The Confidence Code for Girls: Taking Risks, Messing Up, & Becoming Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self Hardcover – April 3, 2018

The Confidence Code for Girls is an essential read for every girl in her tween years. By bringing attention to girls’ inner experience of gaining and utilizing confidence, the authors not only clearly identify what confidence is comprised of, they guide and instruct the reader on how to cultivate it by challenging the common obstacles of this age. Quite similar to the cognitive-behavioral approach of therapy, this book encourages girls to take action despite unhelpful thinking patterns, to be unafraid of failure, and to challenge the worries that hold so many girls back in a real and direct way. It also provides excellent guidance on how to navigate the often judgmental and provoking world of social media. Presented in a relatable and engaging manner, girls will develop a much deeper understanding of what it means to be themselves and express that confidently. My experience as a psychologist specializing in anxiety has taught me that just as anxiety breeds self-doubt, self-doubt breeds anxiety, and the opposite of both is confidence. I am inspired by what the authors have done in offering such a tremendous guidebook that I am sure tween girls will reference time and time again in their journey to forming a solid, confident self.

Heard this book was great; got it for my 11-yr old daughters, and that weekend they both set all new personal best times at a swim meet. When I asked them how they did that, they said because they read the Confidence Code for Girls! They said they thought about facing and racing and besting their fears! This book is no set of empty platitudes, it's actual real-life knowledge about how awesome girls are despite a history of cultural bias, and also about neuroplasticity and Title IX and the perils of screen addiction.It revs the reader up to be a "Girl of Action," through compelling stories conveying the importance of being yourself and valuing yourself and making yourself heard; the benefits of playing team sports (more open to trying and more resilient to failing, more likely to graduate college, and to earn lucrative salaries in typically male-dominated fields); the benefits of friendship (lowers heart disease, produces oxytocin, limits stress, lengthens life); and includes plenty of fun suggestions as to how to go about making new friendships. With super cute illustrations. I love this book, and think every girl in the world should read it.

I bought this book for my 9 year old daughter, who has been struggling with friendship issues recently. While I talk with her all the time about how to handle disagreements and how to stand up for herself, I was looking for another more objective source of advice. To say this book has had a positive impact on my daughter would be a huge understatement. Her confidence has exploded. She has begun standing up for herself in an assertive way amongst her friends and has learned how to approach conflict resolution (for example, using “I” statements). She’s become more open to trying new things and realizing that the goal is progress and not perfection. It’s amazing to see the things I’ve been telling her for years are finally clicking and she’s truly blossoming. I recommend this book to anyone whose daughter is feeling overwhelmed with tween friendship drama and needs a reminder of how very capable and amazing she is!

I thought this book was for adults to understand how to help girls gain more confidence, but it’s actually written for tween girls to read themselves. Girls begin to lose their confidence as they grow up because they can see that girls aren’t treated equally or given access to the same opportunities as boys. (What will it take to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in America?) This message is conveyed over and over until girls feel that their voices and their rights aren’t as important as boy’s. I don’t know how many girls will read an entire book that basically tells them they’re not alone and gives them encouragement to be their awesome selves, but I hope they do. I wish I’d had this book to read growing up. This book does mention alternative sexuality, which some feel is inappropriate, but it’s all around us now and acceptance and not making it a big deal are the best ways to address it, in my opinion.

gave this to my granddaughter and she couldn't wait to start reading it, got into it in the car on the way home!

My daughter is a perfectionist. She often thinks she's not good enough because something isn't perfect. I could tell her she was really good or great, but was it perfect? I won't lie because that doesn't help. This book helped her see that she doesn't need to be perfect. It was someone else telling her. We got the book from the library and she loved it so much she wanted to own it.

I bought two for my granddaughters. It was highly recommended.

Originally purchased this book for my niece who seemed to be having middle school drama with friends. After receiving it and skimming through it, purchased another for my 14yo stepdaughter. Though her reading level is far advanced for what the book is intended for, I thought she was too young for an adult version. It’s an easy read from what I gathered and thought it covered great topics. Like most self help books, I would encourage a parent or grown up to discuss the book and use it for open conversation.