Wow! This is our next-to-last prompt for the 2021 RPL Teen Reading Challenge. It’s hard to believe that we are so close to the end. Like our last prompt, Prompt #11 “Read something by or about a teen entrepreneur” was a bit tricky. There are not a ton of books out there that feature teens in business. So, I was a little liberal when creating this list. Regardless, I think you will find the books and resources I included very interesting. Read on readers—for some fun reading recommendations!
Books:
The Henna Wars by Adib Jaigirdar
Nishat doesn’t want to lose her family, but she also doesn’t want to hide who she is, and it only gets harder once a childhood friend walks back into her life. Flávia is beautiful and charismatic, and Nishat falls for her instantly. But when a school competition invites students to create their own businesses, both Flávia and Nishat decide to showcase their talent as henna artists. In a fight to prove who is the best, their lives become more tangled–but Nishat can’t quite get rid of her crush, especially since Flávia seems to like her back. As the competition heats up, Nishat has a decision to make: stay in the closet for her family, or put aside her differences with Flávia and give their relationship a chance.
Taking something that you’re good at, that you love doing, and that is unique to you or your family’s heritage, is a great way to start a business!
Charming as a Verb by Ben Phillipe
Henri “Halti” Haltiwanger can charm just about anyone. But his easy smile masks a burning ambition to attend his dream college, Columbia University. There is only one person who seems immune to Henri’s charms: his “intense” classmate and neighbor Corinne Troy. When she uncovers Henri’s less-than-honest dog-walking scheme, she blackmails him into helping her change her image at school. Henri agrees, seeing a potential upside for himself. Soon what started as a mutual hustle turns into something more surprising than either of them ever bargained for.
What better way to make money than spending time with dogs?! Just don’t be like Halti. Make sure you start your business on the up and up. Honesty is the key to success!
It Started with Goodbye by Christina June
Sixteen-year-old Tatum Elsea is bracing for the worst summer of her life. After being falsely accused of a crime, she’s stuck under stepmother-imposed house arrest and her BFF’s gone ghost. Tatum fills her newfound free time with community service by day and working at her covert graphic design business at night (which includes trading emails with a cute cello-playing client). When Tatum discovers she’s not the only one in the house keeping secrets, she finds she has the chance to make amends with her family and friends. Equipped with a new perspective, and assisted by her feisty step-abuela-slash-fairy-godmother, Tatum is ready to start fresh and maybe even get her happy ending along the way.
As a teen entrepreneur, you’ll have to figure out how your business fits in with school. A self-paced business, such as Tatum’s graphic design business, is perfect for students who have educational commitments during the day.
A Paperboy’s Fable: The 11 Principles of Success By Deep Patel
A young man learns that there is more to being successful than the bottom line. A Paperboy’s Fable is a concise, entertaining fable that makes revolutionary points using age old principles. Whether someone is opening a lemonade stand or leading a startup software company, the 11 Principles of Success make A Paperboy’s Fable a timeless tale that is as fresh as it is universal. A Paperboy’s Fable also features interviews with many professors, entrepreneurs, CEO’s and General David Petraeus.
Whether you are just starting out, or taking your business to the next level, this book will set you up with tried and true strategies to find success.
The Making of a Young Entrepreneur: A Kid’s Guide to Developing the Mind-set for Success by Gabrielle J. Williams
A 16-year-old earning $60,000 a month working with such clients as IBM and Microsoft? A 14-year-old earning $1.2 million in a year . . . making jam? The number of child entrepreneurs has increased unimaginably over the past 20 years, and this rate will not decrease anytime soon. The Making of a Young Entrepreneur is geared toward helping kids build a solid business foundation using the same principles the author employed when she started her own business at age 9. This book is a golden display of the heart of a young girl who wants to see people reach their full potential by refusing to be spectators of their own dreams!
No dream is out of reach! The Making of a Young Entrepreneur shows readers how real life teens have gone on to make millions, setting themselves up for bright futures in business and in life.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey
Groundbreaking and universal, Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has been one of the most popular motivational books of all time. Now Stephen’s son, Sean, has transformed this best-selling message into a life-changing book for teenagers, parents, grandparents, and any adult who influences young people. At a time when everything from planning what to wear to a party to dealing with an alcoholic friend can seem overwhelming and complex, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens will bring a special perspective and focus to the lives of young people everywhere. Sean Covey speaks directly to teenagers in a language they can really understand and relate to, providing a step-by-step guide to help them improve self-image, build friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve their goals, get along with their parents, and much more.
The text is a classic. There’s a reason that it’s still being published over 20 years later. Learn about habits that will set you up for success in school, business, and anything else you set your mind to.
Teen Trailblazers : 30 Fearless Girls Who Changed the World Before They Were 20 by Jennifer Calvert
Joan of Arc. Anne Frank. Cleopatra. Pocahontas. Mary Shelley. Many of these heroines are well-known. But have you heard of Sybil Ludington, a 16-year-old daughter of an American colonel who rode twice as far as the far better-remembered Paul Revere to warn the militia that the British army was invading? This fascinating book features 30 young women who accomplished remarkable things before their twentieth birthdays. Visually compelling with original illustrations, this book will inspire the next generation of strong, fearless women.
With profiles of so many strong, smart, successful women throughout history, readers are sure to be inspired to create their own legacies!
Articles:
- Entrepreneur magazine recently published this article on “16 Teen Founders Who Are Building Big Businesses — and Making Big Money.” that may inspire you.
- Here’s an article from Career Addict that highlights “The 9 Most Successful Teen Entrepreneurs in the World.”
- Ready to start your own business? Here’s an article from Nerd Wallet with “28 Business Ideas for Teens.”
- Need some funds to get your business started? There are lots of scholarships you can apply for. Here’s one that just passed but that you can put on your radar for next year. Use the searchbar on this page to search for many more!
- Finally, Teen Business is a website with a plethora of resources for teen entrepreneurs. From profiles, to business plans, to investment tips, you’ll find it all here.
There you have it, folks! Hopefully one or more of these books has your entrepreneural spirit activated. Are there any other entrepreneural books that you recommend? Feel free to tag us on social media and share what you’re reading #2021rplteenreadingchallenge
Happy reading!
To visit (or revisit) my previous posts on the 2021 RPL Reading Challenge, follow these links:
The original post with info on how the challenge works.
Prompt 1 – Immigration in the U.S.
Prompt 2 – Teen Activism
Prompt 3 – Body Positivity
Prompt 4 – Protecting Our Environment
Prompt 5 – Shared Talents
Prompt 6 – Juneteenth
Prompt 7 – Will Make You Laugh
Prompt 8 – Recommended by Someone You Admire
Prompt 9 – 9/11
Prompt 10 – By or About a Senior Citizen
Check back next month for suggestions to fulfill Prompt 12, “A topic you’ve always wanted to learn about.”