Girls Against Girls: Why We Are Mean to Each Other and How We Can Change (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6–10—Burton's accessible text is a guide for girls who are caught up in the malicious gossiping, jealousy, and social shunning that affect so many adolescents. The author neatly outlines the issues and provides common-sense approaches to breaking the cycle of meanness, envy, and passive-aggressive behaviors, and she addresses both the victims and the mean girls themselves. The balance of narrative, white space, and illustration makes this self-help tool easy to comprehend. The well-researched text is punctuated with quotes from female artists and athletes and also includes a good resource guide to finding empowering organizations. The real challenge will be getting the book into readers' hands at the right time. Solid advice presented in an easy-to-read format.—Elaine Baran Black, Georgia Public Library Service, Atlanta
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From Booklist

“We girls can be cruel,” asserts Burton, who, with a direct tone and solid advice, puts the responsibility for change directly on the shoulders of girls themselves, asking them to look closely at their own behavior. Divided into six succinct chapters, the book begins by examining theories of why girls act the way they do, various types of common cruel behaviors, and excellent coping techniques. Later sections provide resources for addressing more serious problems and offer concrete suggestions for how to stop the cycle of female cruelty. Burton never talks down to her readers, nor does she pull her punches. Readers will respond to the author’s clear respect for the painful nature of the problem, while breezy language, such as the sections entitled “Why It Sucks” will draw girls into the practical advice. Quotes from female celebrities scattered throughout reinforce the central idea that girls need to change the mean-girl culture. A great addition for teen collections. Grades 7-10. --Lynn Rutan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Orange Avenue Publishing (February 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097901736X
• ISBN-13: 978-0979017360
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #227,827 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If only I had this book when I was in high school..., May 3, 2009

By	A.D. (Bay Area, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

As an adult, don't you always wonder what would have happened if you had known then what you know now? Growing up, I was oftentimes a victim of a lot of mean girl crimes from elementary to high school. Due to the nature of my youth, I lacked confidence and never really knew how to handle myself in those situations. I was too embarrassed to seek advice from anybody, so I ended up letting those situations get the best of me.

I wish I had Girls Against Girls as a reference guide when I was growing up! Sympathetically written, Bonnie Burton never talks down to her readers. You can tell that she understands today's text-loving & Facebook-surfing generation of girls. Bonnie gets straight to the point by not only offering perceptible solutions, but insight as to why mean girls do what they do.

Sadly however, Bonnie admits that mean girls don't disappear after high school. It's true. While I would absolutely buy this book for my (future) daughter, a lot of the fundamental lessons that I read apply to my life now (I'm 28). So, for all girls out there - from 11 to 92 - I'd highly recommend picking up this handy guide to dealing with (and preventing) all this unnecessary drama!

5.0 out of 5 stars Book to Facilitate Healing, November 1, 2009

By	Diana Rae - See all my reviews

I often feel as if most books about teenage girls acknowledge girl drama, but do not address it holistically. "Girls Against Girls," however, fully explains bullying and abuse among young women through cultural, sociological, and scientific explanations. The book explains brain differences between men and women, the cultural reasons for our problems, and many unexpected factors that contribute to complicated relationships. Have you ever wanted to confront someone about a problem? Have you avoided the conflict and held the anger in because you didn't want to seem unreasonably mean? That's society, coercing you to hold everything in if you want to achieve a sweet, docile image.
The book contains anecdotes and quotes from female authors and performers that support the text. The women make great points: they acknowledge that high school girl drama hurts less with time, but they also explain how to deal with it as it progresses. It's comforting to know that strong, female leaders and artists have experienced petty fights and bullying.
"Girls Against Girls" pulls its concepts together by explaining both bullying tactics and tactics for survival. For everyone who has experienced the silent treatment (yes, you), the book provides methods to eliminate and lessen the pain, but also sympathetically explains why it hurts to be ignored. "Girls Against Girls" also explains methods of cyber-bullying (a trend that most of the contributors did not experience when they were young); the text is modern without seeming cheesy or contrived.
Overall, I feel as if "Girls Against Girls" is an incredibly effective read. The author approaches it with the intention of making her work seem whole, and her goal is achieved. The entire scope of girl drama, (causes and effects), is explained in a personal way that involves the reader. And yes, it is sympathetic, but the book does not fail to acknowledge that every girl can be a mean girl. I would recommend it to anyone who is very curious about bullying and abuse, but I also recommend it to any girl who needs to be completely honest with themselves.