Awake Your Inner Hero - A Self Help Book for Young People.

Awake Your Inner Hero –by Tammy Vallieres, Jen Fitzpatrick and Susan Howson.

  

Jade Peter, age 10, raises money for the Humane Society, Kehkashan Basu, age 17, speaks out about climate change, Emma Howse, age 11,  is a competitive swimmer,  Zachary Hofer, age 13, educates others about mental health. This book profiles forty-three young people who have used their talents to make a difference.

The stories, told in the young person’s own words, are inspiring. Many have overcome major difficulties in their lives. Each one describes their goals and their “superpower,” the skills that they use for their projects. They talk about their mentors and supporters. They use their experience to give advice to youth and adults.

Selling "Awake Your Inner Hero" at Chapters

Lisa Denbok, age 18,  a young photographer who takes pictures of homeless people, writes: “Through my work I have been trying to accomplish two goals: humanizing people experiencing homelessness and shining a spot light on the plight of homelessness.” Her book, “Nowhere to Call Home,” raised money for homeless shelters.

Rosemary Tarzia, age 13, from Thunder Bay was bullied at school. In Grade Four, with the help of a teacher, she made a video on bullying. Since then she has organized events for important causes such as combatting bullying. She says, “I have learned to be fearless and speak the truth.” Her heroes are her parents and grandparents and also Ellen deGeneris. Her advice to adults is succinct. “Support is the number one thing children need.”

Many of the participants are quite young. Kaelin Woods is only nine years old. She describes her anxiety attacks and how she has learned to handle them. She says: “My superpower is determination.”

I was impressed by these young people. The book is well designed by JB Owen. My one criticism relates to the shadow images on many pages. A very muscular man, who represents the stereotypical superhero, alternates with a Barbie doll figure, impossibly thin-waisted and wearing high heels who represents – what? Anorexia? The supposedly perfect female body?  It was explained to me that these shadow people relate to media heroes which are impossible to attain in real life. But this is not explained in the book and the cover depicts the two shadow people with a young child holding their hands as if they are her helpers.