'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Monday 12 August 2019

Review: A Girl's Guide to Kicking Goals

The co-founders of Keep It Cleaner, Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw, have created a book aimed at inspiring young girls to be their best, happiest and healthiest selves. 

They are two girls with flaws, insecurities, doubts and challenges. 

They have experienced all that they talk about in A Girl’s Guide to Kicking Goals and share their lives  through successes and failures, weaknesses and strengths.

Important issues addressed are body image, social media and the dangers that lurk there, and how to stay safe from the negatives young girls will undoubtedly encounter on line. 

The entire contents of this book encourages girls to acknowledge their uniqueness, stay true to themselves in areas that matter; find balance in their lives, prioritise, learn to say no, and set goals, boundaries and guidelines for happiness. It explains why exercise is importance and what it does for us. Why young girls must establish a routine, work hard and choose a satisfying career path.

The over-all message of A Girl’s Guide to Kicking Goals is to have confidence in one’s self and how to build that confidence by surrounding one’s self with authentic people, good friends and role models. Full of interesting advice, each chapter ends with tips on ways to put into action all the lessons learnt that Smith and Henshaw share, steps they have taken that proved successful, and examples from both their lives on how they managed the same obstacles that all young girls encounter. It is filled with beautiful photos of positive images that inspire.

The importance of knowing about body changes and puberty is stressed, and Smith and Henshaw inform on what to expect by explaining the body at work. They lift the veil of unknowing and share their strategies on how they managed the maelstrom of feelings that are normal in growing bodies, but to each individual, seem like mountains to climb.

There are workouts to help keep the body fit and strong with a list of workout terms, and recipes using delicious and nourishing whole foods that will contribute to daily energy and well-being.

This is a handbook that can be dipped into or read all at once. I loved it from beginning to end and view it as a valuable resource for young girls to learn from when all else fails in the struggle to become happy, focused, and live with a passion for what they do.

Title: A Girl’s Guide to Kicking Goals
Author: Steph Claire Smith & Laura Henshaw
Publisher: Murdoch Books, $24.99
Publication Date: 3 December, 2018
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760523855
For ages: 14+
Type: Non Fiction