The Girls' Guide to Life: How to Take Charge of the Issues That Affect You [Paperback]

Catherine Dee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997

A handbook for girls ages ten to sixteen familiarizes them with the basic issues affecting girls and women today and explains how to cultivate a healthy self-image, presenting a mix of facts, activities, profiles, poems, and resource lists.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. The black-and-white photos are fuzzy and the sketches amateurish, but this jumble of poetry, advice, information, and first-person experience is an accessible, refreshingly nonstrident means of introducing young women to feminist issues of today. Self-esteem, political awareness, cultural stereotypes, and sexual harassment are but a few of the matters presented, all of which are fortified with suggestions for actively involving readers in expanding their horizons in school, at work, and at home or helping them learn more about themselves as individuals. Eclectic lists of readings and relevant addresses are featured, and there is a bibliography aimed at adults. Source notes; some fill-in-the-blank sections; a pullout poster. Stephanie Zvirin

From Kirkus Reviews

A fact-packed and thought-provoking information and activity book from Dee, who notes that she grew up with Marlo Thomas's groundbreaking Free to Be You . . . and Me. With her definition of a feminist (a person ``of either gender who believes in equality for both genders''), Dee establishes her notions of the struggle for equality, and provides enthusiastic support for girls in many arenas. Some topics covered: being ``ladylike''; personal safety; assertive behavior in the classroom; sexual harassment; athletics and politics; advertising images of girls and women. The format is inviting, with quizzes, projects, cartoons, poetry, and excerpts from authors--Maya Angelou and Gloria Steinem among them. Extensive source material is appended (notes, lists of organizations, bibliographies) as well as meted out at logical intervals throughout the book. The attractive chapters, numerous black-and-white illustrations and photographs, and abundant information offered with Dee's light touch add up to a pleasing and valuable guide, not necessarily to be overlooked by members of either sex. (index, not seen, chronology, notes) (Nonfiction. 10+) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 147 pages
• Publisher: Megan Tingley; 1 edition (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316179523
• ISBN-13: 978-0316179522
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,376,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi!

Here's a little background on my books.

The first one was The Girls' Guide to Life, published in 1997 and now in its second edition (2005). I love this book because it helps girls develop strong self-esteem, fight sexism in the media, and stand up for themselves in general. When I wrote it, there was a real lack of books to help girls in these areas, and I loved being able to provide that kind of book.

I've also done a series of small books for girls--most notably The Girls' Book of Wisdom--a bunch of cool quotations I put together especially for girls. The other books are The Girls' Book of Friendship (practical advice on making and keeping pals), The Girls' Book of Success and The Girls' Book of Love.

They've won awards and been translated for distribution internationally. Hallmark did a Gold Crown (hard cover) edition of The Girls' Book of Friendship. It cracks me up that this book is just as popular with women of all ages as it is with girls..

My favorite moments these days are when I get an e-mail or letter from a girl telling me that she loved one or the other of the books, or just saying hi. There is nothing better!

I hope you'll visit my web site, www.empowergirls.com. It has a quiz for girls, "quips & tips" for parents, recommended books, etc.

Cheers!

Catherine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book of the Century (no kidding!), November 14, 2001

By 

Kevin Reardon "kareardo" (Sunnyvale, ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Girls' Guide to Life: How to Take Charge of the Issues That Affect You (Paperback)

This book is a great work, probably the best of the Century. OK, I'm a guy. But I do have four nieces that are growing up quite well. Better now because of this book. I wish I had a book like this for guys when I was their age. It well explains the complexities in life we adults usually learn the hard way. A more level coverage of such a complex topic I don't think is possible. What politics is, the prejudice girls are subjected to, and many other complex subjects clearly covered. I will always remember the passage about what we think when girls act up in class, that we consider them "bad" girls. But what happens when boys do it? "Boys will be boys," we say. My sister always "acted up" in class and now is a PhD and former NASA Project Scientist, and she still acts up, go figure. My other sister did straight A's in math until someone told her that "boys don't like smart girls," and she went straight to C's. I gave her daughter this book and have seen no sign of that problem arising.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guiding our daughters, November 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Girls' Guide to Life: How to Take Charge of the Issues That Affect You (Paperback)

It's magical to witness, over the course of a few years, girls blooming into young women. The spell is broken, however, when we also see sexism consume their self-esteem. Where once they were spunky and imaginative, they become self-conscious and afraid how their ideas will be seen by others. Where once they voiced their opinions, we see them swallowing ideas unvoiced--especially in front of boys. And where once they excelled in math or science, we see them play "dumb" or believe they aren't as smart as "the other gender."

The Girls' Guide to Life reclaims the strength and self-assurance for young women. With a fun, appealing style, The Guide addresses gender issues by providing exercises and activities so girls learn who they are and what their strengths are.... If you have a daughter, or care about a girl you know, share The Girls' Guide to Life with them. You may learn a lot you never knew. You also may be reminded of things you learned the hard way and never thought to share with her. Encourage sons to read it, too, so they'll learn it's all right for women to be strong, to be leaders.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Such a great book for girls, February 3, 2002

By 

Helynna (San Francisco, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Girls' Guide to Life: How to Take Charge of the Issues That Affect You (Paperback)

In an interesting and friendly style, the author writes that typical feminine characteristics such as silence in the classroom, insecurity about appearance, and intimidation about sports or science are not the irrevocable fate of being female but simply the result of growing up in a society that maintains a deep-seated bias against girls and women. She uses teen-magazine-style chapters to illuminate these biases: what they are, how to recognize them, and how to change them. Each chapter explores the facts of a particular issue, such as sexism in the media, then personalizes that issue through boxed, multi-cultural, first-person narratives and poetry , comic strips, anecdotes, and quizzes. She provides extensive lists of related books, videos, pamphlets, and organizations that will help give girls their bearings. But one of the book's highlights is it's activist feature, "Things to Do," that shows how to respond with sample letters, organizations to join, and other ways to kick the passive stereotype good-bye.