book

Geek Girls Don’t Cry

June 5, 2019 by Anne Sweet Leave a Comment

Geek Girls don’t cry, they get strong.

Hardcover: 256 page
Author: Andrea Towers
Publisher: Sterling (7 Jun. 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1454933399
ISBN-13: 978-1454933397
Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 2.3 x 20.8 cm
Price: £14.99

Geek Girls Don’t Cry – By Andrea Towers

The Blurb

What does it mean to be strong? Pop culture heroines are strong not just because they fight villains, but because they deal with the same issues we face in real life – addictions, fears, traumas, and other struggles. And with the help of these characters, fans can find inspirations to overcome their own problems and be brave. In this book, Andrea Towers outlines some of the primary traits heroic women can rely upon, like resilience, self-acceptance, and confidence. Also included are insights from psychologists and personal anecdotes from courageous real-life women involved in facets of pop culture.

About the Book

What does it mean for a woman to be strong? Especially in a world where our conception of a ‘hero’ is still heavily influenced by male characters like Batman, Spider-Man and Superman? Why do we know all about the depression Batman experiences after losing his parents but not Princess Leia’s grief after unexpectedly losing her home planet of Alderaan? Wh do we know about the alienation Superman Experienced after being sent away from his home planet of Krypton but not Supergirl’s trauma of which came from the same experience?

Geek Girls Don’t Cry explores the subject, offering advice tailor-made for fans of any age. Andrea Towers who works in public relations at Marvel Entertainment and has written about super heroines for outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, outlines some primary traits heroic women can call upon, like resilience, self-acceptance, and bravery. Not only does she pull in stories and advice from real-life women involved in all levels of pop culture – many of whom credit the characters they work with for helping them though hard times – but there is also insight provided by psychologists who have helped patients find light through figures from the pop -culture pantheon.

Looking at pop culture favourites from books, TV shows, movies and comic books (aka Geek Girls,) such as Hermione Granger, Bufffy the Vampire Slayer, Katniss Everdeen, Xena Warrior Princess and Marvel’s Black Widow and Jessica Jones, Towers examines how these women deal with topics like trauma, grief, depression, overcoming adversity and isolation. She also interviews the creators of our favourite fictional heroines, who discuss how they drew from their own experiences to develop these protagonists, and how, conversely, their own creations continue to inspire them.

An interview with Margaret Stohl, pages from the book

Seeking comfort from fiction is a truly universal human attribute and Geek Girls Don’t cry serves as an understandable and relatable guide for people who want to overcome mental health issues and will appreciate the examples set by goddesses, mutants and superheroes. this is a book for those in search of mindfulness, but with a healthy infusion of pop culture, fun and feminism.

My Opinion

Let’s start with the introductory quote from the book;

This isn’t a question of what I’m not. This is a question of who I could be.
Captain Marvel

This book totally surprised me in a pleasant way. Intelligently written it gives a deep and insightful look into the lives and background of many familiar female characters. But not only that, it makes their struggles and successes relatable to all. It goes a long way to show that you can be strong and yet, still struggling. The book talks about so many issues we face during our lifetimes and how they are dealt with by fictional female characters. Notated throughout by psychologists, the book is trustworthy and helpful to all who may deal with the same kind of traumas no matter how big or small.I can‘t wait for my girls to get stuck into this book, I have learned from it and I’m sure they will too.

Disclosure: This book was sent to me for the purpose of my review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Games on the Go – Lonely Planet Kids review

May 8, 2019 by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

Games on the Go is the fabulous new card game available from Lonely Planet Kids.

Games on the Go, a colourful box with the lid open showing several playing cards and a wipe clean pen — Book Details
ISBN: 9781788683296
Curator: Lonely Planet Kids
41 pages, 41pp color | Dimensions: 120.65mm × 165.1mm

The Blurb

“Are we there yet?”

Banish the boredom of long car journeys and big trips with Games on the Go, a fun and colourful mix of spotting games, drawing challenges, word searches, dingbats and more.

A must-pack addition on any family trip, it fits easily inside hand luggage and can be deployed in seconds! Comes with 40 wipe-clean cards and a dry-erase pen, all stored in a small, handy box.

Games include:

Road trip bingo
Turning fingerprints into colourful friends
Amazon rainforest-themed crossword
Wildlife watching
Drawing suitcase contents
Dingbats and puzzles
Mazes
Drawing favourite meals
Making star constellations
Designing flags
Noughts and crosses
Drawing city skylines

Our Verdict.

This was a big hit with the kids before we even left the house. The little box contains loads of different activities, so there is something for everyone.

The game cards are all kept neatly inside the box and the pen fits in the side. On the end of the pen there is an eraser, so when you’re done you can wipe it away and someone else can have a turn.

Some of the puzzles and games are easier than others and many different skill sets are exercised. It’s a sure boredom buster, especially on car journeys.

It’s great for one child but I’m going to get more wipe clean pens so my three children can share them on our trip next week. There are plenty of cards to choose from, and the fact that you can wipe them clean means there will be no arguing if they want to do the same activities.

In fact, I am going to buy these coloured pens for them.

Disclosure: The product was sent to us free of charge but all thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

In The City – book review and competition

April 2, 2019 by Anne Sweet 7 Comments

In The City

Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Button Books (7 April 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1787080307
ISBN-13: 978-1787080300
Product Dimensions: 22.7 x 0.8 x 30.5 cm
Price – £12.99

Today I bring you and exciting competition. This lovely hardback book is up for grabs. Just check out the widget at the end of the page. The book is released on 7th April.

The Blurb

Get ready to being your journey through a bustling city. Find buildings of every size and shape, different types of transport, busy streets, parks, playgrounds and zoos. Celebrate the vibrant mix of people you can see, the jobs they are doing and how they enjoy themselves. Discover quiet, calm spot and loud, crowded places, restaurants serving every kind of food, shops selling everything you can imagine, and much more.

Dominika Lipniewska

Illustrator Dominika Lipniewska takes us on a magical journey through a day in the life of a modern bustling city. With a bold and distinctive graphical style and lots of detail for children to explore. Visually engaging and overflowing with activity there is plenty here to engage a classroom full of toddlers or enjoy reading to your child at bedtime.

Dominika Lipniewska is a Polish illustrator and designer with a passion for books and character design. She graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and Cambridge School of Art. She lives and works in London, which she considers an endless source of inspiration.

I have a copy of In the City to give away to my readers, all you have to do is read the rules and fill in the widget below. Good Luck!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. UK only (sorry)
2. Giveaway closes 17th April 2019
3. Entries will be validated according to the rules of entry
4. There is 1 prize of a book, In the City
5. The data of anyone that enters won’t be passed on to any third parties or used for any unsolicited marketing communications.
6. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook or any other social media.
7. The winner will be randomly chosen, and will be shown on this post, with further notifications may be shared on social media.
8. The winner will be notified via email, and will need to respond within 4 weeks otherwise a further winner will be drawn.
9. Prize will be sent out after receiving e-mail details

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Plant, Sow Make and Grow – book review

March 12, 2019 by Anne Sweet 8 Comments

Author : Esther Coombs

Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Button Books (7 Mar. 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1787080242
ISBN-13: 978-1787080249
Product Dimensions: 15 x 2.2 x 21 cm

The Blurb

Plant, Sow, Make and Grow is a book to get people gardening – especially those with children in their care who they want to be gardening with. It’s full of down-to-earth realistic activities with tips, tricks and short cuts to make sure all the projects are doable for all ages. It’s cheap to garden and this book tries to be as cheap as chips, with tools made from recycled rubbish and lots of other innovative ideas. Get the little gardeners growing with this low-stress approach to producing yummy fruit, veggies and bug friendly flowers. You’ll find plenty of handy gardening information to get you stated plus tips about what wildlife you may see, raid your recycling box to make some useful gardening accessories and other craft activities. So grab some seeds and have a go!

Our Review

The first thing we noticed about this book was the gorgeous illustrations, they really bring the book to life.

The book is split into Seasons, and it tells you how to get started and how to make a plan. Don’t have the tools? There are instructions on how to make a trowel, watering can and planting pots.

As well as giving the best examples of things to plant in each of the seasons there are also lots of information about insects and how to make a bug house. You can also learn how to press flowers and make an Autumn wreath and many more activities.

We can’t grow in our garden, the soil is rubbish (I would really like some raised beds.) But, that’s not a problem, all we need to do is get some planting pots (or recycle the ones we have with dead flowers in) and get planting. I would certainly like to plant some strawberries, carrots and beetroot. I’m also planning a wild flower patch and a herb garden. With this book I’m hoping my kids will be inspired enough to help me. They used to love gardening when we lived in our last house.

You can purchase Plant, Sow, Make and Grow from Amazon for £12.99

This post contains affiliate links

Hope With Eating Disorders – Book Review

March 3, 2019 by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

front cover of book Hope with Eating disorders - plain white background with text and big yellow butterfly.

Title: Hope with Eating Disorders, 2nd Edition
Author: Lynn Crilly
Genre: Health, Mental Health, Self-Help, Family
Publisher: Hammersmith Books
ISBN: 9781781611456
Publication date: February 19th 2019
Price: £15.99
Availability: Paperback, eBook

The Blurb

In this second edition, which maintains Lynn Crilly’s warm, non-judgemental, family-friendly approach, the more recently recognised eating disorders have been included, the range of treatment options – both mainstream and alternative – has been fully reviewed and revised, and the impact of social and technological change has been fully accommodated, with the role of social media for good and ill to the fore. New case histories highlight key issues, and throughout all references to research and stats have been reviewed and updated. Men’s eating disorders are now addressed by contributing author Dr Russell Delderfield.

Since originally writing Hope with Eating Disorders, Lynn has experienced seven years of counselling practice and seven years of her own daughter’s recovery from an eating disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, underpinning her realistic insight into what recovery actually is and means. Hope with Eating Disorders is a practical, supportive guide for anyone helping someone with an eating disorder be they a family member, teacher, sports coach, workplace colleague or friend.

TheAuthor

Since the first edition of Hope with Eating Disorders was published in 2012, eating disorders have become more widely recognised and treatments have progressed, as have attitudes to this most dangerous of mental health problems.

Lynn Crilly became a counsellor when one of her beautiful daughters fell into the evil trap of Anorexia Nervosa and OCD, at the age of 13. Lynn explored every avenue and source of help, but they were not right for her daughter or them as a family. Watching her daughter disappear before her eyes, and the huge impact it was having on the rest of her family, especially her twin sister, Lynn felt she had no option but to educate herself and learn as much as she could about eating disorders and mental illness. Some years on, a lot of hard work, determination and many tears shed, and with the unconditional support from close family, friends, our GP and their school, their beautiful girl is now recovered, enjoying life to the full and Lynn’s family are stronger than ever together.

With her new found knowledge, personal experience and most of all her passion and love; Lynn has been able to use her gift to help others.

Lynn Crilly lives in Surrey with her husband and their twin daughters. Through using her unique and very effective form of counselling she has now established herself as one of the country’s leading private therapists, working with people from all walks of life, ages and genders. She is admired for her passion and understanding – something she attributes to the strength and loyalty of her family and friends, with whom she spends as much time as possible.

My Verdict

This is such a well written book on what is often thought as a taboo subject.

It covers everything from all the different kinds of eating disorders, how to recognise an eating disorder, how to approach someone you think may have an eating disorder, how to support them and find the proper medical help they need.

It give in depth detail about the therapies that are available and talks about self help techniques. The book describes how eating disorders can be connected to other mental health problems and how to go about tackling them.

The book looks at all the myths about eating disorders and discusses the facts.

In fact this is a very concise, detailed book which explains everything you need to know about eating disorders and gives real hope in tackling them and recovery. It’s a fantastic resource for someone who cares for a person with an eating disorder and for those who suspect they may have a problem.

The facts and details are interspersed with real life accounts and experiences. The whole book is set out in an easy to digest form.