I’m sure people assumed this would be some kinda holistic manual when they saw the title. It’s so much more. What we have instead is the story of a young lady, Erinne Paisley, in western Canada who went viral with her prom dress and used the publicity to make the world better. (It doesn’t hurt that she’s from one of my favorite cities, Victoria.)
She’ll probably blush and deny it if she reads this, but even though the circumstances were different, I’m putting her in the same rarified air as her idol Malala, who is in my top ten of the most amazing and inspirational people in the world. There’s a mention of another on my list, Queen Rania; it’s almost like she was writing this book specifically to get me to love it.
There’s pop quizzes which really aren’t, rather call to actions. More importantly, there’s plenty of advice on how you can make a difference through social media.
In what’s already a thin book there’s a lot of photos, but I think in this case it benefits from being to the point rather than including any padding.
In the end, a phone is just a tool, no different than a pencil, a car, or even a gun. Whether it’s good or bad completely depends on how it’s used. What I like the most about this book is its relentless optimism. Sure, doing what she did and what she suggests is much harder than it sounds, but like the old saying goes, if you don’t play, you can’t win.
4.5 pushed up to 5/5

A good idea. Thought provoking but not exactly the guide it claims to be. Something to build on and develop.

This is a book that helps you take action NOW via Social Media. Girls rights to education is being taken away. Can You Tube save the world? Can subscribers change the environment? There are a lot of campaigns out there that you can help just by tweeting or instagramming your food. Be aware of what is out there and go do something!

I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

Very empowering way for teens to see that they do , indeed, have the power to change the world. I will definitely be recommending this to my younger cousins!

CAN YOUR SMARTPHONE CHANGE THE WORLD? by Erinne Paisley had the potential to be a primer on activism and social justice. From Orca Book Publishers, it is written at a relatively accessible level with numerous images. The book definitely tells Paisley's story of creating a paper prom dress and donating proceeds to the Malala Fund in order to promote education for girls around the world. However, it felt somewhat juvenile and shallow at times with an over-emphasis on social media, including separate chapters on Instagram, Youtube and Twitter. There may be some interest by students, but I think those will tend to be younger. For older high school students, turn instead to Girl Rising, available as an excellent film and accompanying book.

Links in live post:
https://www.today.com/style/teen-makes-graduation-dress-support-women-s-rights-t24656
https://www.malala.org/
http://girlrising.com/

Erinne Paisley's book Can Your Smartphone Change: the world is an inspiring book aimed at today's teens and young adults. This book has a number of inspiring stories tell how social media was used to affect major changes and raise aware on some very important causes,

This would be a great book to give anyone who could use some positive inspiration when it comes to making a difference in the world.

This type of book is the hardest book to review and gave star ratings to.
I never know if i should rate it after my personal feelings or the overall worth of the book itself that other readers can get out of it as well as what it means to have this type of book in the world.

So lets just go with the overall middle ground and state this right of the bat:

Its a good book that should be read if you want to help become the change that you want to see in the world, no matter your age!

They are clearly EXTREMELY important books and its fantastic to see that more of them are getting published every year in any way or format -especially in "real" physical paper book format so that really everyone can see and read the books no matter what type of reader you are.

And Paisley has good writing and a clear voice.
I like the idea behind this book, i love the title since i think it will draw a lot of younger readers into it and maybe give them an idea of what they can do to help make a positive change in the world they live in.

BUT sadly i have to say that this book felt a bit like Paisley wanted to really only share -and very sadly it felt a bit like bragging to me- what she had managed to do, how she did it and what people she meet along the way.

Yes this book talks a lot about what everyone can do, but she also shares a bit too much what she did and how she did it.

Now i am clearly NOT the typical target audience of that book. So maybe i am just a tad to old to appreciate the type of writing this book has. I don't need an author to show me picture of people that are better known or celebrities with them to believe that they managed to achieve something. I would rather have a more clear helpful list of places i myself could maybe help with smaller gestures.
As i said to me it felt a bit like she really wanted to share who she meet through having her math homework prom dress go viral.

Or maybe this book just makes me feel a bit like someone that wants do to something and can't even thought others clearly manage it? We all know what i am talking about, right?
Hope so.....

And yes, paisley does share a good amount go websites as well as hashtags that help with the little gestures and i loved that.


I think this book is good, its import and young people should read it.

But its also a book that people similar to me that don't need a list of "hey i also met this person" in a book instead of maybe more tips on what everyone else on the planet can do that didn't take the kind of prom pictures as Paisley herself did.

That sounded a lot more cynical then i wanted to!

I really think that Paisley is great!
She accomplished a lot at her age, the stands up to what she believes and she wants to make others her age and younger do the same, that is FANTASTIC!
its great and i really hope she reaches every goal she sets for herself and that she continues to do her thing and get the attention she apparently is getting.

But for me personally this book offered very little information that is helpful to me.

That being said: If you want to try to change something and have no idea where to start?

this book is a great place to START with that and maybe get an idea on which websites could be helpful to give you a better idea.

Do read this, its defiantly worth it.

Excellent!
Review scheduled for publication date.