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Girls Write Now: Two Decades of True Stories from Young Female Voices
"Important work . . . A beautiful example of what happens when you let girls write and share it with the world." ― Samhita Mukhopadhyay, Teen Vogue Teenage girls tell their most urgent stories, punctuated by inspiration and advice from Zadie Smith, Roxane Gay, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Gloria Steinem, Alice Walker, and more of today's great writers.
Girls Write Two Decades of True Stories from Young Female Voices offers a brave and timely portrait of teenage-girl life in the United States over the past twenty years. They're working part-time jobs to make ends meet, deciding to wear a hijab to school, sharing a first kiss, coming out to their parents, confronting violence and bullying, and immigrating to a new country while holding onto their heritage. Through it all, these young writers tackle issues of race, gender, poverty, sex, education, politics, family, and friendship. Together their narratives capture indelible snapshots of the past and lay bare hopes, insecurities, and wisdom for the future. Interwoven is advice from great women writers―Roxane Gay, Francine Prose, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Zadie Smith, Quiara Alegria Hudes, Janet Mock, Gloria Steinem, Lena Dunham, Mia Alvar, and Alice Walker―offering guidance to a young reader about where she's been and where she might go. Inspiring and informative, Girls Write Now belongs in every school, library and home, adding much-needed and long-overdue perspectives on what it is to be young in America.
Girls Write Two Decades of True Stories from Young Female Voices offers a brave and timely portrait of teenage-girl life in the United States over the past twenty years. They're working part-time jobs to make ends meet, deciding to wear a hijab to school, sharing a first kiss, coming out to their parents, confronting violence and bullying, and immigrating to a new country while holding onto their heritage. Through it all, these young writers tackle issues of race, gender, poverty, sex, education, politics, family, and friendship. Together their narratives capture indelible snapshots of the past and lay bare hopes, insecurities, and wisdom for the future. Interwoven is advice from great women writers―Roxane Gay, Francine Prose, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Zadie Smith, Quiara Alegria Hudes, Janet Mock, Gloria Steinem, Lena Dunham, Mia Alvar, and Alice Walker―offering guidance to a young reader about where she's been and where she might go. Inspiring and informative, Girls Write Now belongs in every school, library and home, adding much-needed and long-overdue perspectives on what it is to be young in America.
250 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2018
19 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 29, 2018
I received this book as another advanced reader's copy and I am all for books that inspire young girls to believe in themselves and be inspired by girls/women such as themselves. All the stories featured in the book were original, motivating, well written and composed and are sure to inspire young women around the world. I have been on the search for books to add to our young adult collection motivating teen girls to read more and this book will sure to get them started. I'll be sure to add it to our cart! 5 Stars!
June 17, 2020
This was a very powerful book and one that needs to be more hyped. The stories are very emotional and powerful, and I’m so thankful that I was given a copy. Please check it out!
October 22, 2018
I loved the variation in styles and subjects that all these stories brought to the table. This is a really special anthology - I can't wait to see what these girls do next.
May 29, 2018
A collection of very personal narrations that vary in length, narration, point of view and come from all walks of life, which I love and embrace with both arms wrapped tightly. However, if the stories were grouped or organized differently, the book would be much more approachable. Also, since the lengths vary, the book can be picked up or put down at will. And if the last story read didn't really hook you, it takes a long time to pick the book up again. There are a lot of very short reads, so perhaps longer and fewer may have been a better way to collect the stories for maximum impact of what is happening in the young women of right now.
July 8, 2018
I absolutely love what this book stands for. Giving a platform for teenage girls to express themselves, their lives and what plagues them. It's a compilation of stories, backgrounds, tackling various issues. I personally would've preferred longer and fewer stories (maybe in several volumes) because it felt sort of unfortunate that some of these stories didn't have more pages to really explore the lives of these girls. I think it would have made them more impactful and possibly resonant better. I feel like squeezing two decades into one anthology made the stories feel more like samples rather than complete.
I think this collection will be refreshing for readers who consume it periodically versus in one sitting - so that the stories feel more revelatory and sincere.
Regardless, I think young girls should have access to this book but I wish there were more volumes with fewer stories and theme consistency.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the Publisher (Tin House Books) for providing me an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
I think this collection will be refreshing for readers who consume it periodically versus in one sitting - so that the stories feel more revelatory and sincere.
Regardless, I think young girls should have access to this book but I wish there were more volumes with fewer stories and theme consistency.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the Publisher (Tin House Books) for providing me an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2020
How have I missed the work being doing by Girls Write Now for two decades?! Founded 20 years ago, it is New York's first and only writing and mentoring organization for girls. The writers are 90% high-need and 95% girls of color, and their voices SING in this collection of personal essays.
This is the kind of writing we need to be encouraging in schools. Essays and narratives in which our students explore their voices and express their points of view. Writing that tells their stories. Writing that creates community and heals through the power of shared stories. If you want to hear the voices of today's youth, this is a must read!
My only other question is: How do we start a program like this in Baltimore?!
This is the kind of writing we need to be encouraging in schools. Essays and narratives in which our students explore their voices and express their points of view. Writing that tells their stories. Writing that creates community and heals through the power of shared stories. If you want to hear the voices of today's youth, this is a must read!
My only other question is: How do we start a program like this in Baltimore?!
May 12, 2018
This is a powerful collection of narratives written by a diverse group of young women. However, this compilation would have had a stronger impact if the essays were grouped by theme. The essays cover issues that run the gamut from the ending of a friendship to systemic racism in our society. Yet they appear to be arranged in no apparent order. Additionally, there were a number of grammatical errors, which is a drawback for educators seeking to use these essays as examplars in the classroom. Ultimately, this is a worthy publication that features admirable young females writers using their voices to tell stories that are more important than ever.
May 20, 2018
I received an ARC via netgalley for an honest review.
Here's my (probably) slightly controversial review...
As a Girls school librarian I really wanted to love this book, but, I just didn't.
I believe in its worth but I wanted more from most of the stories... I thought the writing was excellent and I just wanted more. I felt as if each story was just and opening chapter with no conclusions, so whilst the 3 stars may seem harsh I just had high hopes for this and it just didn't deliver enough.
I would still probably hold a copy in the school library and encourage students to look at it and make their own decisions - hopefully some will disagree with me!
Here's my (probably) slightly controversial review...
As a Girls school librarian I really wanted to love this book, but, I just didn't.
I believe in its worth but I wanted more from most of the stories... I thought the writing was excellent and I just wanted more. I felt as if each story was just and opening chapter with no conclusions, so whilst the 3 stars may seem harsh I just had high hopes for this and it just didn't deliver enough.
I would still probably hold a copy in the school library and encourage students to look at it and make their own decisions - hopefully some will disagree with me!
December 5, 2018
I enjoy this book so much. I love the mix of authors and all the different style of writers, is great! It's very personal! I love the messages, the multi-cultural, and all the different subjects that all of these stories have. I learned about some authors I haven't heard yet, that I can't wait to look into and read their books. I can't believe I haven't been hearing about this book. It's a must read!
I can't wait to give copies to my younger female family members once they get old enough to read this book!
I was given a copy of this to review, this is 100% a honest review!
I can't wait to give copies to my younger female family members once they get old enough to read this book!
I was given a copy of this to review, this is 100% a honest review!
July 30, 2018
Girls Write Now is a collection of stories by young women traversing themes of identity, belonging, and purpose. As a high school English teacher, I plan on putting these powerful stories to work as examples and inspiration in my classroom. I was moved by the diversity of experiences shared and, simultaneously, the oneness of the work as a whole.
July 30, 2018
This book contains short glimpses into the lives of teenage girls all over the world. Some are thoughtful, some are funny, some are intense, but they all show a tiny truth about what it's like to be a young woman in this world. I'll definitely be using excerpts in my English class this coming school year.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Note: I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 19, 2024
This book was full of powerful snapshots of female student voices. So many I am looking forward to sharing with my own students. It's important for students to see how impactful their voices and writing can be at a young age. It's also eye opening to see lifestyles and scenarios through lenses that are vastly different from your own.
November 26, 2018
3.5 stars.
Girls Write Now is an INCREDIBLE organization. I'm so impressed by the work they do and the mission they promote!
I just wish the stories here had more context so it didn't read solely as a string of very short personal essays.
Full review to come!
Girls Write Now is an INCREDIBLE organization. I'm so impressed by the work they do and the mission they promote!
I just wish the stories here had more context so it didn't read solely as a string of very short personal essays.
Full review to come!
July 6, 2024
This book restored my clarity during a tumultuous week.
Reading about another woman's strength led me back to my own resilience. Whatever edifies the spirit is a sacred book.
I thank the women who shared their truths unabashedly.
Reading about another woman's strength led me back to my own resilience. Whatever edifies the spirit is a sacred book.
I thank the women who shared their truths unabashedly.
July 11, 2023
(Full review coming soon!)
July 17, 2018
‘Girls Write Now’. It sounds clever until you remember that girls have been writing for a while—the first novel ever written was authored by a woman, after all, and many historic female authors (such as Jane Austen and Mary Shelley) finished full-length novels before reaching adulthood.
Come to think of it, the title’s secondary connotation isn’t entirely accurate, either—this compilation does not represent young girls right now as it includes articles written as far back as 1998. Did the editors of this compilation struggle to find enough worthy contemporary entries? I realise that the book’s by-line is ‘Two Decades of True Stories from Young Female Voices’, but in my opinion two decades is too broad. The experiences are too disparate and it results in a book without a common voice.
This is only worsened by the inclusion of contributions from older, more experienced writers. I realise from a publishing viewpoint established names can attract more readers than relative unknowns, but I don’t think it helps the actual text any. The reader can’t help but compare the work of the inexperienced young writers to that of their more experienced counterparts (who only contribute a few paragraph between them).
Not only is the literary technique underwhelming, but the content is too. Most of the girls’ stories lack punch—they have struggled to evoke emotion, so I struggle to care. And when I do find a compelling contribution, it almost always ends far too abruptly. I'm not sure whether this is due to particularly harsh editing (they did have to fit two decades' worth of work in one book, after all) or whether the authors simply started strong and then ran out of steam after only a paragraph or two. Either way, it made for frustrating reading.
It's possible that the entries are short because they are samples and are meant to be read as such (in which case, I would ask the editors to choose extracts with more care). 'Sample' is the watchword with this text: when you read the contributions chronologically you find that there are no stand-out pieces (they blur together and become all the blander for it). But if you sample a story in between other reading material they seem much more refreshing and revelatory.
If I am being overly harsh it is only because I had high hopes for this book—disappointment is souring my words. It is so rare that young women get showcased in this manner and this book feels like a wasted opportunity. I hate to think that someone might pick up 'Girls Write Now' and conclude that young women have nothing meaningful to say after all. This book needed to be exceptional, and it just... wasn't.
Come to think of it, the title’s secondary connotation isn’t entirely accurate, either—this compilation does not represent young girls right now as it includes articles written as far back as 1998. Did the editors of this compilation struggle to find enough worthy contemporary entries? I realise that the book’s by-line is ‘Two Decades of True Stories from Young Female Voices’, but in my opinion two decades is too broad. The experiences are too disparate and it results in a book without a common voice.
This is only worsened by the inclusion of contributions from older, more experienced writers. I realise from a publishing viewpoint established names can attract more readers than relative unknowns, but I don’t think it helps the actual text any. The reader can’t help but compare the work of the inexperienced young writers to that of their more experienced counterparts (who only contribute a few paragraph between them).
Not only is the literary technique underwhelming, but the content is too. Most of the girls’ stories lack punch—they have struggled to evoke emotion, so I struggle to care. And when I do find a compelling contribution, it almost always ends far too abruptly. I'm not sure whether this is due to particularly harsh editing (they did have to fit two decades' worth of work in one book, after all) or whether the authors simply started strong and then ran out of steam after only a paragraph or two. Either way, it made for frustrating reading.
It's possible that the entries are short because they are samples and are meant to be read as such (in which case, I would ask the editors to choose extracts with more care). 'Sample' is the watchword with this text: when you read the contributions chronologically you find that there are no stand-out pieces (they blur together and become all the blander for it). But if you sample a story in between other reading material they seem much more refreshing and revelatory.
If I am being overly harsh it is only because I had high hopes for this book—disappointment is souring my words. It is so rare that young women get showcased in this manner and this book feels like a wasted opportunity. I hate to think that someone might pick up 'Girls Write Now' and conclude that young women have nothing meaningful to say after all. This book needed to be exceptional, and it just... wasn't.
September 16, 2020
(As a side note, Goodreads appears to believe that this book is only 250 pages long. My copy has 316 pages.)
Oh
My
Gosh
If you're looking for a collection of essays of girls growing up to be strong, smart, compassionate women, this is the book for you.
10/10
Lots of creativity here.
Oh
My
Gosh
If you're looking for a collection of essays of girls growing up to be strong, smart, compassionate women, this is the book for you.
10/10
Lots of creativity here.
April 24, 2018
Filled with multi-cultural stories from girls living in the United States, the stories all share common themes of teenage angst, family issues, fitting in/self-image and more. These teenage authors write with exquisite voice and prose in a relatable format for teen readers. I can't wait to recommend this book to my readers. #netgalley #girlswritenow
June 13, 2018
I received an ARC of this collection from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Brutally honest essays from young females--a wide range of backgrounds and topics. I enjoyed the book, and feel that it will be a good classroom tool for teachers to inspire honesty and creativity in young writers.
Brutally honest essays from young females--a wide range of backgrounds and topics. I enjoyed the book, and feel that it will be a good classroom tool for teachers to inspire honesty and creativity in young writers.
July 15, 2018
Girls Write Now is a powerful book. It includes a compilation of stories written by girls/young women from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. The stories prompt the kind of reflection much like someone viewing a piece of artwork – what meaning can I take away of from these written words. This quote from the book, “In many ways, there’s nothing more powerful than writing,” sums up the feeling I got from the book. These girls found their voice in the writing. The themes of the stories are not presented in any specific way and that may make it seem disjointed and unrelated. However, I thought that format added to the reflective nature of each individual story.
This title was provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This title was provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review.
August 18, 2018
I gave this book a five out of five stars. This is the type of book all teenage girls should have available to them. There are so many stories within the book which makes it very easy to find some that you can relate. It’s very rare that you find books about women of color who are unapologetically sharing their stories and who they are. This book screams “The future is female!” I would definitely put this in the YA section seeing that some of the stories are not suitable for younger readers. I’d recommend this book to readers who have previously enjoyed Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson or Uglies by Scott Westerfield.
September 7, 2018
Honest
Powerful
Its got a lot of different stories and voices from several different women
Every girl should read this. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Powerful
Its got a lot of different stories and voices from several different women
Every girl should read this. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
October 23, 2018
Imagine an organization whose mission is to mentor underserved young women in New York City and help them find a voice through writing. Imagine that over 90% of the girls this organization serves are high need and 95% are girls of color. Now imagine that this organization has been so successful that not only has it won countless awards testifying to its impact, but also that its mentees have gone on to perform at Lincoln Center and the United Nations, published original work in major publications and earned awards of their own.
💪
Now, finally, imagine a book composed of stunning essays from these mentees over the past 20 years, along with advice from prominent female writers like Roxane Gay, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Zadie Smith. Well, guys, no need to imagine any more. It's RIGHT HERE. Happy #bookbirthday to Girls Write Now:Two Decades of True Stories from Young Female Voices!
💪
Girls Write Now (the organization) is incredible, one that I am happy to support. And Girls Write Now (the book) is stellar. The essays in here don't just showcase gorgeous, inspiring, heartbreaking and powerful writing, but cover pretty much every topic you can think of. You can pick it up, flip to a random page, and you will find something just perfect.
💪
Now, finally, imagine a book composed of stunning essays from these mentees over the past 20 years, along with advice from prominent female writers like Roxane Gay, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Zadie Smith. Well, guys, no need to imagine any more. It's RIGHT HERE. Happy #bookbirthday to Girls Write Now:Two Decades of True Stories from Young Female Voices!
💪
Girls Write Now (the organization) is incredible, one that I am happy to support. And Girls Write Now (the book) is stellar. The essays in here don't just showcase gorgeous, inspiring, heartbreaking and powerful writing, but cover pretty much every topic you can think of. You can pick it up, flip to a random page, and you will find something just perfect.
Want to read
December 10, 2018This is a varied selection of short true stories written by young women from all walks of life. Each page (or 2) offered a small view into the life of a brave girl who was determined to be herself and achieve her dreams.
From authors who were born and raised in New York City to those who emigrated with their parents in search of a new life, we learn about the obstacles they face each in a unique writing style expressing the individual writing. There are also snapshots from a number of established female writers offering advice to young women who might be reading.
This was an excellent selection of true stories, each one only a page or so long with a very short biography of the author at the end. It made it an easy book to pick up when only short periods of time were available, and as a result was quite quick to get through - it's easy to find a couple of minutes to read a couple of pages and not feel you need to find hours at a time - though it was easy to get sucked in to reading several!
Sometimes it would have been nice to read a bit more - I felt there was more to tell - but this is a great selection to help young girls from all backgrounds, cultures and walks of life to learn that they each have a place in the world and are free to express their own identity - and most importantly have the power to become whatever they want to be.
I received an e-ARC of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From authors who were born and raised in New York City to those who emigrated with their parents in search of a new life, we learn about the obstacles they face each in a unique writing style expressing the individual writing. There are also snapshots from a number of established female writers offering advice to young women who might be reading.
This was an excellent selection of true stories, each one only a page or so long with a very short biography of the author at the end. It made it an easy book to pick up when only short periods of time were available, and as a result was quite quick to get through - it's easy to find a couple of minutes to read a couple of pages and not feel you need to find hours at a time - though it was easy to get sucked in to reading several!
Sometimes it would have been nice to read a bit more - I felt there was more to tell - but this is a great selection to help young girls from all backgrounds, cultures and walks of life to learn that they each have a place in the world and are free to express their own identity - and most importantly have the power to become whatever they want to be.
I received an e-ARC of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews