Stand Beautiful

A story of brokenness, beauty and embracing it all

by Chloe Howard, Margot Starbuck

On Sale: 2018-05-29

Book Summary

Stand Beautiful, written by international speaker and TEDx presenter Chloe Howard, details one teen’s ability to overcome injustice and self-doubt, causing her to live fully and embrace her unique self. Readers will discover empowerment and encouragement to boldly stand beautiful.

About the Book

Have you ever been bullied? Betrayed by a friend? Critical of who you see in the mirror every day? Born with a clubfoot and enduring intense physical and emotional pain because of it, international speaker, TEDx speaker, and anti-bullying author Chloe Howard will help you overcome the pain and struggles in your own life, coming alongside you as a friend on your journey to live happy and free.

You are enough. You are a daughter of God. And no matter how hard life gets, you don’t have to do it alone. In Stand Beautiful, Chloe shares her story of being bullied about a birth defect as a freshman and how it helped her not only overcome self-doubt, it also gave her the courage to rise up and speak out to help others.

Ultimately, Stand Beautiful will inspire young people ages 12 and up to:

  • Be brave and find beauty within diversity
  • Speak up against injustice and stand up for what is right
  • Redefine beauty as more than what the eye can see
  • Stop being self-destructive and choose self-empowerment

Fueled by a powerful encounter with Bono from the band U2, Stand Beautiful features:

  • A special insert with full-color pictures of Chloe’s journey
  • A “Lessons Learned” section that highlights valuable lessons every teen should know
  • An “Interview with Chloe” section that gives readers details about her favorite iTunes playlist, books on her bookshelf, and much more
  • The encouragement and hope teens need to accept their unique selves, just as they are

Reviews

'Chloe's personal journey inspires us to not give up, to know that we are not disabled but enabled, and that it's not about how we show up but how God shows up in us. Her story emboldens us to embrace God's work within us--that in the midst of pain, isolation, and hurt, we can stand entirely and fully beautiful!'

'Like Emily Doe, Chloe Howard transformed her victimhood into a superpower. These remarkable young women share the gift of inspiration. Being the victim of a crime can make you feel mute and powerless. But Chloe uses her strength, her spirituality, and her clear, powerful voice to call out to those who have suffered bullying. Chloe's ode to finding self-worth is an important message for anyone who has felt the sting of self-doubt or the humiliation of harassment: Stand Beautiful.'

'This is a must-read book for all victims of abuse/bullying and their abusers/bulliers. It is also a must-read for all individuals with physical differences and their health care providers. Chloe's message is pertinent and timely. Her communication style is eloquent, engaging, and endearing. This book has changed me; I believe I will be a better doctor for having read her words and for considering this outcome measure not found in any published clinical research article that I have written or read. We, as health care providers, cannot make everything normal, but we can and should be better attuned to the difference between medical 'success' and patient life experiences.'

X

'Chloe's story Stand Beautiful is a contemporary, vulnerable account of personal experience, empathy, and evangelism that serves as an inspiring reminder that we are all unique, broken, and imperfect; yet God unconditionally sees us, accepts us, and loves us. It's a beautiful testimony of trust, transformation, and triumph--in Jesus.'

'Chloe's powerful reflection of her abuse at the hands of young bullies and the lessons she has learned on her journey make Stand Beautiful a gift of hope to anyone who has faced humiliation and wondered if any good could ever come from it. It's a gripping story with a strong message for anyone who wants to rise above the spirit of darkness in our world today and bring hope that we can do better.'

'Like Emily Doe, Chloe Howard transformed her victimhood into a superpower. These remarkable young women share the gift of inspiration. Being the victim of a crime can make you feel mute and powerless. But Chloe uses her strength, her spirituality, and her clear, powerful voice to call out to those who have suffered bullying. Chloe's ode to finding self-worth is an important message for anyone who has felt the sting of self-doubt or the humiliation of harassment: Stand Beautiful.'

X

'Wow. I'm impressed. And I don't say this lightly. Chloe's book is incredible. The strength this seventeen-year-old shares while in the midst of bullying is appropriate not only for teens but for adults who experience tough battles in life. We all get knocked down, but Chloe's resolve, tenacity, and solidity through the worst times in her life are an encouragement to all of us! Again: WOW.'

X

'Stand Beautiful is a powerful and meaningful book that needs to be read, understood, and appreciated. The author, although young, has much to say, and there is much to be learned from her writing. I teach a class in Disabilities, and this is the kind of text that can be used to help students, as well as others, navigate the importance and complexities that surround this subject.'

X

'In a world that tends to whisper you're 'never enough,' there is a need for voices and stories that affirm that we really are. Chloe's voice is one of those--she doesn't hide her pain; rather, she finds purpose in sharing it. Anyone reading this book will begin to see that personal heartbreak and pain can often lead us toward our greatest strengths and triumphs. Her story is a brave movement of love, one that we can be a part of if we dare to stand beautiful in our own way.'

X

'Mark Twain once said, 'The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you discover why.' Chloe has written a beautiful account of the way in which her own experience of human suffering arising from a birth defect helped her discover God's greater purpose for her life. Her sensitive, articulate account demonstrates that there is nothing predictable in this process. In fact, Chloe's amazing story unveils her own discovery of why her life was created, how she is fearfully and wonderfully made, and what her life contribution will ultimately include. This book is sure to bring hope and comfort to countless millions who must pivot away from the crucibles of suffering at the hands of other humans to find God's greater purposes for their life. Chloe's narrative is sure to inspire a positive, hopeful engagement with all that life brings.'X

'As a TEDx organizer, I'm focused on the result of our speakers' efforts: The Talk. But in this book, I could instead focus on Chloe's experience as she traveled toward the red circle. Her gift for expressing deep thoughts helped bring those weeks to life for me, and her struggles with insecurities and doubts put a lens on the challenges she faced before taking that first step onto the stage. Rarely do we meet people who are gifted communicators, both in creating well-crafted stories and possessing the poise necessary to present them in a high-stakes setting. Chloe's insight into the turmoil within a teenager's psyche is immensely readable.'

X

'I've been working with teenagers for more than thirty-five years; and while there are many reasons I continue, one of my top reasons is how hopeful I continue to find them to be. Reading a story like Chloe's could be discouraging if you focus on the problems it reveals. But, ultimately, it's a story of overcoming, a story of redemption, a story of passion to change the world--and we all need more of that ... I know I do.'

XX

'Chloe Howard is a true world changer. There is nothing more inspiring than someone who harnesses a painful experience for good. And there is no better example of that transformational spirit than Chloe. Being lucky enough to witness Chloe's meeting with Bono and see the incredible good she's done with that inspiration since inspires me to be braver in fighting for good, and I believe Stand Beautiful will do that for you as well.'XX

'Think of a quilt, a homemade-with-love-kind of blanket with all the different squares. Got it? Now, on those squares, write the repeated words provision, protection, meaning, and belonging. These are the four basic desires of us, as humans, that are all woven together like a quilt in this quest for our humanity. The squares of us intertwine to create a beautiful picture through us, but only one square at a time. However, every once in a while, I hear a story, meet a human, that brings us beyond our own pictures and lets us look upon the whole tapestry that is humanity at one time. Chloe's story will cover you with the common threads of humanity, give you a bigger picture of your own story, and challenge you to stand beautiful in your own square of this beautiful thing called life. This is not a book, but a vision.'
XX

Product Details

  • Imprint: Zondervan
  • On Sale: 2018-05-29
  • Pages: 208
  • Publisher: Zondervan
  • Publication Date: 2018-05-29
  • Trim Size: 151.000mm x 227.000mm x 17.000mm
  • Weight: 244.000gr