The Geography of Girlhood [Hardcover]

Kirsten Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2006

The Geography of Girlhood is a raw and powerful novel about a girl navigating the unknownthe difficult limbo between youth and adulthood. Written in verse, the novel follows a girl from ages 14 to 18, exploring first crushes, first dances, first kisses, and the many other dangers of growing up. Kirsten Smiths writing bursts with painfully accurate and sharply witty observations, evoking supercharged emotions with just a simple phrase or two.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up This novel in verse follows Penny as she navigates the unpredictable and often harrowing waters of young adulthood, and her episodic narration reverberates with authenticity. She is a sensitive girl deeply affected by her mother's abandonment when she was six. Though many of the hurdles that Penny encounters are representative of typical small-town teens, she has an insight into other people and even into her own feelings that make this a penetrating portrait of growing up female. The selections touch on the mercurial nature of friendships, envy of an attractive older sister with a boyfriend, self-consciousness about her own body and beauty, longing to be in the in crowd while at the same time deriding the superficial behavior of its members, and adjusting to a stepmother and younger stepbrother. The everyday pain of adolescence rings true throughout this readable and honest story. There is some matter-of-fact mention of sexual situations and underage drinking. However, it is the clarity, the keen understanding, and the apt metaphors that make Penny's voice so memorable. Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 8-11. On her fourth birthday Penny received a globe from her mother: "If you ever need me . . . just remember I'll always be somewhere on here." Two weeks later her mother left, never to return. In a powerful verse novel, Penny charts the landscape of her high-school years--her older sister's wild ways, her best friend's descent into depression, her first boyfriend's accidental death, her crush on a teacher, her father's new marriage, her protective relationship of her younger stepbrother, and, always, her longing for her missing mother. Overcome by the pain in her life, Penny runs away with her sister's ex-boyfriend, but realizes it's a mistake and returns home to heal. The geography metaphor and wanderlust theme successfully connect the poems, some of which were published previously in literary journals, and the emotions of high-school and small-town life are beautifully expressed: "nothing ever happens / and if it does / all the things with wings / fly away." Give this to Sonya Sones' fans or teens who have read Stephanie Hemphill's Things Left Unsaid (2005). Cindy Dobrez
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316160210
• ISBN-13: 978-0316160216
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,883,146 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Debut Novel, May 10, 2006

By 

FictionAddiction.NET - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Geography of Girlhood (Hardcover)

Penny was abandoned by her mother at a young age. She is dealing with a complicated family life, relationships, friendships and all the rest of those awkward situations that teenagers have to endure.

With each turn of the page is a new poem to let the reader in on the trials and tribulations of Penny. Her words flow and sing the highs and lows of young womanhood.

Kirsten Smith will have readers laughing and crying within a few pages with her very raw and real character. This is a must read for anyone who has ever been young, confused or in need of a wonderfully fresh read.

Young girls will relate to the emotional overload that Penny goes through. Boys, love, life and friends are only a small part of this fresh and beautiful story.

The Geography of Girlhood is a powerful novel completely written in poetic verse. Smith takes it straight on and writes in a no-holds-barred style that readers will appreciate.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Charming young adult book, November 15, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Geography of Girlhood (Hardcover)

This is the story of Penny Morrow, who, like so many others at any given time, is in the process of growing up and leaving childhood behind.

Penny is ready for this. There have been things in her life, in the past, that Penny has not been ready for--like losing her mother. She wants to grow up and live outside of her home and family now. Outside of the house, she goes to parties and meets a boy. Inside it, she gets a new stepmother and stepbrother. Penny is growing up and her life is changing, and there's no turning back the clock.

The Geography of Girlhood is a great story told in wonderful free-verse poetry that flows nicely and is easily understood. It's easy to follow the story and appreciate the poetry at the same time.

Kristen Smith has written various popular movies and her poetry has appeared many places, so it is not surprising that she has chosen a verse novel to write; combining two things she knows best, good stories and great poetry.

Kirsten Smith has told a brilliant story that is even more brilliant because of the form in which it is told, in verse. Even people who do not believe that they like poetry will be pulled into this story, with its lifelike characters and a plot that can be understood by anyone who has been through or is going through the often painful process of growing up--that is to say, all of us.

Armchair Interviews says: Nice, nice read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Positives and Negatives, March 3, 2010

By 

Jennifer Miller "Kaydence" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Geography of Girlhood (Paperback)

My thoughts:
Positive:

* This went with my my theme of reading novels written in poetry.
* It reminded me of how I was in high school. I was kinda lost and floating through friends. Although, I never ran away.
* It's much like a movie.

Negative:

* It's extremely sad with no real ending.
* I think that she doesn't ever realize how much she was taken advantage of and that would have been a strong lesson to learn.
* It can be a little bit too like a movie and not completely believable.