readers will find the author to be a helpful friend and supportive mentor along the way.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Even as an adult, I learned from this book! December 3, 2011

By Claire

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Disclaimer, I live in Sedona & know the author, Debra Beck.

I wanted to read this book as a friend of the author and as the Mother & step Mother of several now adult girls! I thought that this book really addresses the many issues facing teen girls & gives teen girls great information and tools to navigate through the difficult teen years, empowering them all the way.

I was kind of blown away reading the book, as there were several sections that opened up my eyes & helped me learn about myself! A great read for any parents of teen girls & for Adult women to read for the 'teen girl within!" Great job Debra! Well done!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful and encouraging guide. August 6, 2007

By Midwest Book Review

Format:Paperback

Author Debra Beck shares her experience in serving as a mentor to teenaged girls in My Feet Aren't Ugly: A Girl's Guide To Loving Herself From The Inside Out, a self-help and self-esteem guide written especially for young women. Chapters cover choosing friends that treat a girl right; looking after one's physical health by eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep; the problems of drug abuse and teen suicide; the heavy price one pays for engaging in sex; and much more. "Is there a price to pay [for sex]?? YES!!! Pregnancy or getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD), having to tell the man you love and want to marry that you have had many sexual partners, that you have a sexually transmitted disease that he is going to get, and that you'll both have it for the rest of your lives! And then there's living with an STD. Absolutely there is a price to pay. Sexuality is big! It is such an important link to our self-esteem." A handful of black-and-white illustrations, as well as "think it over and journal" sections where girls can write down their thoughts on blank lines round out this helpful and encouraging guide.