Book Review: So Long, Insecurity- Teen Edition

 Title: So Long, Insecurity- Teen Edition

Author: Beth Moore

Genre: Teenager, Christian Living

I chose to review this book for two reasons.  First, I completed the adult version of this Bible study with my ladies group at church and I was interested to see how it would be adapted for teenagers.  Secondly,  I have a 16 year old niece and I thought she would enjoy reading this book and benefit from it.  I was excited to hear her opinion of the book.

This book is written in a magazine style approach.  This was very appealing to my niece.  It wasn't written in the typical narrative form like the adult version of So Long, Insecurity.  Each article contains colorful pictures, surveys, scriptures with biographies of Bible characters and quizzes.  

The book covers many topics that teenagers today are facing.  They are topics that they may be afraid to come to their parents to ask questions.  Boys, fashion, the media, gifts, skills and self-esteem are discussed.  I recommend that the adult read a copy of the book as well so that both mother and daughter can have a conversation about topics that are relevant to teenagers.  

My niece enjoyed the book and felt that it wasn't "boring" or "uncool." That is a rave review coming from a sixteen year old girl.  She did say that it is not a thorough Bible study and not very "deep."  It should be read like a magazine and that every teenager needs to be in the word for themselves.  

In my opinion, one negative aspect of this book was the photographs.  The spends a lot of time discussing self esteem and as women how we should not compare ourselves to the girls that are in teh media.  They are often air brushed and made to look "perfect."  Real girls look "real."  Unfortunately, the girls pictured in Beth Moore's book are no different than the airbrushed, "perfect" girls pictured in secular media.  There is not a pimple to be found in the book.   She also talks about modesty yet the girls in her book are showing cleavage and wearing short shorts/skirts. It was hypocritical of her to include those photographs in her book. 

 

I would give this book three out of five stars.  I would not recommend it to very conservative Christian families because of the photographs.

Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the Tyndale House Publishing Company in exchange for an honest review.