Review of Shine

[Catherine Sweet]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Shine" by Rochelle Brandon, MD.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Shine by Rochelle Brandon, MD, is a guide for teenage girls to help them gain confidence and be true to themselves. Brandon is a retired women's health physician from North Carolina in America. She is passionate about the empowerment of young women, and this is reflected in her guide. There is a companion workbook, and details are given in the book.

A significant strength of this book is the voice of the author. Her writing style is calm and empathetic, and I think it would appeal to readers. She is knowledgeable about her subject and imparts information in an accessible, non-judgemental way. The book is for teenage girls, but anyone reading it would learn helpful life lessons.

I liked the title; it seems perfect for the book's purpose of helping teenage girls to shine. The book looks at how young women can navigate the challenges of their teenage years. It covers many subjects, from self-esteem and body image to assertiveness and setting boundaries. There are exercises for the reader to do to consolidate what they've learnt and plenty of inspiring stories about women who have overcome adversity and led successful lives. The book empowers young women to fight against self-doubt, celebrate their individuality and follow their dreams.

I liked the short excerpt Brandon wrote about her hair as an African American woman. I thought this would send a positive message to African American teenagers.

The book explains what affirmation and visualisation techniques involve and outlines the benefits of both. One example is given of an affirmation but none for visualisation. These methods may be new to readers, and I think some more examples would be helpful.

Shine would appeal to teenage girls but would also interest people with teenage girls in their lives. I commented above about examples for affirmation and visualisation, but this is only a small point and doesn't detract from the book's overall quality. This life-affirming book will benefit anyone who reads it and I award this book 5 out of 5 stars.

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Shine
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