33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, poems, and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women [Paperback]

Tonya Bolden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 17, 1998

Natalie Merchant. Sigourney Weaver. Tabitha Soren. Wendy Wasserstein. Rebecca Lobo. Lauren Hutton. Anita Roddick. Lynda Barry. These are among the thirty-three extraordinary women who lend their diverse voices to this outstanding collection of stories, songs, poems, comics, and essays that will give every adolescent girl reason to feel hopeful about making the transition from girlhood to womanhood. Dealing with subjects like popularity, success, communication with boys, speaking one's mind, and body image, here is a book that offers help and inspiration to girls as they struggle to find a portrayal of womanhood they can call their own. 33 Things Every Girl Should Know is an empowering and inspirational gift book that every girl will want to own, to share with friends, and to use as a springboard to self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and self-esteem.  

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Editor Tonya Bolden makes no bones about it: "It's no secret. This book is about girl build-up." Accordingly, the pieces collected in 33 Things Every Girl Should Know have the spicy flavor of rabble-rousing. But instead of a radical call to arms, readers will find more of a call to self-esteem, self-respect, and a summons to keep their eyes on a bright future. Subtitled "Stories, Songs, Poems, and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women," this collection offers young women first-hand advice from such diverse luminaries as Lynda Barry, Sandra Cisneros, Johnetta Cole, Alice Hoffman, Lauren Hutton, M. E. Kerr, Rebecca Lobo, Natalie Merchant, Faith Ringgold, Tabitha Soren, Vera Wang, Wendy Wasserstein, and Sigourney Weaver. These grown-up girls hearken from many realms and backgrounds, with widely varying experiences and skills, but all join their voices here to offer insight, advice, and a surprising expanse of common ground.

From a fiercely funny comic strip about mean girls, to a moving essay about living with spina bifida, to a forensic discussion of why it's not a crime for girls to love science, these stories reflect and encourage female wit, wisdom, and perseverance. Most of all, the essential 33 things display the infinite range of options for girls, and will inspire young women to pursue the pathways paving their dreams. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 UpAMuch has been written and studied about the fragile self-esteem of adolescent girls. These selections, all by different authors, aim to offer advice that could help make them more confident and give them a positive direction and outlook. The contributors, such as M.E. Kerr, Vera Wang, Wendy Wasserstein, and Faith Ringgold, represent a wide range of backgrounds and professions and include scientists, athletes, artists, sociologists, writers, and others. A varied spectrum of quality is found in the stories, essays, fairy tales, poetry, cartoons, and memoirs. Some, though well written, give clich?d advice. Judith Ortiz Cofer recommends, "Love your work, and enjoy your play." The actress Sigourney Weaver touts the benefit of hard work and commitment. The underlying message throughout shouts that readers must be true to themselves and follow personal passions. The topics covered vary greatly and include dealing with one's sexual orientation, overcoming and triumphing despite physical handicaps, combating the pervasive "thin is beautiful" culture, dealing with insensitive people, and just finding oneself. Some selections are heavy-handed and preachy, but others speak with a true voice easily heard by adolescents. There's something here for everyone. Perhaps the title is a bit misleading since it seems to promise 33 different ideas. This is a worthwhile purchase for any library. The challenge is to channel it to its intended audience.ARenee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers; 1st edition (February 17, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517709368
• ISBN-13: 978-0517709368
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.4 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Personal Health > Teen Health > Self-Esteem

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

67 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Delightful!, July 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: 33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, poems, and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women (Paperback)

In the forward to this book, Tonya Bolden explained that these authors know what adolescent girls are feeling right now. I was skeptical. The times have changed, how could they know?? Well, the authors of the book proved me wrong! I learned very important lessons about growing up, and hope to pass them on to my daughters. People would say that this is only a good book for girls ages 11-around 15, but I think that mothers could also learn a lesson about their daughters. Sometimes mothers think they know what's best, but this book may get the mother's a little more informed! I loved this book! You must read it, TRUST ME!

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT!, November 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: 33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, poems, and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women (Library Binding)

This book was a really good book showing girls how to pull through struggles, not let yourself get down, being strong and many other vital things girls need to know and aren't taught.

61 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost perfect, May 12, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: 33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, poems, and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women (Paperback)

Funny, witty, moving inspiring. Lots of role models of different types dealing with emotional, physical, intellectual, social challenges of growing up. Wish I'd had such a book when growing up.

Minor caveat -- lots of discussion of different things girls can be when grown up, but no mention of being a mother. I understand that one does not want to be encouraging teenage girls to have babies, but on the other hand would have been nice to have something addressing what is likely to be a significant portion of a woman's life. For instance, they could have had an essay by a physician who works part-time and is home with kids part-time, to make the point that getting a good education and a skilled professional job can make it easier to do flex-time and work from home. Something to prepare girls to get ready to balance work and family, to be thinking about the choices they will be making, and to acknowledge the importance and satisfactions of the drive to nurture.