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10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know
These 10 simple truths can build one big change in your daughter's life. When Kari Kampakis wrote a blog post titled "10 Truths Young Girls Should Know," the post went viral and was shared 74,000 times on Facebook and pinned 20,000 times on Pinterest. Obviously her message strikes a chord. This nonfiction book for teen & tween girls expands on these 10 truths and can reach the hearts of both mothers and daughters.
Teen girls deal daily with cliques, bullying, rejection, and social media fiascos. Kari wants girls to know that they don't have to compromise their integrity or their future to find love, acceptance, and security. Her 10 truths
Fans of Kari's blog and newspaper column will not want to miss her first book. Filled with practical advice, loving support, and insightful discussion questions, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know is a timely and approachable list of guidelines that will help young girls navigate a broken world and become the young women God made them to be.
Trim 5.5 x 8.375
Teen girls deal daily with cliques, bullying, rejection, and social media fiascos. Kari wants girls to know that they don't have to compromise their integrity or their future to find love, acceptance, and security. Her 10 truths
Fans of Kari's blog and newspaper column will not want to miss her first book. Filled with practical advice, loving support, and insightful discussion questions, 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know is a timely and approachable list of guidelines that will help young girls navigate a broken world and become the young women God made them to be.
Trim 5.5 x 8.375
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2014
153 people are currently reading
675 people want to read
About the author
Kari Kampakis
8 books133 followersKari Kubiszyn Kampakis is a blogger, author, speaker, and newspaper columnist from Birmingham, Alabama.
Her bestselling books, 10 ULTIMATE TRUTHS GIRLS SHOULD KNOW and LIKED: WHOSE APPROVAL ARE YOU LIVING FOR?, have been used widely across the country by teen youth groups and small groups to empower girls through faith.
Kari’s work has been featured on The Huffington Post, TODAY Parents, and other national outlets. She and her husband, Harry, have four daughters and a dog named Lola.
Learn more by visiting www.karikampakis.com or finding Kari on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Her bestselling books, 10 ULTIMATE TRUTHS GIRLS SHOULD KNOW and LIKED: WHOSE APPROVAL ARE YOU LIVING FOR?, have been used widely across the country by teen youth groups and small groups to empower girls through faith.
Kari’s work has been featured on The Huffington Post, TODAY Parents, and other national outlets. She and her husband, Harry, have four daughters and a dog named Lola.
Learn more by visiting www.karikampakis.com or finding Kari on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 19, 2015
This is a book full of important, Biblically-sound truths for young girls. As we all know, the teenage years are difficult for girls as they struggle with graciously accepting all the physical and mental changes which occur at that important time.
Too often, teenage girls fail this passage into womanhood, not physically but spiritually and mentally. They become broken, wasted creatures who are unable to embrace the futures God has in store for them. Because I was not-to-long-ago a teenager, I know every struggle a girl can face. And most of all, I know it is nigh impossible to convince a teenager that their present struggles will soon fade and seem trivial. I know. I remember the years in which I thought having clear skin was the key to happiness....only to realize when I reached that goal that the key to happiness is definitely something bigger.
You had to be a teenage girl to understand.
Maybe you are one yourself. This book is for you. The author, Kari Kampakis has four daughters of her own and in this her first book, she gently and lovingly guides the teenage girl through ten ''ultimate truths'' that will change her world. No longer do you, the reader have to be subject to bullying, emotional roller coasters, selfishness, etc. Kari is clear and practical in the way she presents the facts and solutions in this 11-chapter book.
Chapters include:
Kindness is more important than popularity.
People peak at different times of life. Trust God's plan for you.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Otherwise, you'll never stick to your guns.
Today's choices set the stage for your reputation.
You were born to fly.
A major thing I loved about this book is how adamantly opposed to premaritial sex this author is! She clearly stands against sexual impurity and mothers can be sure that their daughter will be encouraged and convicted through reading the author's thoughts on purity.
Along that line, this book is definitely targeted towards public school attendees. There were some scenarios and ''quick quizzes'' (''what would you do....") which were extremely racy and outright public school. At least I hope stuff like that doesn't go on in Christian school!
Some of my confusion stemmed from these scenarios and were answered by the realization that the author is Catholic. Although Catholic schools have high standards, the students come from a variety of families and one can not trust the faith of the children to be true or strong. The same with Christian schools, of course. Anywhere were children are together for hours on end can lead to sinful discussions and desires.
Another portion of the book which disturbed me was the author's view of dating. She openly expresses the following: "The boys you date now won't be your spouse. They're meant to lead you to your spouse, just as you'll help lead them to theirs." This simply bothered me since I wouldn't want my daughter playing the dating game! The author also upholds the joys of young romance. Although she strongly stands for sexual purity, she isn't very strong on the emotional side.
Nevertheless, I was impressed by her chapters about romance. In short, this book has much good as well as some less good portions.
One of the less good facts about this book is that Kari put in her own opinion about when a girl should marry. I thought this wasn't her place, since marriage is a good thing and such advice up to the mother to give. I quote: ''I started dating my husband when I was 23, which is relatively young. Within a month we knew we'd get married, but we waited 3 years because he lived in a different city and I loved my job. To this day, I take great pride in those 4 years I supported myself and earned career recognition. I 'm glad I was able to marry a man not by necessity--because I needed financial support---but by choice. ''
I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want my daughter thinking like that!
Lastly, this book is written for the Christian teenager, thus limiting its audience. Throughout much of the book, Kari Kampakis assures the young girl reader that she is a daughter of the King, beloved, cherished...this certainly isn't detrimental to your unbelieving daughter if she knows she is not saved. But I don't want any young girls getting the wrong impression of their standing before Christ if they are not His.
Thankfully, the author strongly explains that we need Christ as our all in all.
I would not recommend this book for homeschoolers. I know the author didn't intend it for such, but since my audience may be homeschoolers, I just wanted to throw this in as a homeschool graduate. Although there is much in it that is Biblically-sound, many of the situations are foreign to those who are not in a public classroom environment. Nevertheless, college students may still benefit from this book. Girls, we all know teenage years aren't the only hard ones. I still struggle with many of the issues presented in this book. And although I am sad that I haven't overcome them, it's nothing to be surprised about. Women will always have similar struggles, even as they mature. Thus much of the content in this book is appropriate for all ages. It will be a blessing for a mother to read aloud to her daughter! Also, I can imagine girlfriends benefiting from reading it side by side.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Too often, teenage girls fail this passage into womanhood, not physically but spiritually and mentally. They become broken, wasted creatures who are unable to embrace the futures God has in store for them. Because I was not-to-long-ago a teenager, I know every struggle a girl can face. And most of all, I know it is nigh impossible to convince a teenager that their present struggles will soon fade and seem trivial. I know. I remember the years in which I thought having clear skin was the key to happiness....only to realize when I reached that goal that the key to happiness is definitely something bigger.
You had to be a teenage girl to understand.
Maybe you are one yourself. This book is for you. The author, Kari Kampakis has four daughters of her own and in this her first book, she gently and lovingly guides the teenage girl through ten ''ultimate truths'' that will change her world. No longer do you, the reader have to be subject to bullying, emotional roller coasters, selfishness, etc. Kari is clear and practical in the way she presents the facts and solutions in this 11-chapter book.
Chapters include:
Kindness is more important than popularity.
People peak at different times of life. Trust God's plan for you.
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Otherwise, you'll never stick to your guns.
Today's choices set the stage for your reputation.
You were born to fly.
A major thing I loved about this book is how adamantly opposed to premaritial sex this author is! She clearly stands against sexual impurity and mothers can be sure that their daughter will be encouraged and convicted through reading the author's thoughts on purity.
Along that line, this book is definitely targeted towards public school attendees. There were some scenarios and ''quick quizzes'' (''what would you do....") which were extremely racy and outright public school. At least I hope stuff like that doesn't go on in Christian school!
Some of my confusion stemmed from these scenarios and were answered by the realization that the author is Catholic. Although Catholic schools have high standards, the students come from a variety of families and one can not trust the faith of the children to be true or strong. The same with Christian schools, of course. Anywhere were children are together for hours on end can lead to sinful discussions and desires.
Another portion of the book which disturbed me was the author's view of dating. She openly expresses the following: "The boys you date now won't be your spouse. They're meant to lead you to your spouse, just as you'll help lead them to theirs." This simply bothered me since I wouldn't want my daughter playing the dating game! The author also upholds the joys of young romance. Although she strongly stands for sexual purity, she isn't very strong on the emotional side.
Nevertheless, I was impressed by her chapters about romance. In short, this book has much good as well as some less good portions.
One of the less good facts about this book is that Kari put in her own opinion about when a girl should marry. I thought this wasn't her place, since marriage is a good thing and such advice up to the mother to give. I quote: ''I started dating my husband when I was 23, which is relatively young. Within a month we knew we'd get married, but we waited 3 years because he lived in a different city and I loved my job. To this day, I take great pride in those 4 years I supported myself and earned career recognition. I 'm glad I was able to marry a man not by necessity--because I needed financial support---but by choice. ''
I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want my daughter thinking like that!
Lastly, this book is written for the Christian teenager, thus limiting its audience. Throughout much of the book, Kari Kampakis assures the young girl reader that she is a daughter of the King, beloved, cherished...this certainly isn't detrimental to your unbelieving daughter if she knows she is not saved. But I don't want any young girls getting the wrong impression of their standing before Christ if they are not His.
Thankfully, the author strongly explains that we need Christ as our all in all.
I would not recommend this book for homeschoolers. I know the author didn't intend it for such, but since my audience may be homeschoolers, I just wanted to throw this in as a homeschool graduate. Although there is much in it that is Biblically-sound, many of the situations are foreign to those who are not in a public classroom environment. Nevertheless, college students may still benefit from this book. Girls, we all know teenage years aren't the only hard ones. I still struggle with many of the issues presented in this book. And although I am sad that I haven't overcome them, it's nothing to be surprised about. Women will always have similar struggles, even as they mature. Thus much of the content in this book is appropriate for all ages. It will be a blessing for a mother to read aloud to her daughter! Also, I can imagine girlfriends benefiting from reading it side by side.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
August 16, 2015
School has started and with it all of the insecurities and fear that come with a new year. Girls are subjected to peer pressure, media pressure and self-inflicted pressure. With God/Jesus as their guide, Kampakis lists ten truths or tips that every girl experiences and should know how to handle. And they are good ones. My daughter is starting sixth grade and we read this together, before bed! Dad even joined in at some parts. We especially liked the section on keywords are like toothpaste and once you squeeze them out you can't put them back in the tube. Yes, helpful for adults, too.
The religion can be heavy handed which may not appeal to all readers, but the focus is really on the success of our daughter(s) as well as ALL girls. Kampakis has daughters of her own giving her some street cred, so to speak. Each section has some exercises at the end which generated much discussion and positive interaction between mother and daughter. We will be referencing this book again I am sure. Kampakis also has a great blog with parenting and faith related tips at http://www.karikampakis.com/blog/.
Provided by Booklookbloggers
The religion can be heavy handed which may not appeal to all readers, but the focus is really on the success of our daughter(s) as well as ALL girls. Kampakis has daughters of her own giving her some street cred, so to speak. Each section has some exercises at the end which generated much discussion and positive interaction between mother and daughter. We will be referencing this book again I am sure. Kampakis also has a great blog with parenting and faith related tips at http://www.karikampakis.com/blog/.
Provided by Booklookbloggers
January 16, 2023
If the book were titled “Things Girls Should Know” or something like that, I wouldn’t have much to say. But “You were born to fly” is not an “ultimate truth.” It’s drivel. If a truth is ultimate, it is for everyone, but Kampakis’s versions of “truth” are for a select slice of humanity (not to mention not always true!)…which means they are not ultimate…unfortunately, this book is nonsense. Girls don’t need to know that chasing boys makes them a nuisance. They need to know that chasing boys is unnecessary because the God of the universe has a plan for their life and they can rest…if we are using scripture as our basis (which she does), then that is the ultimate truth. I don’t enjoy being harsh, but if I could give this book 0 stars, I would.
November 11, 2014
This is a must read book for tween and teen girls. I was half way through the 1st chapter when I grabbed my daughter to read the rest together. It is a perfect mentor book because it includes discussion questions at the end of each chapter. We are having highschool girls walk middle-school girls through this book. The girls are loving it.
January 3, 2015
I absolutely loved this book
December 14, 2019
Every Christian girl needs to read this book. 10 life lessons that I wish I was taught when I was younger. This is the one book that will most definitely get you through the many struggles you will face during middle school as well as high school. Maybe even when you are older. For those parent's of teen girls out there, I highly recommend giving this to them as a gift in hopes they will learn from it. (Listened via Scribd)
July 4, 2021
amazing and so inspiring! and i loved how she used scripture to back up her words! would definitely recommend for christian teens who are wondering how to stand firm in this broken world!
July 2, 2025
Pa knjiga je okej, ima super savjeta za cure, ali ni isti osjećaj čitat knjige koje ti pomoru oko života ili ti daju savjete za pojedine situacije kao kad čitaš fantaziju, triler ili romansu.
December 22, 2022
DISCLAIMER: These are my opinions!!! They should not be taken for fact!! I’m just giving you MY take on it!! So don’t come after me pls! Everyone is different, me and you included! Neither of us are wrong!
Heyyyyyy
So I loved this book! I think it’s amazing especially as for the target audience for it. (Aka: me) I would even recommend it to older women. I just finished it and it was fantastic! There were many many good points and it helped me to become stronger in my faith for sure!
Before I go on I highly highly recommend this book,
but only for girls in faith. It felt kind of preachy at times, and I didn’t agree with some of the points made.
Examples of this are a few of the points made in the “Interacting with Boys” section (nothing major that should scare you away, but make sure you point some of these out to your daughter) Another section I didn’t 100% agree with was the appearance section, but alas, nothing major, just flip through to make sure you want your daughter to read it all. Other than that, just a few lines scattered here and there that you should look out for!
Now it’s time for the fun stuff! Some of my favorite sections was the “Interacting With Boys” and the “Perseverance” section! It really helped me figure out and set my expectations for dating and boys going into high school. And she also really warned you about the dangers of guys in general so that was a real highlight and good lesson! She also does an amazing job talking about peer pressure! So if all else fails I highly highly highly recommend you reading that section to your daughter.
Overall I loved it, it taught me great lessons and I feel like it really prepared me for my teen years. I gave it five stars because it was really well written and had a lot of great points. Even though I didn’t agree with it all, you have to remember that everyone has different opinions and beliefs, so you shouldn’t let mine or anyone else’s reviews determine wether you should read it or not!
So here’s the three big things I would say:
It’s a really really good book to read! Even if you don’t agree with it all!
Make sure you understand some stuff is a bit preachy and you may wanna proofread it!
There is the perfect amount of girl power in this!
Sorry this was really long! I hope it was helpful though!
Heyyyyyy
So I loved this book! I think it’s amazing especially as for the target audience for it. (Aka: me) I would even recommend it to older women. I just finished it and it was fantastic! There were many many good points and it helped me to become stronger in my faith for sure!
Before I go on I highly highly recommend this book,
but only for girls in faith. It felt kind of preachy at times, and I didn’t agree with some of the points made.
Examples of this are a few of the points made in the “Interacting with Boys” section (nothing major that should scare you away, but make sure you point some of these out to your daughter) Another section I didn’t 100% agree with was the appearance section, but alas, nothing major, just flip through to make sure you want your daughter to read it all. Other than that, just a few lines scattered here and there that you should look out for!
Now it’s time for the fun stuff! Some of my favorite sections was the “Interacting With Boys” and the “Perseverance” section! It really helped me figure out and set my expectations for dating and boys going into high school. And she also really warned you about the dangers of guys in general so that was a real highlight and good lesson! She also does an amazing job talking about peer pressure! So if all else fails I highly highly highly recommend you reading that section to your daughter.
Overall I loved it, it taught me great lessons and I feel like it really prepared me for my teen years. I gave it five stars because it was really well written and had a lot of great points. Even though I didn’t agree with it all, you have to remember that everyone has different opinions and beliefs, so you shouldn’t let mine or anyone else’s reviews determine wether you should read it or not!
So here’s the three big things I would say:
It’s a really really good book to read! Even if you don’t agree with it all!
Make sure you understand some stuff is a bit preachy and you may wanna proofread it!
There is the perfect amount of girl power in this!
Sorry this was really long! I hope it was helpful though!
April 28, 2015
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I think the selection of issues is relevant to many teens and young ladies, and much of the advice was very sound. However, I wished the book would have come back to Scripture, the truths of the gospel, and the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives more often. Without these elements, good advice doesn’t penetrate the surface.
The most helpful chapter content-wise, in my opinion, was Chapter 5 on “Self-Worship”. I appreciated her handling of this topic because it seemed to deal with more heart issues, and the chapter modeled how to apply Scripture to different struggles we might go through.
I could see this being a good jumping-off point for discussions — again, I think the topics are very relevant — but I think it would be helpful to go a little deeper.
The most helpful chapter content-wise, in my opinion, was Chapter 5 on “Self-Worship”. I appreciated her handling of this topic because it seemed to deal with more heart issues, and the chapter modeled how to apply Scripture to different struggles we might go through.
I could see this being a good jumping-off point for discussions — again, I think the topics are very relevant — but I think it would be helpful to go a little deeper.
October 23, 2025
“At the wedding reception of one couple in their late twenties, something interesting happened to Donna. She was making her rounds in the ballroom when suddenly she looked up and realized a circle of young men had surrounded her. The huddle formed quickly, creating a seal so tight she couldn't escape if she wanted to.
One guy, the spokesman, introduced himself and said, "We just wanted you to know that when we were in high school, we had an I-Hate-Donna-Greene Club."
Donna looked at the young man perplexed. What on earth was he saying?
"We'd get together and talk about you," the young man continued, "because all those girls of yours wouldn't do anything with us." He didn't qualify his statements, which left Donna more perplexed. She had no idea where this conversation was headed or how was she supposed to reply. But as it turned out, a reply wasn't necessary. What played out next spoke for itself.
In unison, in a gesture they had clearly planned, these young men held out their hands to Donna and asked to shake her hand.
"Thank you, Donna," the leader explained, "because these are the girls we're marrying."
She passes this off a a feel-good moment — but what it’s really saying is: “All us man-whores get virgins thanks to you!”
That’s disgusting.
“Girls who obsess over boys and center their lives around them have always been around. However, this phenomenon is amplified today due to (1) a rising culture of female aggressiveness that makes it socially acceptable to chase boys and (2) technology.”
“Chasing boys doesn't make you cool. It makes you a nuisance. One thing I hear repeatedly from moms with sons is how girls today are very forward. They constantly call and text, and the boys don't like it.
Boys enjoy and need a challenge. They lose interest when a girl takes the lead. You may think you're making progress, but really you're making yourself look bad. You're also damaging your internal spirit.”
“They start quizzing him and teasing him. Dude, who keeps texting you? What does she want? She's hot for you, isn't she? Seriously, does she ever leave you alone?
Imagine his family at the dinner table, enjoying a meal. They're getting a little irritated as you blow up his phone and interrupt their conversation. "Why does Jennifer call you all the time?" his little sister asks, addressing the elephant in the room.
"Are you her only friend?"”
This is true:
“He may be trustworthy while you date, but once you break up, all bets are off. I'm not condoning this behavior, but I want you to know it happens. The boy you thought was a steel vault may become an open book as he shares your intimate secrets with friends—or worse yet, a locker room full of jocks.
You know how it's hard for girls not to gossip, how it just happens when you're together? Well, pull some guys together and their lips get loose too. Besides talking about sex, guys trade information on girls. They share any scoop they have: what girls are easy, what girls aren't, who sleeps around, who won't. Discussing sexual conquests is a frequent topic of conversation for boys.”
“Teenage boys are naturally inclined to be aggressive, so what do you think happens when you add promiscuous, aggressive females to the mix?”
“Come marrying time, guys worth having set high standards. A girl who got overlooked in high school or college may suddenly be considered the ideal mate. Guys may date the fun girl, but they want to marry the package
—someone who is smart, pretty, kind, real, fun, confident, and overall amazing. They want the girl who wasn't conquered by every boy and his brother, whose name wasn't dragged through mud during locker room dialogue.
Likewise, girls should also have high expectations for their future spouse. You deserve a man who has held himself to the same standards you have.”
Good on her for saying the last bit!
Chasing boys may capture their attention, but it won't capture their heart.
One guy, the spokesman, introduced himself and said, "We just wanted you to know that when we were in high school, we had an I-Hate-Donna-Greene Club."
Donna looked at the young man perplexed. What on earth was he saying?
"We'd get together and talk about you," the young man continued, "because all those girls of yours wouldn't do anything with us." He didn't qualify his statements, which left Donna more perplexed. She had no idea where this conversation was headed or how was she supposed to reply. But as it turned out, a reply wasn't necessary. What played out next spoke for itself.
In unison, in a gesture they had clearly planned, these young men held out their hands to Donna and asked to shake her hand.
"Thank you, Donna," the leader explained, "because these are the girls we're marrying."
She passes this off a a feel-good moment — but what it’s really saying is: “All us man-whores get virgins thanks to you!”
That’s disgusting.
“Girls who obsess over boys and center their lives around them have always been around. However, this phenomenon is amplified today due to (1) a rising culture of female aggressiveness that makes it socially acceptable to chase boys and (2) technology.”
“Chasing boys doesn't make you cool. It makes you a nuisance. One thing I hear repeatedly from moms with sons is how girls today are very forward. They constantly call and text, and the boys don't like it.
Boys enjoy and need a challenge. They lose interest when a girl takes the lead. You may think you're making progress, but really you're making yourself look bad. You're also damaging your internal spirit.”
“They start quizzing him and teasing him. Dude, who keeps texting you? What does she want? She's hot for you, isn't she? Seriously, does she ever leave you alone?
Imagine his family at the dinner table, enjoying a meal. They're getting a little irritated as you blow up his phone and interrupt their conversation. "Why does Jennifer call you all the time?" his little sister asks, addressing the elephant in the room.
"Are you her only friend?"”
This is true:
“He may be trustworthy while you date, but once you break up, all bets are off. I'm not condoning this behavior, but I want you to know it happens. The boy you thought was a steel vault may become an open book as he shares your intimate secrets with friends—or worse yet, a locker room full of jocks.
You know how it's hard for girls not to gossip, how it just happens when you're together? Well, pull some guys together and their lips get loose too. Besides talking about sex, guys trade information on girls. They share any scoop they have: what girls are easy, what girls aren't, who sleeps around, who won't. Discussing sexual conquests is a frequent topic of conversation for boys.”
“Teenage boys are naturally inclined to be aggressive, so what do you think happens when you add promiscuous, aggressive females to the mix?”
“Come marrying time, guys worth having set high standards. A girl who got overlooked in high school or college may suddenly be considered the ideal mate. Guys may date the fun girl, but they want to marry the package
—someone who is smart, pretty, kind, real, fun, confident, and overall amazing. They want the girl who wasn't conquered by every boy and his brother, whose name wasn't dragged through mud during locker room dialogue.
Likewise, girls should also have high expectations for their future spouse. You deserve a man who has held himself to the same standards you have.”
Good on her for saying the last bit!
Chasing boys may capture their attention, but it won't capture their heart.
August 4, 2022
Did you know that 91% of girls 14-30 struggle with insecurities, living their lives feeling lonely and ashamed, thinking that's the only way? 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis teaches girls that there is another way, if you live your life with Christ. It shows girls how to find peace and security in who they are, knowing they have a purpose unique to them. It also gives them the joy, courage and confidence they need to face the struggles that come their way. Throughout the book, Kari Kampakis uses real life stories to relate to her readers. She wants her book to feel more personal and help girls to realize they are not alone in their struggles and hardships. Kari wants girls to feel confident in who they are and who they will be. She says "God created you for a purpose, and when you discover His purpose for you, you live your best life possible" (pg. xiii). This means we are all created for a reason and we all have a purpose, we just have to find out what that is. There are no characters in this book, only the ones used in Kari's stories. Although some of Kari's stories do have humor and suspense, I would not consider this a comedy or a drama. It is simply an informational text with valuable resources for girls for all ages. Kari breaks up the book into 10 chapters highlighting the 10 ultimate truths of life. Every truth takes a negative idea and provides a positive principle that girls can live by. One of my favorite chapters is chapter 3, Reputation. In this chapter, Kari, emphasizes how much impact your choices have on your reputation, good or bad. On page 48, Kari writes, "Every choice you make affects how your name resonates in people's minds." She poses the question, "Are you proud of your reputation or ashamed to claim it?" This gets you thinking about the people you are hanging out with, the choices you are making, and how they both can affect your future. Another one of my favorite chapters is chapter 6, Perseverance. Kari's truth for this chapter is "People peak at different times in life, trust gods plan for you" pg 107. God has a plan for each and every one of us. We just need to trust what he has for us and realize his timing is always right. "God cares more about the person you're becoming than anything you achieve. For Him it's about the process, not the results" (pg 109). We don't have to put so much pressure on what we do to pass the time, instead we need to focus on what we can provide and how we can grow stronger during the time we spend preparing for God. She goes on to explain that every trial we endure prepares us for what is to come. One of the key elements of this book is how Kari quotes scripture throughout to help readers feel more personally pulled by God. For example in chapter 6, Perseverance, Kari quotes Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you declares the lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" pg. 114. She uses this to emphasize her point that we should trust in God instead of comparing ourselves to others because he knows our purpose, plan and timing. This book touched me in so many ways and really helped me live my life with a hope of what is to come. I definitely recommend this book to girls of all ages and encourage them to read from beginning to end. This is such an amazing book to help girls live their lives for God. Many of us have blinders on, and are unaware of what we may be doing. This book really opens the eyes of girls and shows them how to live life the only way we truly can, with God.
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August 1, 2022 Have you ever felt like you were the only one left out? Or you might have felt like you don't know how to make the right choice? 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know is a book to help you find your identity in Christ and find who you truly are. It helps girls to feel more confident in the way they live and shows them how to deal with real world problems. Kari Kampakis and her book 10 Ultimate truths Girls Should Know she dives down deep into who we truly are. She shows many scenarios of how girls have needed to make a decision that might be hard. She tells us that we should not care about what other people think of us, what truly matters is what God thinks of us and who we are in his eyes. Kari wants to show girls how important it is to have patience and show kindness towards one another. She hopes this book opens girls eveys to the beauty of God's grace to us. She says “Remember, you were born to fly. And when you clamp your wings down, you miss out on God’s plan for you” (pg. 43). This means GOD wants something from you but without confidence we try to hide and we will never see what the Lord has in store for us. “God created you for a purpose, and when we discover his purpose for you, you live your best life possible” (pg. xiii). 10 ultimate truths does not have characters, it only has the author writing about ways to live like Jesus. There was also no minor conflict, it was just an overall conflict that we don’t always live the right way through God. We often let others tell us how to live, and the book encourages girls to not let that happen. This book is more informational and serious than funny and humorous. An example of this is Kari Kampakis writes “God's plan for you has perfect timing. Even when you feel neglected or forgotten, His plan is in motion” (pg.109). This is showing how the author is telling us truths and information instead of narrating a story. 10 Ultimate Truths is a book written for teenage girls. She also has many other books for girls and also many books for moms of teenage girls. Kari Kampakis ends on a positive note saying to girls “One great run with God is enough to get you hooked.Trust me on this. I promise it's the truth” (pg. 195). Kari really dives down deep and opens a new world to us that we might have never seen because we are hiding from the reality of things. Let's use this look to open our eyes to see the purpose God has given us in life.
August 8, 2023
Are you a teenage girl wanting to learn about confidence, popularity ,and boys? 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis is a must read. As a mother of four girls she dives deep into the challenges of adolescent girls by giving advice and pointing their hearts to Jesus. The author connects with her readers as she illustrates her truths by using realistic middle school and high school characters that struggle with everyday problems of teenage life. Opening with a short story, Kampakis immediately draws the reader in with a story about a teenage girl and her best friends excluding her in an unkind way as they all sit around a middle school lunch table. Kampakis goes on to point this young girl to the truths about God and how that applies to kindness with friends. Through the ten chapters, various young girls face typical adversity like patience in trusting God's plan, having a poor self image, and lack of confidence. She uses stories from her childhood in chapter two where she overcomes her insecurities of being different from others and encourages her readers to find confidence in their original gifts. A lighthearted and encouraging tone is present throughout the book, shown in each chapter through uplifting Bible verses and biblical truths. The kindness challenge rooted in Ephesians 4:32, encourages young women to choose kindness each morning and be a light to others. This book is perfect for middle school and high school girls, but women of all ages will find this a treasure to their soul.
July 1, 2024
The quality of the title matches the quality of the content.
The title sounds like a half baked self help book and the quality, on the subjects that matter most, matches that energy.
The topics this book touches on are incredibly important and deserve to be ongoing conversations in every household, but this is not a book to hand to your teenage daughter the way Boomer moms handled puberty by giving their daughters a copy of "The Care and Keeping of You."
It's not that every point is handled poorly. It's that the points that require the most nuance and delicacy aren't handled well. It might be helpful if you're flagging certain chapters for your daughter, but every chapter that veers into boys/relationships is a slightly less offensive rehash of the age old "boys will be boys." It softens the language and adds italicized caveats, but the end messages are the same tired tropes that have nothing to do with the way boys/men are "wired" and everything to do with a societal contract that removes responsibility from men's shoulders and places it on women's. There's a sense that the author understands the damage that came from extreme 90s purity culture, but failed to do the personal work required to root out all the underlying toxins before putting out their own version.
Would this content be helpful for a teen girl who has absolutely no one in her life with whom to have these important discussions? Maybe...if her biggest struggles revolved around peer pressure and struggling to be her authentic self, but ideally you'd be talking these issues through.
The title sounds like a half baked self help book and the quality, on the subjects that matter most, matches that energy.
The topics this book touches on are incredibly important and deserve to be ongoing conversations in every household, but this is not a book to hand to your teenage daughter the way Boomer moms handled puberty by giving their daughters a copy of "The Care and Keeping of You."
It's not that every point is handled poorly. It's that the points that require the most nuance and delicacy aren't handled well. It might be helpful if you're flagging certain chapters for your daughter, but every chapter that veers into boys/relationships is a slightly less offensive rehash of the age old "boys will be boys." It softens the language and adds italicized caveats, but the end messages are the same tired tropes that have nothing to do with the way boys/men are "wired" and everything to do with a societal contract that removes responsibility from men's shoulders and places it on women's. There's a sense that the author understands the damage that came from extreme 90s purity culture, but failed to do the personal work required to root out all the underlying toxins before putting out their own version.
Would this content be helpful for a teen girl who has absolutely no one in her life with whom to have these important discussions? Maybe...if her biggest struggles revolved around peer pressure and struggling to be her authentic self, but ideally you'd be talking these issues through.
August 3, 2023
Have you ever wanted a book with impactful advice and memorable stories? Well, this is the book for you! 10 Ultimate Truths Girls Should Know by Kari Kampakis is an amazing book for girls on how to navigate through the teen years. This book is written from Kampakis’s personal experiences as she reflects on her teen years. Such as “One great run with God is enough to get you hooked. Trust me on this. I promise it’s the truth” (Kampakis, 195). This book also has many descriptive stories with unforgettable characters. One notable story in chapter one about drama in a friend group during cafeteria lunch has the reader feeling like they are part of the scene. All these tales are humorous and realistic, leaving you with an urge to turn the page. Overall, this book gives guidance to teen girls dealing with peer pressure, dating, academics, and so much more. Kari Kampakis’s wisdom and knowledge makes this book a perfect read for teen girls around the world.
January 15, 2019
Great read for moms and teens. I read with a highlighter in hand. I found the beginning of the book more useful because my daughter is only 10. But many of the later chapters about boys, dating, body image are great but we are just not there yet. I really loved the concept of 50/50 friends and plan to read that section with my daughter. I think it provides great reflective language for her to evaluate her friendships but also her role as a friend. Although many of the sections about boys are a bit old for our stage right now---I did like how she devotes a whole section to encouraging girls to chase their dreams instead of boys. I always tell my daughter that my husband and I did not even meet until I was in my 20's so don't invest too much time on boys who will not even be in her life several months or years from now.
September 20, 2017
The most difficult thing about this book is to get the teenage girl in your household to read it. If they do, the 10 rules / truths are powerful and I appreciate the Biblical references that put it in today's context. The scenarios / situations used as examples are pretty good and, even if you have a difficult time getting your child to read it as a parent you can relay part of the examples in your conversations.
Girls are mean to each other, and they have lots of internal and external conflicts in their daily walk. I would recommend parents of high school girls not only have their children read it but they (the parents) read it as well.
Girls are mean to each other, and they have lots of internal and external conflicts in their daily walk. I would recommend parents of high school girls not only have their children read it but they (the parents) read it as well.
November 4, 2017
*thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson: CHILDREN'S for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
4 stars.
This is such a wonderful book! I only wish I had this as a pre-teen. Im sure it would have helped. I do believe that this is a book every girl should know about. Each chapter starts with a great and important quote. Then we get a story were there is an example of what the quote really means and is a great waynto get girls to understand it a bit better. It is also a beautifully designed book. The cover, the little inside designs, the font, all this makes it look so appealing. Very big well done to the author for such a remarkable book.
4 stars.
This is such a wonderful book! I only wish I had this as a pre-teen. Im sure it would have helped. I do believe that this is a book every girl should know about. Each chapter starts with a great and important quote. Then we get a story were there is an example of what the quote really means and is a great waynto get girls to understand it a bit better. It is also a beautifully designed book. The cover, the little inside designs, the font, all this makes it look so appealing. Very big well done to the author for such a remarkable book.
June 6, 2024
Yeah so I had some issues with this book. The idea of saving yourself for marriage so that you can “see your husband’s face light up” did make me want to throw up. And that growing and developing your inner beauty is how you get a guy to stick around/become the girl he marries and not just dates.
These topics needed a more nuanced take, but because the target age is for middle schoolers I can understand why things were dumbed down.
I read this book when I was ten maybe and really liked it 😭. I’m still going to give it to my younger siblings because 99% of the messages in the book were great. I’ll just warn them about the misses.
These topics needed a more nuanced take, but because the target age is for middle schoolers I can understand why things were dumbed down.
I read this book when I was ten maybe and really liked it 😭. I’m still going to give it to my younger siblings because 99% of the messages in the book were great. I’ll just warn them about the misses.
September 19, 2025
Pretty much a great book. A guide for young girls coming of age. Severely outdated ideas & "guidance" on dating. It says to never make the first move because "boys don't like it." Excuse me? Why anyone would purposely teach young girls to cater to the mysogynistic whims of teenaged boys is way beyond me. Girls might read this & fail to discuss it with an intelligent adult & actually try to cow tow to the whims of teenage boys. Let's start the misogyny early, shall we? This book was 98% spot on but incredibly dangerous without adult guidance. Readers beware.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2017
I wish I had this book to read during my high school years! All ten truths are so relevant to young girls and would no doubt help guide through the tricky teen years. It was a little more religious-based than I was expecting but nonetheless a wonderful resource for all girls. I particularly loved the discussion questions at the end of each chapter.
Thanks kindly to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson and Kari Kampakis for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks kindly to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson and Kari Kampakis for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 1, 2019
I’m so thankful that this book was written. I plan to have both of my daughters read it. Would highly recommend it to anyone that has a daughter about to enter high school. This book is full of truths I have talked to and tried to teach my own daughters about. I want them to read it in hopes they will hear things from the author that they have had a difficult time hearing from me. So thankful to Kari Kampakis for writing it!
September 5, 2024
My mom gave me this book to read and being a teenager this was a great book for me to read. Being homeschooled it didn’t all feel like it applied to me but I loved it!!!!!! ❤️Personally I feel like all young girls should read it. It brings out a lot of Biblical truth and also some helpful information about living in a highly influential world that affects the way we think about ourselves and others.
September 4, 2023
I bought this for my daughter and wanted to read it before she did. It could be called 10 Ultimate Truths Women of Every Age Should Know because, let's face it, we are all dealing with the same types of things regardless of age. I wish I'd had a book like this when I was in middle, high or even college.
October 17, 2023
If I could buy this for every teenage girl in my life I would. I bought one for mine and one for my niece. It’s so important they know who they are and who’s they are when the world wants to tell them different. Highly recommend for moms and teen girls. A great read to read together, and sometimes it’s just better coming from someone who isn’t mom.
February 16, 2021
We finished about 1/3 of this book before I said, "Enough!"
The first chapter was really solid. It fell apart after that. This book has scripture references and talks about God, but the concepts taught were more worldly in nature than spiritual.
So, we're moving on.
The first chapter was really solid. It fell apart after that. This book has scripture references and talks about God, but the concepts taught were more worldly in nature than spiritual.
So, we're moving on.
December 3, 2022
A quick read, some things she said were too tied to shameful purity culture which I didn't like (I think that it's okay for girls to ask guys out on dates, and they aren't fully responsible for boy's thoughts!) but otherwise a lot of the other advice was applicable and I appreciated.
September 21, 2024
My 13 year old twin daughters and I read/discussed this together over a 3 month span. It was great to use Kari’s words as starters for conversations. The topics were very relatable to them and the faith based style was just what we needed.
December 8, 2025
My daughter and I read this together for her friend’s Bible study group, and it gave us plenty to talk about. There was a lot of great advice—and a few things I didn’t totally agree with—but it opened the door for some really good conversations and helped her reflect on her relationship with God.
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