Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

Disclaimer: I know the illustrator, Maggie Anthony. Given that, when I was at her home, she shared this newly published book with me just so I could take a glance at it ... but I ended up perusing the entire book. The kind words, thoughtful manner, and adorable illustrations kept me captivated. Maggie is a great artist (I have a portrait of hers) and her honesty and candor come through in this book. A great feel-good read for any teen-age girl!

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!

I purchased the book for my niece who is 12 and I do consider her a daughter, its a great way of entering into those topics that are hard to bring up. She is opening up to discussing how she feels about drugs, teen sex and commitments to peers. Her understanding and opinions on some of these areas that the book dives into, are now clearer. I feel it is giving her confidence in her own internal nature as she is able to read the simply straight forward concepts in this work book.thanks for your insightful writing.
Frances Edwards
Melbourne, Australia

My Feet Aren't Ugly is the perfect guide for teens. It helps girls to see their inner beauty, which makes them feel better inside and out, boosting confidence, trust, and the awareness that they should be encouraging their peers, even during the brutal years of adolescence. Debra Beck tackles some tough issues that are sometimes hard for parents to bring up themselves, making this a perfect addition to every household with a teen. Debra connects to teens on their level with a voice they can trust.

Bringing the circle of the family together is Debra Beck's Strength, especially the teenage girls. Young girls can be pulled off center so easily. With heart, wisdom and grace, Debra will lead the young girls spirits back to their full potential magnificently. A treasure for teens and the parents who love them.

There are many examples in this book which would have helped me out immensly when I was young. In particular, not doing something when you are uncomfortable about it. Also, the fact that everyone is unique and we should celebrate our differences, not try to be like some else so they may like us. Kudos to Debra!

The Long Awaited Guide to Steer Our Daughter's in the Right Direction

Debra Beck's My Feet Aren't Ugly ~ A Girl's Guide to Loving Herself from the Inside Out is chock full of information that not only your daughter will find useful in navigating the adolescent years into young adult hood, but as a parent this book will be a wonderful resource guide. But don't stop there...if you as an adult have unresolved issues of growing up this book will guide you to a positive resolution. Learning to like/love yourself is important in developing nurturing relationships and making positive decisions in your pathway of life.

Insightful and heartfelt situations of everyday life are put to paper for the reader to take an internal assessment of themselves. The activities: "Think it over...and Journal" are key in coming to the understanding that your actions do affect others. "Do you know the old saying, `Do unto others as you would have them do unto you?' If we all lived our lives that way, we would be living in a much kinder world. Be aware of what you are saying and doing to everyone. Think to yourself, `If this were being said or done to me, would it feel bad?'"

Debra's books is a must have for every household that has daughters. In my humble opinion this book should be required reading for every girl from 4th grade up in our schools nationwide! I wish it were around while I was growing up!

Debra Beck does a great job teaching young girls how to love themselves. It is not that empty, shallow and selfish love but the true love based on confidence and hard work.

This book talks about important topics that many books dealt with like drugs, sex and eating disorders, as well as, refreshing topics that I enjoyed having introduced to my daughter such as finishing projects, stress reduction and health maintenance and how they are related to confidence and self appreciation. Ms. Beck also provided short journals that help young girls search and understand themselves; well done!