The Self-Esteem Team’s Guide to Sex, Drugs & WTFs?!!

The self-described Self-Esteem Team—columnist Devon, singer-songwriter Barrett, and journalist Mendoza—regularly speak with young British audiences about self-esteem and other topics. Here, they address sex, drugs, friends, bullying, and more, while sharing their personal experiences as teenagers (Devon struggled with an eating disorder, Barrett with depression, and Mendoza with self-harm). Adopting a tone they describe as “honest, funny, compassionate, and a bit sweary,” the authors take turns encouraging readers to make their own decisions, sort through confusing circumstances, be themselves, and seek out healthy life balances. While American readers may need to look up some of the British slang, the refreshingly candid discussions—a chapter describing what it’s like to take various drugs, an unimpressed rundown of the rote script most porn films follow—should resonate widely. Ages 12–up. (Apr.)