To be unique is to be powerful. Speaking about this in the literal sense, 17-year-old Juliette Ferrars is a girl whose touch kills. Living in a world of ordinary people, she’s always been an outcast. Not only was she strongly disliked, she was strongly feared as well. Because of this, she was locked away in an asylum, disconnected from all human interaction. Fear is our initial reaction to diversity because we subconsciously know that people who are different have the opportunity to obtain power. Some may be jealous of those who are openly diverse because they yearn for the ability to be confident and well-asserted in their skin as well. The root of Juliette’s conflict is insecurity, and the story proves how she defeats it. Shatter Me, composed by Tahereh Mafi, focuses on Juliette and her journey of accepting not only her powers, but herself as well. This book will resonate with many teenagers because although we cannot kill someone with the simplicity of a touch, self-acceptance is one of our biggest hardships.

Shatter Me is the first installment of a 6 book series, excluding the novellas. After accidentally killing a young boy with her touch, Juliette is forced to reside in an asylum. She is assumed to be a monstrous creature, incapable of empathy or basic human emotions. However, in reality, she’s a girl with a huge heart who just wants to be accepted by the judgmental society surrounding her. Not only does this book illustrate Juliette’s feelings of inferiority while trying to navigate her powers, emotions, and the world around her; it also has a subplot of romance. She finds an unexpected flame with a man she once hated, attempts to find people with powers like her, makes friends and enemies, and serves as an inspiration for readers.

This book is easy to read and enjoy, but as mentioned previously, it also emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance which is something many of us teenagers are in need of. Juliette’s character development is drastic because she starts off as a frail, scared girl in an asylum and grows into a woman who is confident in herself and her powers. Once she came to terms with the fact that she was different and those differences didn’t have to be negative, she was able to thrive as a person. This mindset should be utilized by teens because we often pressure ourselves to uphold a certain image to be considered socially acceptable by our peers. Maintaining this image eliminates the qualities that make up your person, and your overall happiness. When you accept yourself -flaws and all- you will accept the opportunity to live a more fulfilling life. It is astronomically important to love yourself, and that’s one of the many messages conveyed throughout the book. To sum this up, self-love is of the essence, especially during adolescence. So choose to love yourself and release the insecurity that festers inside of you. It will weigh you down and plague the thoughts in your head, so release it to be happy. Release it to be free.