The Girl Who Changed The World

by Machiel Hoek

Dive into "The Girl Who Changed The World," where Lisa's journey of self-discovery unravels the mysteries of life, guided by her enigmatic grandfather and the secrets he holds.

Explore the balance of ancient wisdom and modern insights as Lisa navigates through the complexities of truth and reality, reshaping her understanding of herself and the world around her.

In this book, you

Discover the power of thoughts and actions to shape your reality.Learn the importance of balance between doing and being in life.Explore the transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment.Uncover the secrets of fulfillment and personal growth.Embrace a narrative that celebrates the influence of feminine energy in changing the world.The Girl Who Changed The World weaves a tapestry of inspiration and allegory, appealing to readers of all ages with its message of empowerment and transformation. This book challenges perceptions and invites readers on a journey of self-reflection and empowerment.

Embark on a journey of discovery and empowerment and discover the power within you to shape your reality!

312 pages, Paperback

Published July 10, 2024

Reviews

[Shubham Lakhina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl Who Changed The World* by Machiel Hoek is a thought-provoking, inspirational tale that follows Lisa’s journey as she seeks to understand life’s mysteries with the guidance of her wise and enigmatic grandfather. This novel is far more than a story; it is a spiritual and philosophical journey that encourages readers to reflect deeply on the power of thoughts, actions, and self-discovery. Hoek masterfully weaves themes of ancient wisdom with modern insights, offering readers an invitation to rethink how they perceive themselves and the world.

At the heart of the story is Lisa, a young girl whose journey of self-discovery becomes a powerful exploration of truth, reality, and personal growth. Her relationship with her grandfather is touching and rich with meaning, as he shares secrets that transform her understanding of life. Through these teachings, Lisa discovers how thoughts and actions can shape reality—a concept that Hoek presents as both simple and profound. Lisa’s journey is a reminder of the importance of staying connected to oneself, even in a fast-paced, ever-changing world.

One of the novel’s most inspiring themes is the balance between “doing” and “being,” a lesson that resonates throughout Lisa’s experiences. This balance is critical to her growth, illustrating how modern life can often overlook the importance of simply being present. Hoek’s writing invites readers to question their own balance and consider how they might find fulfillment through this wisdom. Lisa’s story becomes a mirror, reflecting back on the reader’s own choices and priorities.

Hoek also emphasizes the influence of feminine energy in shaping and changing the world, presenting it as a powerful, transformative force that contributes to personal empowerment and global harmony. Lisa’s journey is, in many ways, a celebration of this energy, and the narrative shines with a quiet strength that makes her character relatable and inspiring. Her growth feels universal, reminding readers of the innate potential within each of us to contribute positively to the world around us.

[Scribble's Worth Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Girl Who Changed the World is an inspirational novel disguised as fiction. Utilizing a fictional element and encouraging readers to discover along Lisa, the main character, readers will embark on a journey of self-discovery. The Girl Who Changed the World is more than it seems, and it will definitely surprise you.
The Girl Who Changed the World has a beautifully eye-catching cover. On this book’s cover is a night sky with a shooting star streaking down towards a full moon. The sky surrounding the moon in tinted with shades of pink, light gold, shading into green at the horizon. It gives the sense of a sunrise/sunset. Walking towards the moon is a young girl. She’s walking a skinny yellow path – with one foot in front of the other – almost like a balance beam. In her hand is a tulip.
The Girl Who Changed the World by Machiel Hoek is an interesting fictional novel that focuses on a young girl by the name of Lisa. Lisa is struggling with change and life. She feels that things are changing too fast and too soon. But life never waits, and she’s seeing that first hand. All she wants is for things to be good, life to slow down, and to have happiness. While this isn’t exactly possible, her week with her grandpa will be an extraordinary one – she just doesn’t know it yet.
When you meet Lisa in The Girl Who Changed the World, she’s standing in a barn. Not what you’re thinking. She’s not standing in the door looking out at the world. No, she’s standing out in the barn and reaching out… To what is she reaching? We have no idea, but what we do know is that she takes a tumble. Of course, that kind of ruckus from the impact does not go unnoticed.
The way that author Hoek has Lisa remain on the floor and in a contemplative state is rather interesting. Author Hoek has Lisa contemplating not just the fall, but herself as well. It’s an interesting element that comes at readers rather quickly in this book. The big question that readers are going to have is – why is Lisa being so contemplative? What is going on in her life that is bothering her to this extent? Good news! We’ll find out soon enough! No long waiting required!
As The Girl Who Changed the World continues to unfold author Hoek reveals that Lisa will be staying with her grandpa while her mother goes on a trip. This specific trip in particular is different the past ones, but we’ll leave that to you to discover. All you need to know from us is that it’s impacting Lisa and it’s a weight on her shoulders. Though, it’s not the only weight on her shoulders.
As Lisa unveils the troubles weighing her down in this book we are better able to understand her sense of feeling overwhelmed. She’s going through a lot. Teenage and high school years tend to be pretty hard on the psyche, but author Hoek gives readers the sense that Lisa is feeling isolated and alone in all of it. So, the question that comes is – what can she change about her situation. Lisa’s grandpa swiftly enacts a project for her to occupy herself with during her stay to encourage her to assess herself and the world around her.
The Girl Who Changed the World is an insightful and informative. Author Hoek crafts a fictional story with realistic aspects. Lisa’s grandpa takes her through a day by day trek to better understand not just herself, but her perception of the world around her. He uses his psychology background to help Lisa to open her eyes and to reassess.
Author Hoek takes readers through The Girl Who Changed the World a day at a time. Each day brings something unique to the story. Lisa, with each day, discovers something new and has a new revelation. Whether it’s the impact of her being in a specific situation, or a simple discovery about nature itself. While she’s learning, so are we the readers! It’s an amazing aspect of this story.
As Lisa is being taught and lead by her grandpa, readers are being taught and lead to! Our eyes are being opened to different perspectives, and discovering that how we see things not equate it to being the truth. The Girl Who Changed the World is a book that will literally have you stopping and thinking. You’ll probably even be inspired to pick up your own journal and document your own journey of self-discovery as you read Lisa’s story.
Author Hoek weaves so many realistic situations into this story. We get Lisa having a confrontation with a boy at the neighbor’s. We get Lisa making an assumption about someone because of their situation without knowing their story. These various plot points that we are given in this story everyone who picks up this book will be able to relate. It’s shocking, but makes for an interesting read!
As The Girl Who Changed the World unfolds and Lisa’s weekend with her grandpa draws to a close readers get to see just how much Lisa has grown in a week! She learns so much with the help of her grandpa. Her journey of self-discovery and empowerment is an inspirational one. The twist that author Hoek weaves into this story? It’s not just Lisa who learns a thing or two during this week of her staying with her grandpa.
Readers are going to appreciate how smoothly this book flows along. There are some moments of drama and surprise that will give this story brief bursts of excitement. How author Hoek has the characters handle the situations will cause readers to pause and reconsider our own knee-jerk reactions.
Readers will also appreciate how author Hoek sprinkles throughout this book images of Lisa’s journal entries. They are easy ways for her to simplify and highlight the more important aspects of what she has learned. These are some of the best moments in the book that allows readers to take a minute and marinate in what has been discovered and learned.
It is safe to say that The Girl Who Changed the World is a book for readers of all ages and sexes. There is something for everyone to learn in this fictional story. This book encourages readers to self-discover along with Lisa and her grandpa. To look deeper, to reassess what they believe to be true, and to take action to better shape their life in the way that they want it to be.
While The Girl Who Changed the World is a work of fiction, it will be a book that will be worth rereading and used to guide your growth and perceptions. There are a lot of realistic elements in this book and it could even be classified as an “educational” fictional novel. But it is an enjoyable story to check out and leave you with the sense that you are better armed to begin changing your life...for the better.

Pros:

Educational
Informative
Contemplative
Interesting storyline
Realistic characters
Age appropriate for all ages

Cons:

None of merit

Cover Score: 8.9
Overall Book Score: 9.5

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was a bit slow in the beginning, but I continued since it was a recommendation from my mom; so glad I pressed on! The author takes us on the journey of the fictional Lisa, who sets out to discover the meaning of life through her grandpa. The essence of the book, or at least my takeaway, has to do with the word Lisa invented: perceality (your perception of reality). We all have our own perceptions of how things are, shaped of course by our own experiences. We can choose how to feel, and the secret of life is us!

[Evergreen · Rating 1 out of 5]

maybe I'm not emotionally intelligent enough but it was boring 🫠 i couldn't get past chapter 8

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirteen-year-old Lisa is going to be spending a week with her grandfather while she is on school break and her mother is out of town on business in “The Girl Who Changed the World” by Machiel Hoek. But when she gets to Grandpa’s house, she doesn’t realize that he’s going to help her see things differently during her stay with him.

She confides in him that things aren’t going well for her right now and she’s saddened by this. Not only does she feel that she’s not being treated as a thirteen-year-old should be, with a bit more freedom to do things, but she’s also dealing with being bullied at school. She’s losing the close bond she had with her best friend, Madison from school. So, Grandpa sets out to help Lisa take action on the things that are bothering her.

He puts a plan of action together; they will not only be conversing about what’s bothering her, but he sets up experiments and lessons to help reinforce that sometimes you have to see things from a different perspective to deal with them. Lisa never thought that in a week’s time, she would gain so much more knowledge than when she first arrived at her grandfather’s house. What does Grandpa teach Lisa to help her deal with the situations in her life? Does she take Grandpa’s advice to heart? Does she start to take steps to make the changes to the things that are bothering her?

This is a mesmerizing story right from the start. Knowing that Lisa is thirteen years old, readers know how it feels to be that age and have the world seem to continually throw curve balls at you. During that time in your life, things are changing rapidly for you, and you feel as if the world is against you no matter where you turn. But when Mr. Hoek decided to take his storyline and write Grandpa’s approach to helping Lisa deal with her issues, this reviewer was captivated by how things played out.

Grandpa took the time to listen to Lisa, something no one seemed to be doing lately with her, and he carved out time to teach her lessons by doing experiments together. This was an ingenious approach to helping Lisa conquer what was bothering her in a non-preachy and non-attacking way. Grandpa gave Lisa the space to allow her to show him what was bothering her by taking the time to actually listen to what she had to say without passing judgment or dismissing her needs to be just teenage issues she’ll eventually outgrow by herself. The relationship Lisa had with her grandfather was quite endearing and it was a pleasure reading just how close they were to each other. Nowadays you don’t read many stories showing the loving bond grandchildren have with their grandparents, and this was truly a breath of fresh air with this story.

As for the lessons and experiments Grandpa set out to teach Lisa, that too was uniquely special in how he presented these things to make Lisa find her own answers through these lessons and experiments she did with him. He truly took her feelings and her thoughts seriously and valued her opinion on things even though she was only thirteen. The love he showed for her in spending that week together to help her deal with everything that was bothering her truly showed the strong bond they shared together.

Again, this isn’t something you find readily in today’s novels, and it made this story stand out from the rest. She truly had respect for her grandfather, and he showed just as much respect in return to Lisa. This allowed her to see things from a different perspective, so she could make the necessary changes to the things that were bothering her and so that she could proactively change these things herself.

Although Hoek created Lisa to be just thirteen years old, this story wasn’t just geared toward young teenage readers. On the contrary! This book was one in which this adult reader walked away seeing things from a uniquely different perspective. Even though this story is fiction, it has plenty of lessons for readers to learn that they can apply to their own lives, no matter what their age might be.

Overall, “The Girl Who Changed the World” by Machiel Hoek is one novel that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Readers will walk away with a feeling of discovery and empowerment after reading Lisa’s story. It is highly recommended!

[Dani Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Girl Who Changed the World by Machiel Hoek is one of those great deep thoughts type of read. Philosophical in every way. Machiel Hoek creates a story that weaves more to the story than there is. Because of that, we, as readers can reflect on the story with our own lives. The book is a slow burn. The main character herself is unique. She appears much older than she actually is. The plot leaves more questions than answers. Lisa has an old soul. Overall, the book walks through her personal journey as a teenager who is excelling beyond her normal age group, suffering from loss, grief, and the pains of growing up with big changes. It is a lot for any teenager to handle. The tale makes readers feel sympathetic to the character, Lisa. Her grandpa is another likable character. As it is he, who truly understands Lisa better than her own mother. Plus, it is her grandfather who helps her navigate through the tough waters called her messy life. The novel was like a Ramona and Beezus type of read. However, it mostly contained just two characters, Lisa and her grandpa. Even though it was enjoyable read, it would have been better to have scenes with other characters like with Maddison and others versus having it told through Lisa's dialogue. Other than that, this book could have easily have been a perfect five-star read. Overall, it features contemporary issues, and themes of growing up, family, friendships, and wisdom.

I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

What a delightful, impactful read. The author does an incredible job of weaving together a heartfelt story of a young woman discovering her impact on the world and our power to shape reality as we see it. The emotional connection shared between Lisa and her grandfather and the philosophical and equally emotional conversations that spark this book's journey will resonate with young readers and anyone looking for a more spiritual or intellectual journey through life.

The author's creativity in developing a fictional story that can be used as a guide through a mental, spiritual, and emotional journey of self-made this a compelling narrative. The lessons taught throughout these characters’ stories were incredible, from each person having their own “reality” to learning to forgive yourself and others, following your dreams, and more, and the impact we can have on one another was remarkably demonstrated throughout this story.

The Verdict

Memorable, heartfelt, and insightful author Machiel Hoek’s “The Girl Who Changed the World” is a deeply personal and inspiring read. The metaphysical YA novel melds ideas of philosophy and spirituality together eloquently. The twists and turns in the actual story and the relatability of the characters only serve to emphasize the events of this narrative.

[Randi-Lee Bowslaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This meaningful book is more than a story; it is powerful without being “self-help.” It is written in an easy-to-understand way, using realistic examples.

The life lessons are easy for younger readers to understand, as well as adults who are relearning things and improving themselves. It would be an excellent book for a bedtime story to read together and explore complex concepts in a story format.

I thought it was so cool that there were note pages when the main character was writing in her notebook. Not only did it break down the concept into its core parts, but it also gave the book an appealing look.

The dialogue pushes the story (and life lessons) forward. As someone who has read a few self-help books, I loved that it is a conversation between a grandpa and granddaughter (with other characters throughout).

If you want a heart-felt book, this is the right choice.

[Masha M.]

The Girl Who Changed The World presents itself as a contemplative, parable-like novel focused on personal transformation and timeless wisdom. The story follows Lisa on a journey of self-discovery, guided by her enigmatic grandfather who holds profound secrets about life. The narrative promises to explore the balance between ancient wisdom and modern insights, aiming to reshape the protagonist's understanding of truth, reality, and personal power.

The book's strength is its clear, mission-driven focus on empowerment and metaphysical concepts. It directly invites readers to discover the power of thoughts and actions to shape your reality and to explore the transformative journey of self-discovery.

[Kristin Andress · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book for the ages! Transformative and unique. Enjoyable and though provoking. This one will become one that is read and remembered. It has impacted my thinking, conversations, perspective and connections. I love it. Beautifully and creatively done, Machiel Hoek!

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should be read slowly so reader can absorb each lesson on its own