Keep Smashing It: Be Strong, Be Brave, Be Confident
by Jodie Ounsley and Becky Grey, illustrated by Dane Thibeault
Interest age: 9 to 11
Reading age: 9+
Published by Macmillan Children's Books, 2025
About this book
Jodie Ounsley – Fury on TV show Gladiators, as well as a previous England rugby player – wants to help young people discover their dreams, be comfortable living outside of the box, learn that differences are superpowers, speak up for themselves, and develop resilience.
A champion of Deaf and disabled representation in sports, Ounsley is an inspirational role model to all young people as well as those within the Deaf community.
In this heartfelt and empowering book, Ounsley shares her own story with frequent reminders that she has not always been highly successful, and it’s been the times when things were difficult – and she did things that were scary – that gave her the best opportunities to learn and progress.
A clear and engaging read, and deeply inspirational for anyone reading, Keep Smashing It also includes journalling prompts for readers to help them consider areas in their lives where they might need help to build self-confidence, communication skills, and resilience.
There’s also a guide to the British Sign Language alphabet and numbers at the back.
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