Smart Girls in the 21st Century: Understanding Talented Girls and Women

by Barbara A. Kerr, Robyn McKay

Smart Girls in the 21st Century: Understanding Talented Girls and Women tackles what it means to live with, work with, and be a modern smart girl. The book uses keen insight and academic research of real girls and women to offer valuable information and advice on: giftedness, achievement, self-actualization, bright girls' development, types of intelligence, differences in generations, eminent women, barriers to achievement, education and growing talent, adolescence and college, gifted minority girls and women, twice-exceptionalism, and career guidance.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Teaching, Education

368 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2013

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone who identifies as being a gifted girl/woman, parents gifted girls, or educates gifted girls/women. This book is a deep study into the trends, patterns, strengths, and challenges gifted girls and women face throughout their lifetime.

[Beth Gea · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,75 estrellas, en realidad.

No sé por qué me esperaba más de este libro. La primera parte está bien, pero luego no sé por qué no le he cogido el ritmo y confieso que me he saltado bastantes apartados.

Lo que más me ha molestado ha sido que me da la sensación de que, cuando habla de generaciones de mujeres, ignora completamente a las que hemos nacido entre 1981 y 1989: habla de la Generación X, que el libro considera que va hasta 1980, y luego habla de las Millenials, que incluye a las mujeres nacidas entre 1990 y 2000. ¿Y que pasa con las mujeres nacidas en esa década? Según el libro, no existen. Lo mismo pasa cuando habla de niñas, adolescentes, mujeres en los 20... para saltar a mujeres en los 40. ¿Y las que todavía estamos en nuestros 30? ¡Pues no exisitmos!

En fin, no era lo que me esperaba.

[Guada · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this was too broad and too general for what I look in a psychology book, so: Not for me but I know so many people recommend it to parents and teachers of gifted girls and also to just anyone interested in giftedness as a "Begginer Book" so this is probably just a me issue. Nothing wrong at all with the content of the book or anything in terms of content or research I disliked/disagreed with.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a class but I am definitely putting it on here so it counts toward my books for the year since it took the place of me reading fun books for awhile.

[BROWN DENNIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

It goes my mind!

As an educator, especially of girls, I just was so affirmed as well as enlightened at the same time! Kudos!!!

[Irina Goldberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the older edition of this book but this one was completely different and didn't hold my attention.

[Mills College Library]

155.33308 K411 2014

[Readings n' Musings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ought to be required reading.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much of education and teacher training focuses on remediation and supporting struggling learners. This was a good reminder that advanced learners have special needs, too.

[Melvin Litton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite its title and intriguing feminist cover, Smart Girls works for men as well in surprising ways as it’s really about becoming, as stated toward the end, “a fuller human being.” As a non-academic much of the talk of theory and testing, while necessary to the authors’ arguments, swirled on past me – though the text was not unduly burdened by such. What hooked me foremost were the apt profiles of smart girls and eminent women, as well as the author’s more personal anecdotes and testimonies, dating from her Sputnik youth to her evolving Indian spirituality. My wife taught gifted education, grades 7 through 12, for over twenty years – in course of which I witnessed her many frustrations, primarily in dealings with hidebound administrators, but also her many joys and rewards in working with bright young people, both girls and boys. I think there is much to learn here for anyone who treasures the women in their lives, and cheers their struggles and potential. I have a 93 year old mother and a 3 year old granddaughter, both treasures to my eyes, and I’d hate to see all the gains made for women in the former’s life lost to the latter, or slowly chipped away as seems in danger of happening these days. So I particularly applaud Barbara Kerr for her long battle on behalf of smart girls and women everywhere. She strikes me as an intrepid field general marshaling forces on many fronts, and as such she richly deserves her five stars!

[Ljconrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of the many books I’ve read in the past several years on giftedness and gifted parenting, I would rank Smart Girls in the top 10. Smart Girls touches all the bases. Its subtitle explains why … Understanding Talented Girls and Women. If you are a smart woman, the parent of a smart girl or someone who loves a smart woman; you will appreciate this book. If you read Barbara Kerr’s first edition of Smart Girls, consider this volume to be an entirely new work and worthy of your attention.

Kerr and McKay bring a new perspective to decades-old debates regarding the definition of giftedness, academic achievement, talent development and a myriad of other topics that I found refreshing. Smart Girls includes an historical review of what being smart means for women in our society, how things have changed in the 21st century, and the way forward.

This book is well-researched, easy to read and an invaluable guide on ways to maximize talent in all generations of gifted women.

[RACHEL · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Smart Girls in the 21st Century,” Dr. Kerr and Dr McKay offer us a wonderful resource for those who are gifted and their parents. This work is comprehensive without being overwhelming while including further resources throughout. “Smart Girls in the 21st Century” will be a great read for anyone interested in the gifted, their education, and growing to fullness.

My copy was a gift through Goodreads First Reads.

[Meranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodreads giveaway

[Jennifer]

This isn't grabbing me right now. On hold for later.

[Dani JO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it. Really hit home. All educators should read this.

[Michelle Mallonen]

This book contained pertinent connections between millennial girls and gifted education. It was enlightening.