This is not necessarily a book I would ever read aloud, but I believe it would be a great addition to a class library. ( )

This book is a compilation of letters, essays, poems, comic strips, and other forms of writing that gives pre-teen and teen girls advice on life. It covers topics from racism to sexism to being gay to overcoming handicaps. English teachers could use this book as a prompt for journal writing. Girl students could write their reaction and response to what they have just read. Students could also research biographical information on the authors of the book. Psychology teachers can use essays like "It's Not a Crime to Love Science" and "The Wider Your Tires, the Better" as a lead in to the different behaviors of men and women and the way society views them. History teachers can have students read "Get Involved" to show a glimpse of the Civil Rights Movement and "Prejudice Isn't Pretty" to show the treatment of Jews in Germany during Hitler's reign. The book is organized into thirty three separate entries by different authors, such as Sigourney Weaver, Vera Wang, and Natalie Merchant. The back of the book also gives some biographical information on each of the contributors of the book. There is also a table of contents at the front of the book that does not specify the format of writing that each author uses. There does not appear to be any pattern to the way the writings are arranged, so if a student is just looking for poetry she will have to skim through the entire book. The style of writing is different for each entry. While some of the writings are dull and slow-moving, others are humorous and light. However, there is a little bit of something for every girl in this book. ( )

It has been my experience that many writers fancy themselves knowing what teens want or who they are, buy in reality, few do. Bolde has chosen a good collection of "females of distinction" to share things they wish they had known when they were younger. The book is a collection of essays, poems, letters, and comic strips. What I perceive to be the biggest drawback of the book is that most of the contributors are not well known to today's youth, e.g. Lauren Hutton, Sigourney Weaver, and Rebecca Lobo are just a few of the names I think most adolescent girls will not know. Nevertheless, the advice given is timeless. I particularly enjoyed the essay by Johnetta Cole, who ignored the skepticism of well-meaning family and feuled by the encouragement of her mother to pursue her passion, went on to become a prominent cultural anthropologist and president of Spellman College. Some of the entries were kind of a slow-read, but I think the message of girl power is still one woth hearing ( )

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