Book Review
Title: Teens of Today
Author: Aliyya Bolajoko Olowolagba
Reviewer: Omolola Yekini
Publisher: Uthman Printing Concern
Pagination: 152
Teens of Today by Aliyya Bolajoko Olowolagba is an insightful and thought-provoking exploration of the lives and challenges, behaviours and potentials of the modern teenagers.
Even though the 152-page book is a novel of 12 chapters is the story of Tochy a 16 years girl, it is a self-help book that offers guidance and inspiration to teenagers navigating the challenges of adolescence, such as building confidence, self-esteem, developing positive relationship with family and friends, making informed decisions about education, career and life, etc.
It is interesting to note that the book, Teen of Today is Olowolagba’s first. She was in SS3 when she wrote the book, and is currently an undergraduate. Today, Olowolagba is a motivational speaker and youth advocate, who is passionate about empowering young people and helping them navigate the challenges of adolescence.
Using the life of Tochy, the main character, her work also explores into the complexity of adolescent life marked by the rapid pace of technological advancement, social pressures, struggle for identity, the impact of social media and the complexities of the growing fast paced interconnected world.
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In work, we find Tochy, a teenager who is more advanced than her age, has a mentor named Lady D, an older woman, whose advice turned out to help the protagonist in the future. Using both characters as a case study, the author highlights how the young ones can be easily influenced and why we should never judge a book by its cover. Both of them share a deep bond that Tochy did not even share with her mum.
The book also explores the consequences of domestic violence in the life of a teenager. We see that Tochy mum, who is constantly beaten up by her dad and continues to endure the abuse due to societal pressure and lack of options, eventually creates a toxic family environment for the teenager.
One of the book’s strengths is its ability to bridge the generational gap, fostering understanding and encouraging adults to approach young people with empathy rather than being judgemental. Olowolagba calls for a collaborative effort to guide teenagers, emphasising the importance of mentorship, open communication, and a supportive environment to help them thrive.
Olowolagba’s novel is driving an important conversation of teenage life, and is a valuable resource for parents, educators and anyone invested in the wellbeing of today’s youth. It is a recommended read for anyone seeking to better understand the unique world of today’s youth.