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young adult book reviews & more

Who's RAD? Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein!

Please welcome Dr. Barbara Holstein (whose last name contains mine! how special!!), author of a quite interesting sounding and accurately named novel, The Truth (I'm a Girl, I'm Smart and I Know Everything).

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Random Q&A:

What's one thing you don't like about yourself but can laugh about?
I trip a lot.

Describe yourself in 3 words.
Ingenious, funny, deep.

If you could live during any time period, which would it be?
To be born in 1910. I love the clothes and things that went with 1910-1948. I also would have liked living in a time that was less frantic and less involved with multi-tasking.

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the guest blog:

Nancy Drew and THE TRUTH, (I'm a girl, I'm smart and I know everything)

If you are at all like me, Nancy Drew served as an important figure in your life, as she did in mine. She was VERY important when I was nine, ten, and even eleven. I would wait with high anticipation if I knew my mother was coming home from shopping and might have a new Nancy Drew book with her. If she did, my next week was sure to be close to heaven. I would have a mystery to solve along with Nancy and all the positively luscious feelings of excitement I would be bound to feel as I accompanied her on her newest adventure. Forget her close buddies, they were only silly girls. I was as dedicated as she to solving mysteries, and I was there for her. Oh, they were wonderful adventures that we took together-just Nancy and me. And when it came to an end I had a let down that could only be compensated for in one way—a long bike ride, a coffee ice cream cone with jimmies on top and the beginning allure of the next Nancy Drew book.

I think that Nancy Drew was an important icon figure to me, as a positive psychologist, because in the language of Positive Psychology, she gave me hope. She validated that I was smart. She reinforced my resiliency. After all, I figured out at least some of the mysteries before she did. She gave me such a sense of competency. If she could do it, so could I. I just hadn't had the right opportunity yet, so for now I accompanied her.

She reinforced my strengths and interests. After all, I could figure people out. I could travel, if only my parents would let me. I could act very grown-up and be a leader. For example, I was on the Student Council. Yes, everything about her was affirming to me. Even her boyfriend gave me hope that someday I would have a boyfriend just as nice and kind and loving. In fact, Nancy Drew was probably the best therapy I had in my life from the ages of 9-11. And she didn't even know she was a Positive Psychologist!

I guess that is why she is so important to the girl in my new fiction book, The Truth (I'm a girl, I'm smart and I know everything). My character has many of the same feelings about Nancy that I did. She is a bit more competitive with Nancy than I was. But that is ok. Everyone is different. And it is because of Nancy that she has the strength to solve an important mystery that is essential for her growing up happily. But I can't tell. That would give a big secret away that I want you to read. After all, every author wants her book read. So of course, I can't tell all. I'll just give you one more clue: the mystery involves a locket. Happy reading!

The Truth (I'm a girl, I'm smart and I know everything) is available on Amazon.com and on all other book sites and bookstores. You can find me, Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, at http://www.blogger.com/www.enchantedself.com, http://www.blogger.com/www.thetruthforgirls.com and http://www.blogger.com/www.positivepsychologyforwomen.com

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As a Nancy Drew fan, I have to say that I wholly agree! Thanks Dr. Holstein for a great post and for providing all the links!

3 munch(es) :

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting my thoughts on Nancy Drew. I loved her and also Lucille in I Love Lucy who was my idol for other reasons. She was funny and could always get in trouble but also out of trouble! Another thing was I had to read to be close to Nancy, but I just had to lie on the coach munching snacks to be close to Lucy.

Cheryl said...

Thanks for hosting Dr. Barbara today. I love this book and it's message.

Cheryl

Serena said...

wow, this sounds like a great book to read. I loved Nancy Drew, but my mom never bought them for me. I read them at the school library during study hall and at the local library. When i finally saved enough to by my very own through various chores, I bought it at the school library scholastic book sale!

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