Book Review: Supercharge Your Body and Brain Power

Reviewed by Tomi Alo

A causal yet insightful guide for young teens to embrace the challenges of adolescence

Supercharge Your Body and Brain Power is a guidebook that helps children and teens navigate the overwhelming adolescence stage. This second installment in the Talking About Adolescence series covers several crucial topics, ranging from how the body changes through puberty to how the brain continues to develop during adolescence and beyond.

Author Chang-Lim divides this helpful book into three main parts: “Your Exciting Journey From Childhood To Adulthood,” “Your Precious Brain Is Developing,” and “How To Nurture And Supercharge Your Developing Brain And Body.”Each section delves into different aspects of growing from a young child into a young adult, using facts, studies, and practical advice to explain the physical and mental development. 

The second section, “Your Precious Brain is Developing,” is an easy favorite. It explores the complexities of our brain and how it changes throughout adolescence—how it continues to develop, change, and reorganize well into adulthood. This section lays out the structure of our brain skillfully and with insight on the components responsible for everyday activities like critical thinking. I now understand why I struggle with planning and  completing my tasks; my prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed!

“Even though our brain neurons can continue to learn and build new connections throughout our lives…adolescence is the prime time for your brain to learn and advance.”

Supercharge Your Body and Brain Power also takes a dip into heavy topics such as addiction, childhood trauma, and mental health (although this is explored more in the third section of the book). Chang-Lim emphasizes the importance of maintaining a good habit and being able to control our emotions during our adolescence. She provides an overview of the risks and consequences of substance use and offers ways that can help teens from falling victim to a dangerous and consuming lifestyle.

“Drugs and alcohol might seem like an escape, but they only trap you in a cycle of pain and despair. You deserve better than that.”

Although there are times when this book might feel like a mini biology or health textbook, its conversational and engaging writing style brings out the difference and elevates it to something much more. Supercharge Your Body and Brain Power easily blends scientific facts or information without overwhelming its reader or losing them. Using words like teensy-weensy or comparing the rhythms of the brain to a conductor directing a symphony, Chang-Lim adds a playful and relatable tone to the book, making complex concepts feel more approachable. 

There are also analogies and reflective questions that help with the interactive nature of the guidebook. There is an especially cool Minecraft analogy of how the brain works that will entice Minecrafters and a flower analogy on how to nurture your body and brain.  

The book offers lots of tips to young adults on how to live healthier and more fulfilling lives by eating regularly, self-reflecting, building a strong mindset, reading a list of catered book recommendations, and many more.

But young teens and adults stand to gain a lot more than information about their ongoing changes in Supercharge Your Body and Brain Power. The book offers a comprehensive list of resources, which includes where to find help if a teen is struggling with mental health or addiction, who to call or text, links to YouTube videos, and websites for young readers to go further with their research.

Supercharge Your Body and Brain Power teaches its reader that while the adolescence stage can be a tough and stressful period, it can be equally rewarding as they grow into themselves and learn more about who they are. 

Thank you for reading Tomi Alo’s book review of Supercharge Your Body and Brain Power by Eichin Chang-Lim! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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