New Books Challenge Body Image Struggles in Teens and Families

A new middle-grade novel and a parenting guide are tackling the sensitive issue of body image in young people. The Blue Dress, written by Rebecca K. Morrison, follows a young Iranian immigrant struggling with self-acceptance. Meanwhile, Dr. Joey Skelton’s book Your Child Is Not Their Weight offers parents science-backed advice on fostering healthy habits without harming their child’s self-esteem. Rebecca K. Morrison’s The Blue Dress centres on Yasmin, a thirteen-year-old Iranian immigrant navigating the challenges of fitting in. The story explores how societal expectations and personal insecurities shape her journey toward self-acceptance. Morrison wrote the novel to help adolescent readers feel understood and less isolated in their struggles.

Dr. Joey Skelton, a professor of pediatrics and obesity medicine specialist at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, has co-authored *Your Child Is Not Their Weight* with Dr. Leann L. Birch. Their research highlights how parental fixation on a child’s weight can damage family relationships rather than improve health. The book provides practical strategies for parents to encourage positive body image and healthy behaviours without focusing on weight alone. Skelton’s work emphasises that storytelling, like Morrison’s novel, can help young people process societal pressures. Both books aim to shift the conversation from weight to overall well-being, offering tools for families and adolescents to build confidence and resilience.

Morrison’s novel and Skelton’s parenting guide arrive at a time when body image concerns among young people are growing. The books provide resources for adolescents to embrace their identities and for parents to support their children’s health in constructive ways. Together, they offer a path toward reducing stigma and fostering self-worth.