Customer Reviews

Respect: A Girl's Guide to Getting Respect & Dealing When Your Line Is Crossed

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As an educator of young men and women I commend the authors for writing a book that a young audience would actually use. Yes use. As reviewers have noted this book speaks with a tone of gentle authority without being preachy. More precisely, the book gives girls real-life problem solving guidance. Finally, this is a thought-provoking book for young women which also includes practical advice. An honest to goodness "Here's how I handled that situation and here are a few more suggestions" primer. I recommend it for classroom use.

Any girl who reads this will be a better woman for it. The authors are correct in boiling down many of the dicey issues teens face today to one issue: respect. If you respect yourself, many decisions become clearer. Buy this for all the girls in your life. Think of it as an investment in their future!!

I read this book while researching teen abuse and was very impressed. It gets all of those sensitive topics that adults and teens would rather ignore (not just sex, but abuse, eating disorders and difficulties in relationships and friendships) out in the open. The book teaches girls how to make good decisions for themselves while remaining open and communicating with friends and family. The theme is respect through empowerment and is targeted at an age group and gender that often (sadly) feel they have no power.

It's down-to-earth and isn't preachy, which is important because kids tend to rebel against that method. I didn't always listen to my parents as a pre-teen and teen (shocker of the century) and I could've used the guidelines in this book to make better decisions rather than trying to do everything on my own. I especially like the activities in the book -- makes it interactive and personal. It's a great gift for a pre-teen or teen girl -- much better investment than a new shirt or iTunes gift certificate!

I have two girls, and we went through chapaters that were relevent to us, right now, and used many of the suggestions. One of the things I love about the book is it promotes open dialog between parents, but also sisters and friends. I have seen it work in action, and my daughters made up their own 'sisterhood' contract which we posted on the refrigerator, and refer too, often. The chapters you can review first if there are subjects that are sensitive to you, however, I found the 'sex' chapter very well written and received by both girls. Our next step is to have a 'sisterhood sleepover' where the girls invite their friends, and we have some open discussions on self respect and respect of others. This is an excellent tool for a parent, or guardian of a young person.

I checked out this book and decided it would be perfect for my 16-year-old niece. The authors come across as really friendly and open, and they talk in a way that today's teens and preteens will understand--like big sisters. They tackle pretty much all of the major issues that girls face today and they do it without being the least bit preachy. Rather than just telling girls what's good, bad, right, or wrong, the authors continually reinforce that girls need to make their own decisions based on respect--for themselves and for others. The real value of the book is that the authors give the girls tons of information on which to base those decisions. I think kids really respond well to that approach--empowering rather than admonishing. I definitely recommend this one.

I picked up Respect with a critical eye, fully prepared to read some fluffy, new-age, condescendingly grrrl-empowering text. Trust me, none of those adjectives fit this terrific resource. Authors Macavinta and Vander Pluym provide talking points for discussion and personal introspection on topics ranging from friends to family to the opposite sex to body image and self-image. The book is not a guide about what to think or do, but a template for drafting one's own guidelines and ethos. The authors continually recommend that young readers keep a journal and use specific topics and questions as launching points for making entries in the jounral.

I read the chapter about romantic relationships with special interest. As a twenty-something professional, I considered the text from the viewpoint of a mentor or parent who is concerned about a youngster, as well as from my not-too-distant viewpoint as a rebellious teenager who was just knew she much smarter than her own parents. Well, it works. This is not a preachy book, so the reviewer below who found it non-abstinence-insistent was right. The text encourages parents and daughters to have open discussions (with specific topics and starting points), so that the daughter can form her own personal boundaries. If a tween girl drafts her own idea of boundaries and limits, with her own healthy reasoning, instead of being berated by parents and adults, she is going to follow them more intensely. One discussion topic is female sexuality in popular media, with the "shock" of Judy Blume's Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret in the 1970's and Eve Ansler's Vagina Monologues in the 1990's. Just reading that section makes me want to go back and talk to my 50-year-old mother about her experiences in the sixties versus her experiences raising me and taking me to sex education seminars with the Girl Scouts. I imagine it will raise healthy, bonding dialogue for parents of the next generation, too.

Buy this worthwhile book, a package of sticky note tabs, a blank journal, and prepare for some open, important discussions in a well-structured, non-threatening environment.

I read this book over the weekend. It's fabulous and easy to read, filled with straightforward and relevant advice for real-life situations. Keeping the information in bite-sized pieces definitely helped in terms of digestion. I loved the writing style--frank, direct, simple, and clear.

The reader cannot help but feel her sense of empowerment grow with the turn of every page. Teens don't often hear that they deserve respect, especially girls, so this book delivers a critical and life-altering message. By giving them the step-by-step tools to build better relationships with key people in their lives, girls will have a better handle on what they need and how to go about getting it. Bravo!

Respect will surely become a classic--I sure could have used it while I was growing up. The good news is that women still can use this book, even though it's written for teens. We still need to be reminded to be true to ourselves and our feelings, and still need to set boundaries and effectively communicate them to others.

This book should be required reading for all girls (from 12 and older). The authors clearly and simply spell out the importance of self-respect, how to get it, and how respecting yourself can make the world a more positive place. Great writing with a lot of heart and soul from two authors who know what they're talking about. If you know any young girls, this book is a must for them.

Finally, a book that is well-written, not condescending, with a positive, healthy message for teen girls! And though it's meant for teens, I learned from it and found it inspiring too! Read it yourself, and guaranteed by the time you finish it, you will have a list of people in mind to give it to. This is the real deal.

Very positive and affirming stuff from authors who clearly care about their audience. The best part of this book is that it gives teen girls actual action items -- so they can actually go out and create the world they want.