Four Fabulous Books To Teach Growth Mindset To Teens
Helping your teenager to develop a growth mindset arms them with the tools to face life’s challenges head-on, even when confronted with challenging circumstances.
Teen brains are still growing, and consequently, are incredibly flexible and adaptable to new ideas. This makes the teen years a perfect time to introduce your child to growth mindset principles.
A growth mindset will empower your teen to continue to develop and grow their abilities despite any setbacks. It will teach them skills in perseverance, positivity and problem-solving.
Oftentimes as teens are transitioning from parental and adult role models towards peer ones, these novels are the perfect bridge between what you want your teen to learn and understand and them not wanting to be directly told by you.
The following four books for teens will assist your child in understanding the many benefits to be gained from a growth mindset and how they can go about reaping the benefits.
1. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood - Marjane Satrapi
Marjane Satrapi’s graphic memoir-novel tells the story of Marjane’s childhood in Iran during the revolution. Despite a youth surrounded by the devastation of war, Marjane is able to grow into a positive, progressive young lady who the reader cannot help but fall in love with.
2. The Outsiders - S.E Hinton
The bestselling S.E. Hinton novel The Outsiders is a classic coming of age novel. Focusing on the life of Ponyboy, a young man growing up on the outskirts of society, who is able to rise above his perceived limitations and stay positive in the face of tragedy. A gritty read for older teens, The Outsiders demonstrates the personal power that one gains through positivity.
3. The House on Mango Street - Sandra Cisneros
Acclaimed by critics worldwide, The House on Mango Street is a beautiful, articulate novel that follows the journey of Esperanza Cordera a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago. Esperanza’s determination and ultimate success in life is a poignant and powerful example of a character succeeding due to their growth mindset.
4. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda - Becky Albertalli
Winner of the William C. Morris Award for Best Young Adult Debut of the Year, Simon vs The Homo Sapien Agenda, focuses on Simon, a gay teen who is struggling to come out of the closet. In this fantastic example of the peace one can find through a growth mindset, Simon learns to love himself just as he is, without judgement or fear. Introducing your teens to growth mindset strategies can set them up for life. Start the conversation by sharing these brilliant books - along with being highly entertaining, they show the benefits of a growth mindset without being preachy or prescriptive.
