Rising Troublemaker: A Fear-Fighter Manual for Teens

by Luvvie Ajayi Jones

Overview

*AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!*

In this young readers edition of her New York Times bestseller Professional Troublemaker, Luvvie Ajayi Jones uses her honesty and humor to inspire teens to be their bravest, boldest, truest selves, in order to create a world they would be proud to live in.

The world can feel like a dumpster fire, with endless things to be afraid of. It can make you feel powerless to ask for what you need, use your voice, and show up truly as your whole self. Add the fact that often, people might make you feel like your way of showing up is TOO MUCH.

BE TOO MUCH, and use it for good. That is what it means to be a troublemaker. In this book, Luvvie Ajayi Jones - bestseller of books, sorceress of side-eyes and critic of culture - gives you the permission you might need to be the troublemaker you are, or wish to be. This is the book she needed when she was the kid who got in trouble for her mouth when she spoke up about what she felt was not fair. This is the book she needed when kids made fun of her Nigerian accent. This is the book that she needed when it was time to call herself a writer, but she was too scared.

As a Rising Troublemaker, you need to know that the beautiful, audacious life you want is on the other side of doing the things that will scare you. This book will help you face and fight your fear and start living that life ASAP.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593526033
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	05/17/2022
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	77,529
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Luvvie Ajayi Jones is an award-winning author, speaker, and podcast host, who thrives at the intersection of humor, media, and justice. She is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Professional Troublemaker and I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual. Luvvie is an internationally recognized speaker, and she runs a community for disruptors, called LuvvNation.
Find out more about Luvvie at Luvvie.org, and follow her on Instagram and Twitter @Luvvie.

Read an Excerpt

“Readers are given the confidence to demand more, without feeling guilty or judged. Young people, especially Black teen girls, will appreciate Jones’ affirmations and kick-ass self-empowerment wisdom. Highly recommended." –Booklist, starred review
 
“The author’s conversational tone and transparent honesty include opening up about her own moments of growth. The goal of dismantling fear is presented in an easy-to-understand format that makes it seem possible. Overall, the narrative’s humor and humility make for an engaging and thought-provoking read. An honest guide for personal growth and fighting injustice." –Kirkus

Table of Contents

Introduction: Make Good Trouble xi

Be

1 Know Yourself 3

2 Be Too Much 23

3 Dream Audaciously 49

4 Own Your Dopeness 67

Say

5 Speak the Truth 87

6 Fail Loudly 117

7 Ask for More 133

8 Get Your Money 147

9 Draw Your Lines 161

Do

10 Find Your Helpers 185

11 Grow Wildly 207

12 Take No Sh*t 225

13 Fight Fear 239

Acknowledgments 249

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Rising Troublemaker:

“Readers are given the confidence to demand more, without feeling guilty or judged. Young people, especially Black teen girls, will appreciate Jones’ affirmations and kick-ass self-empowerment wisdom. Highly recommended." –Booklist, starred review
 
“The author’s conversational tone and transparent honesty include opening up about her own moments of growth. The goal of dismantling fear is presented in an easy-to-understand format that makes it seem possible. Overall, the narrative’s humor and humility make for an engaging and thought-provoking read. An honest guide for personal growth and fighting injustice." –Kirkus

From the Publisher

2022-04-27
A self-proclaimed Nigerian auntie dispenses the keys to the kingdoms of self-actualization, self-acceptance, and self-love to teen readers.

Writer, speaker, and thought leader Ajayi Jones adapts her 2021 title for adults, Professional Troublemaker, laying out a plan to help teens speak up for themselves and speak truth to power. Referencing John Lewis in her introduction, the author explains the difference between troublemaking for good versus being disruptive for negative reasons. The benefits of troublemaking are conceptualized as the aligning of readers’ core values, what brings them joy, and their sense of inherent worthiness: When these three are in balance, they combine to help readers advocate for themselves and others. An early chapter includes Ajayi Jones’ grandmother’s Yoruba oríkì, or praise poem. Oríkìs can inspire confidence, and readers are guided to use them as inspiration for creating their own mission statements. The chapters, divided into sections labeled “Be,” “Say,” and “Do,” present actions readers can take that will lead them toward remaining true to themselves and becoming allies for their communities, including daring to dream audaciously, paying attention to financial wellness, and embracing change and discomfort. The author’s conversational tone and transparent honesty include opening up about her own moments of growth. The goal of dismantling fear is presented in an easy-to-understand format that makes it seem possible. Overall, the narrative’s humor and humility make for an engaging and thought-provoking read.

An honest guide for personal growth and fighting injustice. (Nonfiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews