Rae: My True Story of Fear, Anxiety, and Social Phobia (Guest Post by Irene Roth)

Rae: My True Story of Fear, Anxiety, and Social Phobia
by Chelsea Rae Swiggett
Non-fiction, young adult
Health Communications, Inc., 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7573-1527-5

Rae is a true story of an adolescent girl who really struggles with different psycho-social aspects of her life. She feels uncertain of herself and everyone around her and is unable to function socially. In addition, she is very shy and awkward when she is around adolescents her own age.

Rae suffers from frequent panic attacks. For instance, Rae panics when a plane flies overhead. When she is called on in class to speak up or to make a presentation, this sends her over the edge. She fears the unknown, life, death, people, and even fear itself.

By the time Rae reaches ninth grade, she feels completely isolated and convinced that everyone is mocking her, judging her, and picking her apart. What a painful way to live. No one can keep living this way for too long without some help and encouragement.

As I read this book, I started remembering how awkward I felt when I was an adolescent, and how difficult social interactions with my peers were for me. I found the book absolutely entrancing. The book is written in a style that adolescents will understand and be able to relate to. After reading this book, hopefully adolescent girls will take steps not to fall into similar patterns of destructive patterns and behaviors.
Rating: 4 Roses out of 5
Reviewed by Irene S. Roth

Irene S. Roth is a freelance writer for teens, tweens and kids. She has published over 180 e-zine articles on different topics that are relevant to self-esteem and self-confidence for girls. She maintains two blogs: one writing blog at http://irenesroth.wordpress.com and one adolescent blog at http://adolescentgirlsblog.wordpress.com. She is also a book reviewer for Tyndale Publisher, Booksneeze, SimplyCharly, and Blocritics.