This enthusiastic self-help book by a journalist and Olympic-level table-tennis player was originally published in the UK. Syed, of Pakistani and Welsh heritage, shares the secrets of his success to help readers progress from life as "Kid Average" to their own "personal awesomeness," and the overall lesson is that it takes time, practice, making mistakes, being open to feedback, and some neuroplasticity. Readers will decide just how motivating the table-tennis examples are, and the many British references may limit the book's appeal, as the struggles of Great Britain's 2016 women's field hockey team, for example, may be taken for granted by American youths. Happily, Syed also provides more familiar examples of people who have persevered, such as Benjamin Franklin, Simone Biles, J.K. Rowling, and Jay-Z. The author acknowledges the anxieties and pressure that many kids face and encourages a growth mindset in making one's dreams of success come true. The visual design, featuring many dynamic fonts, inspirational quotes, and energetic drawings in black, gray, and yellow, succeeds in being upbeat and encouraging.

Champion table tennis player Syed begins this encouragement book by chronicling his own story of how he grew up believing he was average until he began to master the sport.The goal of this book is to help kids realize that they needn't necessarily be born with a certain gift or talent—that maybe success is a combination of hard work, the right mentors, and a strong support system. In the chapter "What's Holding Me Back?" Syed offers a variety of ways a young person can begin to reflect on who they really are and define what their true passion may be. The following chapters stress the importance of practice, coping with pressure, and honoring mistakes as human rather than failure. Throughout the book, Syed highlights those he terms "Famous Failures," including Steve Jobs, Jay-Z, and Jennifer Lawrence, while also providing a spotlight for those who mastered their talent by perseverance, such as Serena Williams, the Brontë sisters, and David Beckham. Though this self-help book has good intentions, however, it is a little heavy-handed on the perpetuation of an achievement-oriented life. Perhaps it is also good to acknowledge that not everybody need aspire to someone else's definition of greatness.Maybe it's "awesome" to be average. (Nonfiction. 9-13)