It's a Brave Young World

It's A Brave Young World by Anu Adebogun, and illustrated by Soofiya and Lila Cruz, is an informative guide to growing up for girls. A great resource for any parent who has perhaps exhausted their ability to answer the questions all children ask from a very early age.

Children are naturally inquisitive, and parents will often joke about how young children are always asking, 'Why'? As parents and teachers answering such questions is easy for most of us, but as the children grow older and wiser the questions they ask become more complex and a parent's ability to appear all-knowing lessens. This appealing, colourful guide is packed full of clear information, short stories and activities that will help the reader find out most of what they need to know about growing up.

From riendships, relationships and consent, to mental health, racism, politics family dynamics and online addiction, this book has the answers, offering reassurances and helping young girls to understand their rights. Enabling them to put their safety first and gain the confidence to speak up. Knowing your strengths, understanding your own self-worth and finding out about power dynamics and how to deal with power imbalances, are all things I am certain every young girl could relate to at some time in their school lives. While useful activities such as: 'Tips for taming the inner beast', although obvious, to see them in print might also prove useful.

This super guide would be a great addition to most middle grade bookshelves, although I do think it might be better used either in a small group situation or at home where issues can possibly be discussed further if needed. My one niggle: What about the boys? This is very clearly a guide aimed at girls, even though some, not all, of the issues addressed affect boys too.

216 pages / Reviewed by Sam, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 11+

It's a Brave Young World is the book I wish someone had written when I was growing up. Jam packed full of advice on everything from friendship, faith, identity and relationships to mental health and online wellbeing, it is a handy guide that young people can turn to at any point. The author has not only given examples of her own upbringing and how that made her feel at times, but throughout the book poses questions and exercises to help the reader really consider their own lives, relationships and how they are impacted by others' behaviour.

The topics within chapters are manifold with activism, politics and faith under 'beliefs', but the writing flows and it is a book that will question what we learn from society, our parents and school, assisting readers to truly question who they want to be.

Illustrated throughout in colour and using imagery and emojis, the book sings to young people, with colour changes setting the mood. The illustrations are simple and clear, and along with the book design, sets the writing clearly and easily, so that the book can be dipped into in parts.

It's a Brave Young World is particularly good at championing girls and their rights, in life and to their own thoughts and bodies. It questions and reaffirms what and how girls and women should be able to feel, think and live within a society and firmly opposes their stereotypical treatment.

The book has a list of agencies and references throughout, and for this reason it should be on every school library shelf, particularly as there may be other young people needing its support. It is a fabulous resource, and one that I think young people would return to time and time again for help and support. 

Although any young person could read this book, it is aimed at young girls so I do feel the book is missing a trick, as a chapter on the body, its changes, and periods should surely have been included. Taboo in many families and societies it is such a normal part of a girl's life and yet one that is not spoken about openly in many cases.

The author has to be commended for the easy access to such a huge amount of information, with the illustration and design making it hugely appealing. Let’s hope a partner book for boys is not far behind. Highly recommended

216 pages / Reviewed by Lorraine Ansell, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 9+