How to Surivive Absolutely Anything by Helaine Becker

Bibliographic Information

Becker, Helaine. (2012). How to Survive Absolutely Anything. Markham: Fitzhenry & Whiteside.

Descriptive Summary

Fourteen year-old pals Bonnie and Jen come up with the perfect solution on how to survive junior high: to write an advice blog, “How to Survive Absolutely Anything, with Bonnie and Jen,” that both allows them to express their thoughts and help their fellow students.

However, the trials of junior high don’t seem so pressing compared to the trials both of these girls are dealing with at home.  Bonnie is struggling with unsure feelings about her step-brother and Jen has to deal with her single, alcoholic mother and taking care of her baby sister.

The different views and advice each girl provides in answer to the questions posted to their blog are often wise and heartfelt for their age.  However, each of these girls could use a little advice as well.

Evaluative Comments

This book was written to be sharp and witty, making it an enjoyable read. It also explores serious topics many teens may actually be struggling with. Lastly, it gives pre-teens a voice and fills a gap in young adult fiction of the character who is no longer a child, but not yet a young adult either, and still having serious issues as all people do. 

I would give this book a 9/10.

Suggested Audience

Ages 12 and up. 

Readers’ Advisory Notes

realistic, serious, hopeful

For anyone who enjoyed this book, I suggest they also read the material of Don Aker, who writes fictitious stories of teens in domestic violence, bullying, etc. situations.

Booktalking Hook

“If you're not going to like waking up with yourself after you've done something, you better not do it. Because whatever good feeling you get out of doing the bad thing (staying longer at the fun party, getting to be with that girl, bringing home the A on the test you cheated on) doesn't last as long as the rotten feeling that comes along with it.”  
                 -advice from the "How to Survive Absolutely Anything, with Bonnie and Jen" blog

Reason for Inclusion

This author was noted by CanLit (the supplier of Canadian books to school libraries) as writing appropriate yet meaningful middle-grade fiction. Also, this book was listed in the “How Novel! Canadian Young Adult Literature” reading guide.

Category

Realistic

Canadian