Luvvie Ayayi Jones
Philomel Books, 272 pages | Published May 17, 2022
Luvvie Ayayi Jones’s Rising Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighting Manual for Teens is, put simply, a pep talk in book form. Jones uses her work as a social justice advocate along with her dry humor to create an inspiring work for young people. She offers advice to help every person be, say and do the things to help them reach their fullest potential and celebrate their accomplishments, something Jones calls “owning your dopeness.”
This underlying theme excited me every time I picked it up to read. Jones fills each sentence with an empowering energy that makes the reader feel not just seen, but also understood on a deeper level. She breaks down our subconscious fears and doubts, explaining how fear of rejection and the mere possibility of embarrassment can limit opportunities for growth.
This should be required reading for anyone growing up during this crazy time. While the concrete advice for dealing with finances and social media that Jones gives is no doubt insightful, the inspiring messages are even more important. My biggest takeaway was her idea that we are all just doing our best and this is all we can try to achieve. In a world where there is much conflict and so many problems, Rising Troublemaker shows how we can not only try to stop the negativity, but question why it exists in the first place.
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