Glory Girl: Daring to Believe in Your Passion and God’s Purpose

by Jess Connolly

God has a purpose for you. But maybe what you’re meant to be is still a mystery. So where do you start? Jess Connolly will help you get answers to this question and more, no matter where you are in your journey. Glory Girl will jumpstart your search for purpose. In each meaningful chapter (plus room for reflective journaling), Jess’s wise words will help discover the things you are really passionate about, understand your strengths and weaknesses, face your fears, catch the vision, make a plan, and find the confidence you need to make your move—all in the bold belief that God has called you to every step of the journey. Glory Girl helps girls ages 8–12:

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian

160 pages, Hardcover

Published January 26, 2021

About the author

Jess Connolly is a gal who is in the thick of it herself. She is the founder of the Naptime Diaries print shop, co-founder of the Influence Conference + Network, and she is passionate about using her words to point women to Jesus through writing and speaking. She and her husband planted a church in Charleston, South Carolina, where they live with their four children. Blog: www.jessconnolly.com

Reviews

[Cat T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is this a book geared towards the middle school girl age? Yes. (I didn't realize that until I started it) Is this one of the most thought provoking books I've read in a long time? Also yes. God uses anything and everything to help us grow.

Highly recommend for younger girls or for a easy to understand read about bringing God glory with our lives.

[Meredith Spidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for my 9-year-old daughter. These days of kid-raising are so tricky, and I am so thankful for anything that can help lead her to God's truth for her life. Connolly speaks to our girls in the perfect realistic voice and this is a title my gal and I are both treasuring! Thanks for sending a copy for review, Zonderkidz!

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glory Girl addresses very important messages to a pivotal age group of girls—8 to 12 years old. These pre-teen years are so significant in a young girl’s journey of self-discovery. It’s essential for them to discover their God-given strengths, gifts, and talents, and to create a plan to use them wisely.

Instilling a sense of purpose sets a child on a course of purpose, and also builds their sense of esteem and worth. Uncovering their own personal strengths is both exciting and powerful, and journaling ways to use these strengths can be inspiring.

This hardback book conveys stimulating truths and encourages girls to focus on the wisdom of God’s Word and the paths He has placed before them. I would’ve loved owning this rousing and edifying book as a young girl!

Dɪsᴄʟᴏsᴜʀᴇ: I ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʀʏ ᴄᴏᴘʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ. Mʏ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ɪɴғʟᴜᴇɴᴄᴇᴅ.

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With so much that young girls deal with; image, insecurities, fitting in, school, family, friends, and church, girls can easily slip away from the love of God in their lives. We lose so much when we steal glory from God. It is for our good to give glory to God. Thus the title Glory Girl. We were made to give God glory but distractions keep us from that.

The study is very user friendly and engaging. Each chapter has you write out your thoughts to examine what is in your heart. The fear of rejection or failing puts the focus on us. The focus is on God first and how you can keep on track one day at time. If you do get off track, God makes a way. It has always been about His goodness and faithfulness to his Glory that we are part of! This resource keeps your eyes on the author of our glorious faith!

A special thank you to Zonderkidz Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Beth V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this one with some pre-teen/teen gals as a small group! I thought it was a bit cheesy at first, but really enjoyed the conversation and questions it spurred by the end and how it built on itself chapter by chapter.

[Brittnay McMillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read You Are The Girl for The Job and loved it so much that when I saw the tween companion Glory Girl, I pre-ordered it immediately. And I was not disappointed! This book speaks right to the heart of what tween girls need to hear today. What a timely message for our daughters, nieces, granddaughters, and those we mentor! It lovingly calls them out of their insecurities, leads them to find who they were created to be, and emboldens them to share that with the world. And all in a way that they can understand and apply to their lives. I bought three copies for my three daughters, but this will be a book that I will continue to purchase and gift to all the young girls in my family and friend circle!

[Amy Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of this book for tween/teen girls. The author encourages the girls to seek to glorify God in all they do and not worry about their own glory. There were a few places where I felt like she talked down to the reader a bit and it gets a bit wordy in some chapters but overall I think the reader can get some great ideas out of it.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:

God has a purpose for you. But maybe what you’re meant to be is still a mystery. So where do you start? Jess Connolly will help you get answers to this question and more, no matter where you are in your journey.

Glory Girl will jumpstart your search for purpose. In each meaningful chapter (plus room for reflective journaling), Jess’s wise words will help you: discover the things you are really passionate about, understand your strengths and weaknesses, face your fears, catch the vision, make a plan, and find the confidence you need to make your move—all in the bold belief that God has called you to every step of the journey.

Glory Girl helps girls ages 8–12:


Recognize their unique, God-given gifts.
Fight their fears with faith and truth.
Deal with distractions that throw them off course from God’s plan for them.
Stop trying to be “the best” at everything and trust that God has a plan for them.
Stop comparing themselves to others.

My Review:

Coming of age as they say is a pretty difficult transition for a young girl. It takes a toll on their body and their mind. The author of Glory Girl shows young girls everywhere that God has a rhyme and a reason and that he is there every step of the way to provide all the help, encouragement and confidence she will need to transition into womanhood.


Jess basically has a sit down conversation with you and there is space for note taking, as well. Along with Scripture she takes you through this journey of learning about yourself as an individual and beckons you to see yourself as God sees you.

[Amy Living Well Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woohoo!!!! So excited for the release (today!) of this new devotional for girls by Jess Connolly. I will admit that while I absolutely love following Jess Connolly on IG, (her posts are RICH with truth and a delightfully humble authenticity) and I loved the concepts in You Are the Girl for the Job, for some reason it was not my favorite. I think maybe it felt a bit fluffy or too trendy? (The author is definitely way cooler than me. 😂) Maybe it was that she opened talking about an early morning spin class? I don’t know...it just didn’t resonate with me. So I went into this book with a little hesitancy. But honestly, y’all, she knocked it out of the park with this devotional designed for girls age 8-12. I read a pre-release e-book, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a real copy for Sophia. She obviously has her own daughter this age (Glory, her inspiration for the title!) because she captures just the right tone for her audience. It might feel a tiny bit condescending for an older high schooler, but for the age she’s intending, it’s absolutely perfect. It’s funny, it’s meaty with great Scripture and Scriptural truths, and the devotional questions provide wonderful opportunity to engage with these truths.

[Jenny]

This book is an answer to prayer! It hits on topics that I have personally struggled with, but brings it to the right level for this age group to relate and I believe really feel seen and heard. It's so important that girls don't feel alone in their wrestling with identity - learning who they are and who God created them to be- and how to stand firm in that identity in a world that wants to define who they are for them.

The first week my daughter and I sat down to read through just the introduction, it led to a wonderful conversation that really opened my eyes to things that I didn't realize she was even struggling with. As a homeschooling mama who literally spends most of the day, every day with my kids, it really surprised me how needed it was to have some prompts that are provided through this study to hit on topics that I wasn't thinking to ask her about.

I have also ordered the adult version, You are the Girl for the Job, and have started reading through it myself. It's a wonderful parallel and helps me to process through some of these topics personally and reminds me of the truths I need to hear. I highly recommend this for any mamas or mentors that want to help these young women form a solid foundation for their identity and calling in the Lord.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m reading this with my daughters. Jess has such a beautifully honest and easy way of writing that is so great to read especially with my girls (9 and 7). While you might look at this boom with it’s pretty colours and think that it’s light, gimmicky or fluffy - it’s surely not! Jess keeps her words on the most important part of living with purpose - living for Gods glory and the good of others. The way we know our purpose is to look at God the creator and sustainer of all.
The book uses stories from the Bible to look at different aspects of faith and life, uses stories from Jess’ own life and speaks of issues relevant to tweens and teens.
Jess has such a heart for young women and it comes through.
There are questions throughout the book and space for journaling and dreaming.

[Courtney Birkbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book as been an encouragement to my heart. I am someone who doesn't even know what their passion is. I thought I had a passion, then my life upended and everything I knew and loved was pushed to the side and died. As I've been asking God to revive in me a new passion, I've found God putting different books in my path to read and this was one of them.

I am grateful to have gotten to read this and will be reading it again. This is definitely a book every woman needs to read if they're looking to please God with their passions and follow after the dreams God places in their hearts.

[April G · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first two chapters, I can tell that this book is just what my tween girl needs to hear about who she is and who God is. I bought three copies so my daughter and I could meet with a few other moms and their daughters to learn what it means to believe in God and to live according to His ways and His purposes. I'm excited to go through the questions at the end of each chapter with my daughter and learn about what she's thinking and experiencing about God. Jess writes so relatable that I think my daughter who is only 8 will easily be able to understand the concepts of the book.

[Trudy Lonesky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book...so timely! In a time when distractions are everywhere we have been equipped with a handbook on how to position our girls on the path the path that God has prepared in advance for them. I am currently leading a small group of women and girls to study both "You are the Girl for the Job" AND "Glory Girl." They go perfectly with one another. The author empowers girls to live boldly in walking out their God given purpose. Thank you, Jess! This couldn't have come at a better time!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

GLORY GIRL is aa great nonfiction journaling book about finding your gifts, the courage to use them despite everything and everyone and trusting God's plan for your life.

Written for tween, this is also appropriate for teens. My daughter is very excited to delve into it. There is plenty of journaling space to make it personal. Grab a copy for your favorite tween or teen girl today.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking for something quick to ready while at work and stumbled upon this in my libraries available downloads. I feel like a lot of information in this book was repeated from/in her book "You are the Girl for the Job". I really enjoyed that book and would suggest reading it over this one. I DNF'd it half way through and it is only a 2 hour audiobook.

[Marie Kitchings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading this with my 9 year old daughter and it is a blessing. She asks to snuggle up and read it together all the time. It is Biblically solid and appropriate for tweens. My daughter is asking questions about her identity in Christ and how she can look for ways to bring glory to God.

[Ashley Klingsheim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book thinking of my 8 year old daughter. I will definitely have her read this and work through it with her. It is a good mix of scripture and application through great questions and spots to journal. So glad there is a book like this I can confidently have my disguise read!

[Nicole Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. More Journaling then actual book

[Maryssa Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of my search for solid resources for students. This book exceeded my expectations. I liked the information and journal style format, allowing readers to participate and reflect as they read. I liked the different focuses, of identifying our strengths, weaknesses, and purpose, finding simple ways to live out our purpose in everyday life, and an emphasis on reflecting the image of God. This would be great to go through one-on-one with tweens, middle school girls, or even younger high school girls.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So excited for a new devotional for our Tween girls. Jess Connelly gave us a welcome launching pad to help girls soar in their own glory. This generation is going to do amazing things. Having a specific source to pour into their hearts is so needed. I'm currently reading so i'm leaving myself one star to grow on but loving it so far.