Becky Blades

Yet another book of semi-random advice. While there's nothing wrong with Do Your Laundry or You'll Die Alone, there's also nothing particularly special about it, nothing to differentiate it from the hordes of advice books and graduation gift books. And there are a few more mentions of God than one might otherwise expect.

The accompanying mixed media artwork was the best part of the book, yet there really wasn't much of it. Most of the pages just have pale, generic designs near the edges of the pages; only a fraction of the tips are accompanied by full-page pictures. If there had been more of the art, I may have felt that Blades' entrance into the advice-book genre was unique.

Additionally, I was frustrated that not only was there not any real grouping of related topics, but there isn't even any index. So even if you want to refer back to the book later, you'll be hard-pressed to track down the particular tips you want to find unless you were forward-thinking enough to bookmark them the first time around. (Although there's not even the briefest of indexes, there are several lined blank pages at the end to add your own advice. Couldn't one of those have been sacrificed for an index?)

Note: I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley.… (más)

3.5 I hesitate putting this in my collection since it was only about an hour's worth of reading, if that. But it is a cute, colorful heart-in-the-right-place gift book. These little advice books seem to abound this time of year and this is a good one for a graduate (esp. high school girl) which was Blades' intent in writing it. It does make you think you could just do your own for your own child if you had access to splashy graphics and fonts and photos. It has a nice blend of practical how-to wisdom (Don't Ball Up Your Clothes) and life lessons on a broader scale (Do Something Nice Everyday and Tell No One). It is well-written and not too sappy and covers the gamut of all the things you wish you could get through to your kid before it is "too late" (Feeling that pressure myself!), all in a "Mom's voice." Blades has some clever contrasts too: "Everything Counts" and "Counting isn't Everything" juxtaposed on the page, which she goes on to explain briefly. Definitely worth a speed-read and a great gift option to keep in your pocket.… (más)

I requested this book because I thought it would be timely, in my house, where I have two teenage boys. We like funny books and it seemed like it would have good advice in it too. When I received it I found it is clearly a girl book, so that won't work, but I really do like it. I would definitely slip this into my daughter's suitcase, Easter basket or Christmas stocking if I had a daughter. It's a beautiful book, it's funny, it contains good ideas and excellent advice for what's important and how to navigate the world when you're just starting out and beyond. It has a section at the end where you could leave your own personal note. I wanted to give it away because I have a friend with daughters the right age but I think I'm keeping it. Possibly because I grew up without a mother and without all this advice, I find I can read it again and again. Thanks to Good Reads for the First Reads copy of this book.… (más)