Beautiful Girlhood: Revised by Karen Andreola [Paperback]

Mabel Hale (Author), Karen Andreola (Author, Editor)

Book Description

The book deals primarily with the Christian character development, moral virtues and manners of pre-teen and teenage girls. It is one of the best-selling titles in the homeschooling community.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Great Expectations Book (July 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883934028
• ISBN-13: 978-1883934026
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,083 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Church History > General
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Religions > Christianity > Ages 9-12
  • #50 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Sociology > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

122 of 128 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for any mom & daughter who want to live for God., June 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Beautiful Girlhood: Revised by Karen Andreola (Paperback)

This book, although worded in early 1900's-language, provides timeless guidelines for living a life that is pleasing to God. It brings young ladies out of the world back into Biblical principles and lifestyle. It has practical advice and makes you think about how you present yourself to the world, and how you represent Christ, and how you ARE the bride of Christ. I am a 14-year-old girl who really, really enjoyed this thought-provoking book. I plan to make my little sisters, future daughters and future granddaughters read it. Too many mothers today have been contaminated by the world and pass that on to their daughters, not realizing they are cheating their daughters out of living a life of modesty, of chastity, of purity, and of godly womanhood. If you are a mother, you would do very well to read this book, pray about it, then read it with your daughter and pray some more! If used correctly and with the reading of Scripture and the companion book, Beautiful Girlhood could change your life and the way you view your womanhood. "Being a woman doesn't change the kind of Christian I am, but being a Christian changes the kind of woman I am." Elisabeth Elliot (paraphrased-can't remember exact words! :)

69 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars charming & unexpected, March 1, 2003

By 

violet (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beautiful Girlhood: Revised by Karen Andreola (Paperback)

when i picked this book up, I thought it would be full of silly, stuffy, arcane knowledge.
I was wrong. I was impressed with this book. It is full of sweet, kind advice on different virtues and how to deal with emotions. My favourite part of this book, however, was that it lacked the scary, condescending tone of so many young adult books for adolescent girls have. adolescence is scary enough- this book acknowledges that, and doesn't strike any unnecessary fear into girls about their bodies or minds. I like how it emphasised being a good friend and a good person, and how it was more important to look 'tidy' rather then be beatiful, skinny, etc. Thats what I like most about this book-today young girls are submitted to so much nonsense in the media on how they are 'supposed' to look and so many have low self esteem, eating disorders, etc.
and yes, this book does talk about going on to further education or working after school. not as much as a more modern book would, given the time period, but you can explain that to your girl yourself.
This book doesn't go into the harder aspects of life today-sex, drugs, etc. It really only deals with emotions, friendship, spirituality, etc. however it is a great starting point for young preteens and i reccomend it.

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected., June 7, 2007

By 

Johannah Snyder (Gainesville, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beautiful Girlhood: Revised by Karen Andreola (Paperback)

After reading the reviews posted here, I fully expected that I would dislike this book. I read it, and was very surprised. I do think the book is a product of its time, and I can see that it might appear dated and irrelevant to many readers. However, I think several of the reviewers were unfair. To mention a few examples: The book does not say that women shouldn't wear make up, it says they shouldn't be fixated on their appearance and try to look like the women in make up ads (and if you have seen some of the prepubescent models wearing ridiculously heavy make up, you probably agree that your daughter shouldn't be encouraged to copy this style). The book does assume that many or most of its readers will be housewives, however, it says that proper ambition is good for a girl and she can be a successful businesswoman. It also seems to me that the book has more advice on WHAT a girl says, how kindly she means it, and how gently she expresses it, rather than what her voice naturally sounds like, as one reviewer implied. The idea that everyone (men AND women) should be careful about what they say and the tone they use to say it is hardly unbiblical (see James) or misogynistic (since when does anyone like a snappish, interrupting, crude, bitterly sarcastic person?).

I also noticed, since I'm in a grad school course on adolescent psychology, that in many points this book follows what we know about adolescent development based on scientific research very faithfully (especially identity development, cognitive development, etc). I think all her points are Biblical, and it is useful to have a guide to adolescence that brings together many of the teachings of the Bible in one volume. I would advise parents to consider using this book, and as they read through it together, discuss how the book can best be applied to modern life (I think it is better to train a child to think critically and carefully about every text they read rather than struggle in vain to find something you agree with exactly). I think it would make an interesting conversation starter, at least.