Be Yourself and Other Bad Advice

“Friendly, down-to-earth coaching that addresses teen girls… . Throughout, the book contains practical, step-by-step advice and helpful tips, like self-affirmation phrases, while direct questions elicit reader engagement. Values like equity, compassion, fairness, and integrity underpin Walker’s approach. Her supportive, uncondescending tone includes mild touches of humor but avoids flippancy, helping the advice land without veering into lecturing or minimizing readers’ feelings. The clean, colorful layout and generously sized typeface support browsing… . A reader-friendly guide to knowing yourself.”

Cofounder of the Smart Girls organization (along with Amy Poehler, who contributes an introduction), former talent head at Saturday Night Live, and former producer at Nick News, Walker brings experience and humor to this guide for teen girls. A reaction to the overused phrase “just be yourself,” this book takes a deeper dive into self-exploration, encouraging readers to understand, think for, and appreciate themselves. Through topical, scaffolded chapters written in a conversational style, Walker urges girls to consider their emotional awareness, values, purpose over passion, learning from failure, the effects of social media, and more. For instance, with the concept of success, the author directs readers away from an idealized view to one that values exploration, gratitude, and good work. Guided, open-ended questions lead girls to take charge of their beliefs and attitudes on these topics. A culminating chapter encourages action, reminding readers they have the skills to say no, apologize, ask for help, and handle embarrassment. This sharp guide offers valuable support to teens and allows for continuing self-discovery.

Meredith Walker began her career in journalism at the groundbreaking Nickelodeon series Nick News. She worked her way up from production assistant to segment producer, traveling the country to interview kids, experts, politicians, and artists for news stories. She later moved to Saturday Night Live, where she ran the talent department, before she and Amy Poehler cofounded Smart Girls, an online community that encourages young women to celebrate who they are and who they are becoming.

Through programs, workshops, and day camps, Meredith has helped girls try new things and discover more about themselves. That work has taken her from classrooms and regional programs to the White House, the United Nations, and communities around the world. She now lives in Austin, Texas, with her longtime love, Tom, and their dogs Banjo and Farris.

Nina Cosford has illustrated more than twenty books. She lives in the United Kingdom.

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