Wholesome And Necessary – ‘You’re Strong, Smart, and You Got This’: Review

“Whimsical illustrations with a powerful message” was the first line when I read about this book. Intrigued, I kept reading to learn what the book was about and who the author was. The art looked familiar, and being cute and colorful, caught my attention immediately. “I wrote this book for my younger self, a person who grappled with feeling isolated, alien, lost, anxious, depressed, and who wrongly believed I was responsible for ALL of it…” wrote the author, Kate Allan, in a Tumblr post. She continued: “You’re Strong, Smart contains kindly written letters towards a struggling, younger me, as well as over a hundred colorful, affirming animal illustrations. I hope you find it helpful for what you’re going through, and if you don’t, it’s still awful cute and pretty to look at.” I appreciate when creatives add to the ongoing conversation around mental health. Even more so when they are helping to highlight ways we can all open up lines of dialogue with others via more accessible avenues. With titles of chapters such as “This is for when you can’t see what’s ahead.” and “You belong here, I promise.” this little book packs a lot in under two-hundred pages.

A Journey to Wellness Kate Allan’s book is not a catch-all. It won’t completely cure you of depression or make every day you wake up and glance upon this book a happy one. And it is not meant to be. That is not Allan’s mission. That’s work for you and the folks you allow in your life, from loved ones to professionals, to wo…