This is a complete guide with many tips for teenagers on how to manage their mental health in a world that isn't mend for them. Although there were only a few, I did like that there were stories told by trans teens. This is a great way to connect with the story. I also highly appreciate that they took the time to write about neurodiversity, as loads of trans people are neurodiverse as well and it's likely to give them extra challenges in life.

The only thing I do have to note is that I didn't feel like the writing style was targeted towards teens. There were topics related to teens, but the text was rather dense, and I feel like a teen, especially a younger one, would struggle to get through it.

Thank you NetGalley and New Harbinger for giving me access to an e-arc for review. All opinions are my own.

I both love that this exists and hate that it has to. Well written, with language that speaks directly to teens without leaning into being patronizing. A great pick up for any library.

The Trans and Gender Diverse Teen Resilience Guide is paginated gold. I'm writing this review from the latter end of my 30s and reading the book from this perspective gives me hope that another younger generation may not need to struggle as mine did to not only understand their transness, but have their transness be fully respected by others. New Harbinger books tend to speak for themselves (i.e., they're excellent), but when their granularity is introduced vis a vis help for marginalized identities, it is worth paying even closer attention.

What I loved about this book is that it gives full treatment to concepts that can get twisted through social media definitions. For example, the chapter on Resilience does not start with defining the concept. It outlines the ways that I can be misconstrued as part of its broader meaning. The authors also take great care to include intersectional perspectives where racialized youth talk about their gender identity as part of their experience of race and vice versa. It means that in chapters like the one on belonging, intersectionality is an actually existing ethos versus a glossary footnote. It's important because the work that I've done with tweens and teens at the library has taught me that they generally see through the disingenuity of discursive smoke and mirrors that amount to little more than platitudes. What it means is that the authors have taken care to create a book that meets young people where they are in their coming out process, and transition so that they actually see themselves, their experiences, and the real world in it.

There are some practical aspects of socially transitioning that can be difficult even in adulthood, where I have access to more resources. Mitigating these difficulties is the work of self-compassion, self-care, boundaries, communication, and a solid support system. Coolhart, Peta and Testa outline how all of these are necessary components of a trans life, without the urgency of "do this or else". Trans and Gender Diverse people are aware it's difficult. We tend to live that reality every day. What changes the game for us, is books like this that do so much of the helpful work of loving validation. It goes a long way for anyone to read on the page, what this book offers in heaps: you are normal, and you are needed here for all the ways that you're different and similar to others. They go the extra mile as well, by talking about a meaningful life, which is a perspective not many trans people in my generation and older had. To conceive of yourself as being present throughout and to the end of a long life of meaning, is still something of a novelty (sadly) but this books writes it into the present as the new de facto part of being a trans person such that one sees themselves in the future, thriving because of their transness and gender diversity. Briefly, another highlight of the book for me was the chapter on feeling comfortable in your body. Before top surgery, and for decades I was experiencing dysphoria without fully understanding it. Once I had that vocabulary to do so and know my experience fully, leading me to medical professionals and eventually taking testosterone, then to top surgery (and other surgeries ahead), I understood how many years I spent numbing. Learning to be fully embodied and at ease in my own skin has been the gift of a lifetime and the exercises in this book mirror a lot of the work I'd done to get there. What better gift can one give to a trans and gender diverse youth than help like that?

I would highly recommend this book for youth who are at any stage of their transition. In particular, I would suggest that if anyone is running a gender exploration or journey group, this might make a wonderful book club addition where each meeting is based on a chapter of the book to really dive into its contents in a helpful way for attendees. Another great applicability of the book is for service providers who cater to youth, like libraries/educators/non-profits, where staff read through the book or are given the content as something to apply to their work so that policies are not the lowest common denominator and representational bare minimum of service delivery and value provision.

There's a part of me that heals every time I read books like these, because as a trans man I know how all-encompassing socially transitioning can be, and how it can wear on you to feel not only that state of contingency, but to feel like it is your job to make your transness translatable. Guides like this have so much content to help ease that burden by emphasizing that there is a beauty to transness that doesn't need explaining so that kids still get to be kids, before adulthood looms large on their horizon. I'm transitioning at 38 and sometimes wonder what it would've been like to be this comfortable and uncaring of what others think of my gender identity instead of the years I spent trying to make my gender identity fit everyone else's wants of it and for it. Being able to recommend books like The Trans and Gender Diverse Teen Resilience Guide help provide healing for their readers, and for grownups like myself, who might recommend it.

I'm very appreciative of New Harbinger for an advance reader copy of this book, accessed through NetGalley. Thank you also to the authors for writing such a great volume.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in June. We need this now more than ever. I think it's a good guide, I enjoyed that the guide makes space for various trans experiences too. Like the fact not everyone is nondisabled.

You Are Your Strongest Advocate is a valuable resource for teens navigating the challenges of adolescence. The authors provide practical advice on self-care, mindfulness, and self-advocacy, using relatable teen experiences and encouraging a kind, compassionate approach to personal growth. This book offers a safe space for teens to explore important topics and empowers them to find their voice. It's highly recommended for libraries and any teen seeking support and guidance. I have ordered a copy for my office as well as brought this up to co-workers in a meeting as this will be an invaluable resource for patients in the coming years. I received a copy of this book for review purposes.

This is a book that I hope we'll be seeing on the shelves of every library soon; it's an amazing reference guide for teens who need answers to questions that they can't ask out loud for one reason or another. I love that the authors encourage radical self-care and teach various ways to practice being mindful and kind to oneself. This book speaks to teens on their level, provides experiences from other teens so they know that they're not alone and gives relevant information on how to advocate for yourself. It really is a must-have on library shelves, especially now with so much uncertainty in these trying times.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.