This is a book review I’ve had published in a magazine called Teach Secondary. Their book reviews have a word limit of 150 words, which is why this is so short.

Being a teenager is not easy. Not quite an adult, but no longer a child, wanting both independence and security, plagued by rampaging hormones, the teen has rather a lot to contend with.

Drawing both on his own experiences as a teenager and an adult, the author provides what amounts to an extended pep talk that seeks to boost self-esteem and provide practical advice. The author shares his own lack of self-confidence (“imposter syndrome”) that he has even now, despite achieving success.

It’s a reasonably logical and sensible approach, although there’s a tendency to come across, inadvertently, as somewhat patronising. This is emphasised by what seems like an attempt to “get down and dirty with the kids”, through the employment of various “sweary” (Oattes’ term) words. As such it is not an entirely pleasant read, but would be a useful guide to bring to the attention of especially under-confident students.