Strong As a Girl: Your Guide to Raising Girls Who Know, Stand Up for, and Take Care of Themselves

by Kate Rope

Expert advice for parents and caregivers to raise strong girls from the get-go, building a foundation in the formative elementary years that will set them up to thrive

Author of Strong As a Mother Kate Rope brings grace and humor in a new, non-judgmental guide to tackling the most important topics in the modern lives of elementary-age girls. Strong as a Girl is a compassionate, expertly-sourced guide for parents and caregivers on how to build a strong foundation in the early years and to truly see and support your girl for who she is and wants to be.

Strong as a Girl features the voices of girls of all different identities, backgrounds, and life experiences alongside insight from experts in areas such as child development, puberty and sex ed, mental health, educational achievement, sexual abuse and assault prevention, body image, eating disorders, and self-compassion (for girls and the people raising them). Whatever your challenges or hopes for your girl, you will find ideas and solutions in actionable steps, simple activities, and easy-to-implement scripts and conversation starters.

Rope keeps the to-dos to a minimum, focuses on the most impactful things you can do, offers extensive compassion for the inevitable mistakes we all make, and includes resources for caregivers. Strong as a Girl is an easy-to-read, one-stop-shop that empowers parents and caregivers to set their girls on the road to a strong future, so that they—and their girls—will feel confident entering the more turbulent waters of middle school, the teen years and beyond.

Genres: Parenting, Audiobook, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

Published October 14, 2025

About the author

KATE ROPE is an award-winning freelance journalist whose work has appeared in many publications and online outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Time, Real Simple, and many more. She is author of the forthcoming Strong as a Girl: Your Guide to Raising Girls Who Know, Stand Up for, and Take Care of Themselves , Strong as a Mother: How to Stay Healthy, Happy, and (Most Importantly) Sane from Pregnancy to Parenthood and coauthor of The Complete Guide to Medications During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding . She co-created (with narrator, Alan Alda) and co-executive produced the Audible Original Soldiers of Science: The Vietnam War, Anthony Fauci, and the Doctors Who Revolutionized American Medicine.

Reviews

[Pamela Greyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m overall very anti-parenting books because they tend to be preachy and/or high-level (read: lacking practical advice on implementation). Rope, however, has done an incredible job creating a guide complete with expert advice - including from girls themselves - with examples and narrative and suggestions. It doesn’t beat you over the head with shoulds and shouldn’ts; it’s more like here’s a thing and here’s why it worked for me and here are actual useable ways to implement. My girls are 8 and 11, and I've already been able to use many of Rope's tips. This book is AMAZING! If you have a girl in your life, run, don't walk, and put in your order!

[Caitlin Underwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

As a mom to a two year old girl, I get a lot of my parenting advice from quick Google searches. That said, even though this book was about parenting a bit older of an age range than my girl, I’m so glad I buckled in and read it start to finish, and I think it’s inspired me to read more actual parenting books than quick bursts of information from the internet.

I love that this book felt both general and individualistic. The author writes in such a way that it feels like chatting parenting with a friend. I also like how inclusive the language and scenarios were.

The best part for me, though, was looking ahead — in so many chapters and sub-chapters, I thought, “this is how I want to handle this with my girl — and this is how I can do that!”. I even grabbed a few pointers for starting small with my two year old.

I’ve already recommended this book to some friends and family, and if you’re a caregiver to a young girl, I hope you’ll consider reading it, too.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I think this might be my favorite parenting book yet. I got SO much out of this read, and I’m beyond grateful for Kate Rope compiling all the learnings, studies and information into a really well thought out and organized book. I immediately purchased the book, and I’m not someone that buys a ton of physical books every year.

Strong as a Girl is divided into three parts (strong on the inside, strong inside and out, strong in the world) with 3-5 chapters within each part covering everything from preschoolers to teens and topics like emotions, self love, technology, bodies, identity, sex and consent, eating disorders/ nourishment, and perfectionism to just name a few. Every chapter has really poignant quotes, research and references, and suggested reading material for both caregiver and child.

There were so many great quotes and pieces I highlighted I don’t even know where to start - I highlighted 366 passages in the book!!!

Thank you so much to St Martins Press for the arc.

[Christa Russie]

A parenting book for the modern age. Kate brings in industry experts and the experts themselves (the kids) to talk about raising strong girls in a seemingly upside down world.
Being a mom these days is not for the faint of heart and I appreciate a single reference source to reflect upon the hard topics: masturbation, body positivity and strength in learning to say "no". Knowledge is power, and I really appreciated how the Resources for Caregivers in each section invites the reader to do their own deep digging.
I highly recommend grabbing yourself a copy and keeping it close at hand.

[Mariah Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom to a little girl, I’m always looking for ways to raise her with confidence, strength, and kindness. Strong As A Girl immediately stood out to me because that’s exactly the kind of foundation I want to give her. This is already a powerful resource. I love that it focuses on helping girls know their worth, speak up for themselves, and take care of their well-being. Definitely a book I’m excited to dive into and grow with alongside my daughter. 💕

[Sally Groomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom of two girls and a teacher of many young women, I am so grateful for a book like Strong Like a Girl. Kate Rope has crafted an expansive examination of the challenges that girls face today; however, she approaches each issue in a way to better equip us to tackle these struggles. While she delves into the research surrounding relevant concepts like body image, self-compassion, and puberty, it is discussed in a very accessible way. My favorite part was the helpful list of related books that correspond with each topic for additional reading, if desired. Unlike other didactic parenting tomes, Rope’s tone is approachable and empowering, not condescending or preachy. Strong Like a Girl is a must-read for anyone with a girl in their lives. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of the book.

[Ashley Tovar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to enjoy this ARC on audio. This book combines anecdotes, recent research based information & real world applicable strategies to raising strong, independent daughters. As a mom of girls I am so grateful to have a book at directly addresses the modern struggles & opportunities of raising girls in our society as it is now. I have so many practical take aways that I am excited to put to use.

Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this ARC. 

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong as a Girl is a guidebook for parents and caregivers to address potential issues that affect specifically female children as they grow, but I found many of the discussions to be as helpful when considering male children facing similar challenges. One bit that stuck with me through out my reading was the differences in parenting out of fear and parenting out of hope. I loved that distinction and it definitely had me reflecting on my own parenting and how much I parent out of fear and what it would look like for me to reframe a situation into parenting out of hope.

This book was written with every girl in mind so not every chapter or issue discussed will apply to every child; in the same vein, it’s a general overview of topics and research and for example, if you have a neurodivergent girl, you might want further resources to go deeper into a particular topic. Each chapter ends with book recommendations for both caregiver and children in various age groups. I really appreciated the book recommendations on each topic for further study.

I would like to thank St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Elizabeth Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter is almost 12, so I was worried that this book might skew too young. Not so! This valuable resource helped me reflect on what has shaped her thus far in life, and it’s full of actionable tips for checking in and supporting her from here on out. The mini stories and expert tips are inspiring so many conversations with her about her mind and body (how to care for herself, nurture herself, protect herself, and love herself). Since I started reading, we've been having deeper conversations about her emotions and friendships, and I’m opening up more too. Her curiosity about my tween years is sparking her to share more. In fact, we are starting a circle with a few of her best friends and their moms (my friends) where the girls are allowed to ask us anything about bodies and sex — even submitting questions anonymously. I’m sharing this book with each of the moms beforehand. The book is thoroughly researched and clearly written by a mother who cares DEEPLY about all the girls of the world.

[Andrea Bastek · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “Strong As A Girl” Kate Rope invites us to join her in an exploration of our roles as caregivers of girls. It’s a thoughtful journey, without judgment, with plenty of humor, and with an incredible amount of expertise and personal insight. The broad range of topics highlights the huge responsibility caregivers have, and yet the content is approachable and paired with plenty of useful tips for how to actually speak/practice the ideas. Rope also shows sincere compassion for the reader, with many opportunities to offer themselves grace and patience as caregivers. That small gift, like much of the content, is a paradigm shift from how many of us in the author’s generation were raised and it’s the reason the world needs this book! Many thanks for being brave enough to cover this critical but daunting topic.

[Alexa O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you thought there wasn’t a handbook for parenting…

As the parent of a 14-year-old girl, I wish Strong As a Girl had been available to me years ago! This book is chock full of pearls of wisdom that I am already putting into action to strengthen my relationship with my daughter and support her intuitive wisdom.

Kate Rope’s writing is relatable and full of humor, and she clearly understands that none of us is perfect. My favorite element of this book is the bulleted lists in each chapter that provide example phrases and language for how you can talk with your girl about a variety of topics. I wanted to highlight them all!

People say there is no handbook to being a parent…but this is it! If you have a girl in your life and want her to grow up to be strong in ALL the ways, do yourself a favor, and buy this book now!

[Alyssa LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened on Audio -

Strong As a Girl is essentially a handbook for parenting young ones. When I initially requested this audiobook I had the intention of learning how to be a better advocate and a person of support for my niece, but what I received was far more than that! I could apply many of the lessons or suggestions provided to parenting my boys! I really enjoyed the chapter surrounding feelings. I’m not sure why our society has created this environment where sharing and expressing emotions as parents and allowing our children to do the same has become taboo or something view as “bad”. I’m so excited to apply what I’ve learned to my life, my nieces life, and to my kids lives.

Thank you NetGalley, to the author, and Macmillian for this advanced audio. I enjoyed myself and it kept me busy all day!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is exactly what I needed while raising two daughters. The Strong Girl isn’t just a parenting book, it’s a guide, a conversation starter, and a powerful reminder of the kind of world I want my girls to grow up in. I even read parts of it aloud with my 11-year-old, and it sparked some of the most meaningful conversations about confidence, courage, boundaries, and what strength really means.

What I love most is how Kate Rope equips girls — and really women of every age — with the tools to trust that inner voice and protect it fiercely. She shows that true strength means feeling your emotions deeply, honoring them, and allowing them to guide you toward the person you want to become, rather than the version society tries to shape you into.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Kate Rope’s first book, Strong as a Mother, which was such a lifeline for me as a new parent. Her new book, Strong as a Girl, is just as impactful—an excellent compilation of research, expert insights, interviews, and real-life accounts from girls and their parents on the issues that matter most in today’s parenting world. I especially appreciated the chapters on protecting girls against sexual abuse, eating disorders, and addiction; they were practical, compassionate, and deeply needed. Rope brings together an incredible range of experts and voices, and the result is a resource that feels both comprehensive and accessible. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is caring for, raising, or mentoring a growing girl.

[Oona Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Rope has given the world a great gift.
Parents of younger girls now have a go-to resource for laying a strong foundation for their daughters before they enter the teen years. As a parent educator, I particularly appreciate the wide range of practical tale-aways, including sample scripts, hands-on activities, and children’s book recommendations for families who want to start putting Rope’s guidance into practice in their own homes. The writing itself is lovely, and she shares information with humor and compassion, never judgment. Even when tackling hard topics and sobering statistics, Rope brings warmth and hope to every section of the book.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow. This book is an absolutely essential comprehensive guide to all things raising a girl. I wish I had read it years ago, it would have saved me thousands of hours of reading, listening and searching for answers. Kate covers every topic I've needed support with and I really feel like she has my back and can basically read my mind. If you're looking for common sense, no frills, guidance on all the things - especially the messy and confusing things - get this book and read it yesterday.

[Samim05 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great resource for anyone who has (or works with) tween and teen girls! I love how the author uses real-world experience, interviews, and research to tie together how we can all make sure we are doing our best for ALL kids! I connected with the quotes at the start of each chapter-which really set the tone. It is clear these were thoughtfully and intentionally written in to add to the overall impact of the book. Kate Rope has a way of writing that makes for easy and informative reading-which is a difficult skill!

[Fireplace.Bookworm · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really excited to pick up and read this one. Raising a daughter in this society is going to be challenging and I wanted to be equipped with all the information. What I got was a lot, and I mean a lot, of quotes from all of Rope’s sources. I would have been better off to go read those books. The quotes from the girls and caregivers were sometimes good but many of them just reiterated, sometimes word for word, what was said in a previous paragraph. How this book was written was not for me. I’ll be picking up many of the books she cited instead.

[Malissa Magyar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate has a gift of sharing practical advice in a down to earth and relatable style. I appreciate the encouragement and reinforcement of letting my girl be exactly who she is. It’s also helpful to have a resource for the tougher topics around bodily autonomy, nutrition, and self expression. I thoroughly enjoyed Strong as a Girl, almost as much as I enjoyed Strong as a Mother. Kate’s writing is candid and refreshing!

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Strong as a Mother and didn't love it but couldn't remember why so I gave this a shot. Sadly, I didn't love this one either. The book is about who to raise strong girls and some of it I really agreed with, but the author is not a Christian and that is very apparent. There were some things that I didn't agree with at all and it felt very worldly. We're all entitled to our own views and values, so I don't fault her, but this one was not the best for me.

[Elizabeth Falconi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an accesible, smart, and super useful synthesis of so much contemporary research on parenting young girls. As the parent of a neurodivergent girl I found the sections on adapting caregiving to your child, realizing that cognitive differences are not something to be “fixed” and letting go of trying to make sure they are “on track” especially helpful!!

[Jacqueline Cortez Arellano · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the mother of 8 and 5 year old daughters, I feel I found this book just in time. Overwhelming in a good way, this book provided so much helpful information and statistics relevant to the lived experience of being a young girl today and for raising them. I feel informed, affirmed, hopeful and extra honored to be raising two young women after reading this.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first parenting book I've read, and I know it will be a vital text for me going forward in raising my currently 10 month old daughter. It gave me hope, pause, and joy. I look forward to the challenges, the highs and the lows, and using this as a guide to raise my incredible girl.

[MeiMei Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I have two sons and no daughters, I cannot express how important this book is. It is full of invaluable advice for any parent on helping your children stand up for who they truly are in a troubled world.

[Erin Hassan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book.. so happy I found this to read before my daughter is a teen. Feeling a little less worries as a mom.

[Rachel Monroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great practical advice with such a positive and supportive tone!

[Stacie Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for mom’s of daughters. Kate brings expertise alongside her own experiences as a mother of two girls to offer us a book that is easy to follow and practical!

[Shelby Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what a guide to raising strong and confident girls in the modern age should be. The book focuses on the relationship that you build with your daughter and how you can support the strength of that relationship translating to her relationship with the rest of the world. I will most definitely be rereading this one in the future with a notebook and pen on hand.

FIVE out of five girls prepared to tackle the world.

[Jackie Varnum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a MUST READ for anyone raising a girl, at any age. Rope does an amazing job helping highlight the challenges of being/raising a girl right now then instilling hope with steps of how to support them to feel empowered and strong. I found myself smiling, shaking my head, laughing and tearing up throughout the book. As a new mom to a girl, this is absolutely going to be a play book for me to tackle the hard conversations and events with love and support. Can't recommend enough!