Gentle guidance for young women

Be True to Yourself: A Daily Guide for Teenage Girls / Amanda Ford

Experts say there's a low self-esteem epidemic among female teenagers. A new book may offer some help.

"Be True to Yourself: A Daily Guide for Teenage Girls" by Amanda Ford (395 pages, $15.95) is a journal of daily quandaries and affirmations that tackle the multitude of issues a girl may find herself up against. Entries for each day of the year provide relevant, unbiased information on school, relationships and that whole self-discovery thing that makes everybody a nervous wreck in high school.

Here are some examples:

* "When it comes to getting physical with guys, make no assumptions. No matter how well you know them or think they know you, you should always make your feelings clear before you're in the middle of something that's hard to stop."

* "Say a prayer for someone you hate. People are mean because other people have been mean to them. Positive things will happen when you pray for others, especially others you don't like."

* "Let guilt be your teacher -- learn from the situation by thinking about how you would handle things differently next time to avoid feeling guilty."

Though they may sound a bit cheesy and better suited to a 1950s sex-ed handbook, the simple reassurances could come in handy for those without the gentle guidance of an older sister or close relationship with an adult. For others, it may serve as a starting point for keeping a journal, prayer or (heaven forbid!) a chat with Mom.

In a world where young women are pressured by everyone and everything, a guiding hand like this could go a long way. One can only hope it does.

Grade: A

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