Mental health matters are unpacked through philosophy and quirky challenges in Ben Aldridge's uplifting first YA title, Seriously Happy, in which the author mixes personal stories and succinct synopses of teachings from OG philosophers. Alongside Aristotle and Socrates, Aldridge also includes insights from lesser-known great minds like Bao Gu, a Chinese female Taoist physician, and Nigerian philosopher Orunmila, to show readers how to be confident, decisive, and resilient.
Each chapter homes in on specific wellbeing drivers such as confidence, growth mindset, decision-making, resilience, and relationships to encourage teens to consider a fresh approach to managing stress and emotional balance. Aldridge also includes unorthodox challenges to proactively boost one's mood, like "walking a banana" or "shame attacking" ("deliberately exposing ourselves to embarrassing situations" to become desensitized to them). But not all of Aldridge's suggestions are so offbeat: he wisely counterbalances the outrageous with plenty of practical tips, such as doing a digital detox, taking cold showers, nixing negative self-talk, and creating positive daily routines.
Young adult readers will likely be as drawn to designer Michelle Brackenborough's monochromatic graphics as they will be to the ancient philosophical narratives Aldridge unpacks throughout. The illustrations give the work a friendly feel and provide a bit of levity to the author's candid descriptions of his own struggles with severe anxiety and panic attacks. Aldridge's accessible, informative work plainly states that everyone deserves happiness in their lives, but is clear that what constitutes "happiness" is different for all of us. --Rachel Werner, author and teaching artist at Hugo House, Lighthouse Writers Workshop and The Loft Literary Center.