Written in a compassionate, inviting manner, Razzino's narrative embodies the sound wisdom of a trusted mentor, using the strengths of his champions and weaknesses of their counterparts to represent a stark dichotomy: teens can work toward success or allow self-doubt and fear to stagnate their growth. The champions’ strengths—ranging from resilience to creativity to curiosity—can be channeled to “override past conditioning” and refashion the future “in any form you desire,” Razzino writes, and his writing overflows with hands-on techniques for doing just that. Training guides at the end of each chapter provide exercises—journaling, exploring personal passions, role-playing to increase self-confidence—that are diverting and easy to implement, making the material as functional as it is inspiring.
Those practical tools, combined with Razzino’s insight on how young adults can harness the inner resilience and potential already available to them, transforms this guide into a perceptive handbook on becoming “the mastermind of your life choices and the architect of how you think, feel, and act.” Razzino keeps the information of-the-moment by touching on issues like social media and digital technology, gifting teens an intentional, entertaining way to move into adulthood with confidence, authenticity, and purpose.
Takeaway: Empowering guide ushers teens into adulthood by channeling inner strengths.
Comparable Titles: James Foster’s Navigating Adulthood, E.C. Perich’s Young Adult Life Hacks.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
