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What Kind of Girl?
For Caroline, being a girl is already confusing, and growing up in the small African country of Malawi, she is constantly asked the question, “What kind of girl behaves this way?” With a thousand cultural ideas flooding into her head from American TV and movies, she struggles to fit into the traditional African society she was born into. Instead, she chooses to stand out by taking risks that are curious beyond what is proper, leading to disapproval and harsh consequences. At nine years old, she finds herself enrolled in a high school at a boarding school far from her home and parents. Alone, she must finally answer the question “What kind of girl are you?” for herself.
- GenresBiography
218 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2020
7 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Kautsire
5 books9 followersCaroline Kautsire is originally from Malawi, Africa, and is currently an English literature and writing professor at Bunker Hill Community College and Bay State College in Boston. She has published poetry and flash fiction that explores themes such as searching for identity, struggling with intimacy, and learning to love. Also a stage actress and director, Caroline was nominated for best-supporting actress by the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres for her performance as Trinculo in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. She also teaches public speaking and has given several inspirational talks at colleges in Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 10, 2020
What makes this book special for me is that it introduces us to the real family and real life of a girl growing up in Malawi.
Before reading this book, I knew nothing of Malawi, and I think American readers fail to understand distant places until they read a good book about them To your great pleasure, you will often find that something you thought was far away and exotic is really something recognizable and human. This all happens in WHAT KIND OF GIRL? The narrator, Caroline--as a child and as a young woman growing into adulthood--is the perfect person to introduce us to Malawian culture because she, herself, is fascinated by American culture; she helps us negotiate between the familiar and the unfamiliar so we can see where we all intersect.
There are also so many stand-out chapters that could be taken as individual stories in themselves; "Haunted Girl," which explores a dramatic break-in to Caroline's home when she was just a small child; "Ngoni Girl," where she precociously embraced a part of her heritage before she was fully ready; "Big Female Boy" which is a great read for anyone who grew up as a daring, risk-taking Tomboy anywhere; "I Appreciate," a musical chapter where Caroline explores the love her brothers and she had for American Hip-Hop music and what that communicated to her father who had his own love for European classical music; "Jousting with Nuns" a humorous and sensitive chapter about old-fashioned Catholic education for teenage girls in a modern Malawi; "Kalo" a warm-hearted look at Caroline's connection to working class gardeners in Malawi, and many others.
Near the end of the book, Caroline brings together all the threads of her story--Malawian tradition, boarding school teenage anxieties, her relationship with her family, and her unorthodox approach to life--to an inevitable conclusion worth reading Highly recommended!
Before reading this book, I knew nothing of Malawi, and I think American readers fail to understand distant places until they read a good book about them To your great pleasure, you will often find that something you thought was far away and exotic is really something recognizable and human. This all happens in WHAT KIND OF GIRL? The narrator, Caroline--as a child and as a young woman growing into adulthood--is the perfect person to introduce us to Malawian culture because she, herself, is fascinated by American culture; she helps us negotiate between the familiar and the unfamiliar so we can see where we all intersect.
There are also so many stand-out chapters that could be taken as individual stories in themselves; "Haunted Girl," which explores a dramatic break-in to Caroline's home when she was just a small child; "Ngoni Girl," where she precociously embraced a part of her heritage before she was fully ready; "Big Female Boy" which is a great read for anyone who grew up as a daring, risk-taking Tomboy anywhere; "I Appreciate," a musical chapter where Caroline explores the love her brothers and she had for American Hip-Hop music and what that communicated to her father who had his own love for European classical music; "Jousting with Nuns" a humorous and sensitive chapter about old-fashioned Catholic education for teenage girls in a modern Malawi; "Kalo" a warm-hearted look at Caroline's connection to working class gardeners in Malawi, and many others.
Near the end of the book, Caroline brings together all the threads of her story--Malawian tradition, boarding school teenage anxieties, her relationship with her family, and her unorthodox approach to life--to an inevitable conclusion worth reading Highly recommended!
October 23, 2021
Caroline Kautsire’s memoir What Kind of Girl? chronicles the author’s tantalizing journey of self-discovery as she contemplates this theme, all the while dreaming of traveling to America to become an aspiring actress. Growing up in the small east African country of Malawi, her perspective is that of the only girl and youngest child in her relatively affluent family. Her parents rose from humble beginnings, her father climbing upward through the ranks in an insurance firm, and her entrepreneurial mother cultivating a plant business from her front porch, despite ridicule from family and friends who felt she was wasting her time. They "didn't appreciate the beauty and significance of plants," yet the business grew.
Early on, Caroline seems poised not to reject outright, but to resist the traditional roles and expectations for daughters. Cooking is anxiety-provoking, wearing a Chitenje (traditional African fabric worn by women) feels suffocating, taking A exams seems pointless. Even as she avoids following customs, the author always shows deep respect and appreciation for her family. It was the author’s paternal grandmother who perhaps infused her with blessings of rebelliousness on the day Caroline was born as the elder woman refused staff orders to stop smoking in the hospital. Orders shrank to suggestions, which eventually dissolved entirely as it was clear this woman was not listening to anyone, or if she was listening, she was not about to follow their orders.
But it may have been a traumatic and terrifying attack on the family home by a marauding band of thieves when the author was only six years old, that propelled Caroline into a girl wanting to shed her childhood early with a fierce desire to protect her loved ones, and to find her place in the world. To cultivate superhero strength, agility, independence, and defiance. She was, after all, the only one in her family to reach the house alarm before the intruders gained complete unfettered access.
As the author grows older and gains experience, she grapples with understanding her identity which is often incongruous with that of her peers. She is the kind of girl who wants to be on equal footing with boys, in fights, bike races, proving herself equal in bravery, skill, and perseverance. She is the kind of girl who questions authority and stands up to nuns as they preach against hugging fathers or brothers, lest she inadvertently tempts them into incest. She chooses to challenge this absurd guideline as others dutifully took notes on how to be a “good” teenage girl. My admiration for the author is off the charts in this chapter when she inquires on the most basic level, “If this is a class, shouldn’t we ask questions?” The nuns say no.
The author manages to weave a variety of stories, some serious or even terrifying but many infused with humor. While away at boarding school and seemingly all other girls her age have already started having periods except for her, Caroline decides to pretend she has entered this stage of womanhood. She quickly tires of wearing a pad needlessly, “When I walked, I worried that people would see it sticking out behind me like a tail.” I am reminded of a high school experience when my best friend needed a pad from the nurse’s office and she complained that this industrial version felt like she had a “loaf of bread between her legs.” I think many women can relate.
Throughout, the author’s tone is inquisitive and self-reflective. She occasionally judges herself harshly and is her own worse critic when she claims to be a mediocre student, with poor grades in writing. She must have taken this as a challenge because her words flow seamlessly across the pages of her memoir. She aspires to be an actress and while in school demonstrates an aptitude for drama, but her father would prefer she take a more certain path to prosperity by becoming a doctor or a lawyer.
While she evolves with a deeper understanding of self, the author also recognizes she is a girl with a certain modicum of privilege. She is fortunate enough for security systems and guards, wealthy enough for boarding school, lucky enough to feel safe with her male family members. Having the means to travel away from Malawi to America, fulfilling her childhood dream, her ride to the airport awakens a wave of guilt over the deterioration of the local city and the pervasive poverty that she will soon be flying away from. A sharp contrast to the senses when recalling her childhood home in Sunny Side.
While I was reading her memoir, each time I reached for it, the title caught my eye What Kind of Girl? I was reminded of the 1960s television sitcom That Girl starring Marlo Thomas. The show opened with varied peripheral characters referencing “that girl” which would cause the main character Ann Marie to stop in her tracks. The camera would zoom in on her surprised face, allowing for the opening credits and intro theme song to begin. Although primarily a zany sitcom in the early days of color TV, this was also an early example of prime time television depicting a modern single woman who was reaching for her dreams which extended beyond traditional roles. Each time I picked up Caroline’s memoir from my nightstand my, mind would automatically answer back That kind of girl.
Caroline Kautsire poses her question all the while telling us from start to finish exactly what kind of girl she is. She is a force to be reckoned with, not one to sit idly by and let others tell her what kind of girl she should or will be. She decided from her earliest days to be the sole determiner of her fate. And stay tuned… I just read that we can now look forward to her upcoming new memoir, Some Kind of Girl. Can’t wait!
Early on, Caroline seems poised not to reject outright, but to resist the traditional roles and expectations for daughters. Cooking is anxiety-provoking, wearing a Chitenje (traditional African fabric worn by women) feels suffocating, taking A exams seems pointless. Even as she avoids following customs, the author always shows deep respect and appreciation for her family. It was the author’s paternal grandmother who perhaps infused her with blessings of rebelliousness on the day Caroline was born as the elder woman refused staff orders to stop smoking in the hospital. Orders shrank to suggestions, which eventually dissolved entirely as it was clear this woman was not listening to anyone, or if she was listening, she was not about to follow their orders.
But it may have been a traumatic and terrifying attack on the family home by a marauding band of thieves when the author was only six years old, that propelled Caroline into a girl wanting to shed her childhood early with a fierce desire to protect her loved ones, and to find her place in the world. To cultivate superhero strength, agility, independence, and defiance. She was, after all, the only one in her family to reach the house alarm before the intruders gained complete unfettered access.
As the author grows older and gains experience, she grapples with understanding her identity which is often incongruous with that of her peers. She is the kind of girl who wants to be on equal footing with boys, in fights, bike races, proving herself equal in bravery, skill, and perseverance. She is the kind of girl who questions authority and stands up to nuns as they preach against hugging fathers or brothers, lest she inadvertently tempts them into incest. She chooses to challenge this absurd guideline as others dutifully took notes on how to be a “good” teenage girl. My admiration for the author is off the charts in this chapter when she inquires on the most basic level, “If this is a class, shouldn’t we ask questions?” The nuns say no.
The author manages to weave a variety of stories, some serious or even terrifying but many infused with humor. While away at boarding school and seemingly all other girls her age have already started having periods except for her, Caroline decides to pretend she has entered this stage of womanhood. She quickly tires of wearing a pad needlessly, “When I walked, I worried that people would see it sticking out behind me like a tail.” I am reminded of a high school experience when my best friend needed a pad from the nurse’s office and she complained that this industrial version felt like she had a “loaf of bread between her legs.” I think many women can relate.
Throughout, the author’s tone is inquisitive and self-reflective. She occasionally judges herself harshly and is her own worse critic when she claims to be a mediocre student, with poor grades in writing. She must have taken this as a challenge because her words flow seamlessly across the pages of her memoir. She aspires to be an actress and while in school demonstrates an aptitude for drama, but her father would prefer she take a more certain path to prosperity by becoming a doctor or a lawyer.
While she evolves with a deeper understanding of self, the author also recognizes she is a girl with a certain modicum of privilege. She is fortunate enough for security systems and guards, wealthy enough for boarding school, lucky enough to feel safe with her male family members. Having the means to travel away from Malawi to America, fulfilling her childhood dream, her ride to the airport awakens a wave of guilt over the deterioration of the local city and the pervasive poverty that she will soon be flying away from. A sharp contrast to the senses when recalling her childhood home in Sunny Side.
While I was reading her memoir, each time I reached for it, the title caught my eye What Kind of Girl? I was reminded of the 1960s television sitcom That Girl starring Marlo Thomas. The show opened with varied peripheral characters referencing “that girl” which would cause the main character Ann Marie to stop in her tracks. The camera would zoom in on her surprised face, allowing for the opening credits and intro theme song to begin. Although primarily a zany sitcom in the early days of color TV, this was also an early example of prime time television depicting a modern single woman who was reaching for her dreams which extended beyond traditional roles. Each time I picked up Caroline’s memoir from my nightstand my, mind would automatically answer back That kind of girl.
Caroline Kautsire poses her question all the while telling us from start to finish exactly what kind of girl she is. She is a force to be reckoned with, not one to sit idly by and let others tell her what kind of girl she should or will be. She decided from her earliest days to be the sole determiner of her fate. And stay tuned… I just read that we can now look forward to her upcoming new memoir, Some Kind of Girl. Can’t wait!
October 8, 2020
What Kind of Girl is a fantastic snapshot of Kautsire's life in Malawi. She writes with bravery; pouring her heart and soul out on every page and allowing the reader a glimpse into what it's like growing up surrounded by African culture and traditions but wanting to break the mold. Kautsire really invites you into her childhood world and her experiences wrap themselves around you, forcing you to experience the anxiety of the break in, the adrenaline of the bike race, the thrill of the night out at the club and, ultimately, the tears at the airport.
November 22, 2020
Caroline has lived a very interesting life. What kind of girl, indeed?
Growing up in Malawi, Africa. Caroline felt out of place, she didn’t like to do the things that Malawi girls were supposed to. She didn’t like cooking, and she hated wearing chitenje, an African wrap that all good girls were expected to wear. Highly influenced by American T.V. in her youth, she began emulating the catch phrases and attitudes of the actresses she watched.
In the 90’s poverty struck Malawi, and the upper class neighborhood she lived in with her family was targeted by thieves. Awoken by a stampede outside her window, she is terrified when crashes and bangs start erupting from inside the house. Alone and afraid, she begins imagining all the horrors that might be visited upon her family. Gathering every bit of her 6 year old courage, she heads for the security alarm in the hall, hoping the thieves wouldn’t find her before she was able to trigger the alarm. Amazingly she is able to press the alarm before she is found. Her older brothers find her in the hall and bring her back to their room. The security guards eventually arrive and chase off the thieves, but not before they clear out most of the belongings in the house. She learned at a very early age that there was evil in the world that can and would touch her life, and it has left her with repeating nightmares from that night.
She shares many stories with the reader, getting drunk off half a beer at the tender age of eight, and getting burned in the kitchen while learning to make traditional meals. Dealing with bullies and not conforming to the standard “girl stereotype”.
Passing a high school (Americans would consider it middle school) entrance exam at the age of 9, Caroline is sent to a boarding school 150km away. There she becomes involved with choir, plays, and sports - even though the students still make fun of her for competing with the boys. In school, she also finds her passion, her love of literature and languages. Still struggling with fitting in, she hides her true feelings from her fellow students. She shares her disagreement with the “growing bodies” talk the nuns gave the girls in her town, and the struggle to seem as “adult” as the other kids in her class.
Throughout the memoir is the recurring theme of “going to America”. As an American, I can’t imagine what it’s like growing up in Africa, but after reading this memoir, I have a better idea of life outside my own bubble. I love her journey, and how she shares it with the reader. I highly recommend this book.
I received this book for free for this review.
Growing up in Malawi, Africa. Caroline felt out of place, she didn’t like to do the things that Malawi girls were supposed to. She didn’t like cooking, and she hated wearing chitenje, an African wrap that all good girls were expected to wear. Highly influenced by American T.V. in her youth, she began emulating the catch phrases and attitudes of the actresses she watched.
In the 90’s poverty struck Malawi, and the upper class neighborhood she lived in with her family was targeted by thieves. Awoken by a stampede outside her window, she is terrified when crashes and bangs start erupting from inside the house. Alone and afraid, she begins imagining all the horrors that might be visited upon her family. Gathering every bit of her 6 year old courage, she heads for the security alarm in the hall, hoping the thieves wouldn’t find her before she was able to trigger the alarm. Amazingly she is able to press the alarm before she is found. Her older brothers find her in the hall and bring her back to their room. The security guards eventually arrive and chase off the thieves, but not before they clear out most of the belongings in the house. She learned at a very early age that there was evil in the world that can and would touch her life, and it has left her with repeating nightmares from that night.
She shares many stories with the reader, getting drunk off half a beer at the tender age of eight, and getting burned in the kitchen while learning to make traditional meals. Dealing with bullies and not conforming to the standard “girl stereotype”.
Passing a high school (Americans would consider it middle school) entrance exam at the age of 9, Caroline is sent to a boarding school 150km away. There she becomes involved with choir, plays, and sports - even though the students still make fun of her for competing with the boys. In school, she also finds her passion, her love of literature and languages. Still struggling with fitting in, she hides her true feelings from her fellow students. She shares her disagreement with the “growing bodies” talk the nuns gave the girls in her town, and the struggle to seem as “adult” as the other kids in her class.
Throughout the memoir is the recurring theme of “going to America”. As an American, I can’t imagine what it’s like growing up in Africa, but after reading this memoir, I have a better idea of life outside my own bubble. I love her journey, and how she shares it with the reader. I highly recommend this book.
I received this book for free for this review.
August 10, 2020
Caroline’s voice comes alive on the page as she tells her story of growing up in Malawi, Africa. Her personality shines through the retelling of her childhood, growing into a young adult embarking on big adventures like she always dreamed.
The lens through which Caroline analyzes her past is truly fascinating. We carry so much of our youth within us, and these stories have shaped the person I know and love. Knowing Caroline personally, her inner child still lives within her. Her strength, wit, charm, and determination were engrained in her since birth. These qualities were passed down to her from her headstrong grandmother, grounded father, loving mother, and quietly protective older brothers. The reverence in which she speaks of her family makes clear the beautiful bond between them.
Caroline’s voice is so prevalent in her storytelling, it is as though I can hear her speaking her words right to me, similar to the way she commands the stage as a performer. From stories of her bravery at age six that saved her family to her rebellious teenage years, the search for what kind of girl she will become is not a linear journey. The eloquence in which Caroline speaks and writes indicates a careful understanding of the world around her and within herself. To learn that she struggled with English and writing in her youth makes her words all the more inspiring.
I always knew my friend to be remarkable, but this glimpse into her mind helped me better understand truly how brilliant she is.
The lens through which Caroline analyzes her past is truly fascinating. We carry so much of our youth within us, and these stories have shaped the person I know and love. Knowing Caroline personally, her inner child still lives within her. Her strength, wit, charm, and determination were engrained in her since birth. These qualities were passed down to her from her headstrong grandmother, grounded father, loving mother, and quietly protective older brothers. The reverence in which she speaks of her family makes clear the beautiful bond between them.
Caroline’s voice is so prevalent in her storytelling, it is as though I can hear her speaking her words right to me, similar to the way she commands the stage as a performer. From stories of her bravery at age six that saved her family to her rebellious teenage years, the search for what kind of girl she will become is not a linear journey. The eloquence in which Caroline speaks and writes indicates a careful understanding of the world around her and within herself. To learn that she struggled with English and writing in her youth makes her words all the more inspiring.
I always knew my friend to be remarkable, but this glimpse into her mind helped me better understand truly how brilliant she is.
August 12, 2020
I had such a pleasant time reading What Kind of Girl. Caroline writes so effortlessly and her story reads like water- very fluid.
A story about a young child growing up in two worlds in every which way, culturally, religiously and her battles between the masculine and feminine ideals.
The book takes in you into the inquisitive mind of a bright child in Malawi who is battling ideas of traditional African beliefs with sweeping contemporary Western ideals through the realms of media and music which stays present throughout the memoir.
This is a feminist book! Caroline’s constant battle with being the kind of girl everyone wants her to be versus being the kind of girl she allows herself to be is so important and center of the story. “Jousting with Nuns” is not only one of my favorite chapters but also one that needs to be re-evaluated throughout cultures and religion. Young girls should not have to carry the weight of damnation on their shoulders for things such as hugging ones father.
I found myself learning a lot about Malawian beliefs, food and language. Not to mention how influential American media is portrayed in the eyes of a child anywhere around the globe in terms of beauty and race.
We need Caroline’s story because It connects us as humans. We need Caroline’s story because it claims that indeed there can be more than one kind of girl. We need Caroline’s story because it is refreshing and inspiring to young girls, especially one who feel like they are outliers.
I recommend 5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A story about a young child growing up in two worlds in every which way, culturally, religiously and her battles between the masculine and feminine ideals.
The book takes in you into the inquisitive mind of a bright child in Malawi who is battling ideas of traditional African beliefs with sweeping contemporary Western ideals through the realms of media and music which stays present throughout the memoir.
This is a feminist book! Caroline’s constant battle with being the kind of girl everyone wants her to be versus being the kind of girl she allows herself to be is so important and center of the story. “Jousting with Nuns” is not only one of my favorite chapters but also one that needs to be re-evaluated throughout cultures and religion. Young girls should not have to carry the weight of damnation on their shoulders for things such as hugging ones father.
I found myself learning a lot about Malawian beliefs, food and language. Not to mention how influential American media is portrayed in the eyes of a child anywhere around the globe in terms of beauty and race.
We need Caroline’s story because It connects us as humans. We need Caroline’s story because it claims that indeed there can be more than one kind of girl. We need Caroline’s story because it is refreshing and inspiring to young girls, especially one who feel like they are outliers.
I recommend 5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 11, 2020
What makes this book special to me is that it introduces us to a girl growing up in Malawi, her real family and real life. You will also discover, to your great delight, that something you thought was far away and exotic is actually something that is familiar and human. It’s a story of a young girl growing up in two cultures, culturally, religiously and in every way, and her struggles between male and female values. The book brings you through the curious mind of a bright child in Malawi who struggles with the principles of traditional African values across the realms of media and music that remain present in the memoir of sweeping contemporary Western ideals. I am really impressed by the work done by author. The way the author has presented everything is just perfect and i really loved that. I find myself learning a lot about the values, food and language of Malawi. The retelling of her childhood shines through author’s personality, developing into a young adult embarking on major adventures as she always dreamed of. I was really feeling it as the narration is so good i mean it’s just perfect i really really loved it. It makes her words all the more encouraging to hear that she struggled with English and writing in her youth. Overall it’s an amazing book i would highly recommed this book to everyone out there.
Happy reading:)🌸
Happy reading:)🌸
July 1, 2022
What Kind Of Girl? follows the life story of the author from her childhood in Malawi to her journey as a young woman to America. As a tomboy in South Eastern Africa, with cultural influences ranging from her mother’s kitchen to an affluent girls’ school to attitude-packed American TV, Ms Kautsire seems to have always had faith in herself and her abilities and, at this time of such uncertainty in the world, I really enjoyed reading about her.
This is the second time I’ve read an autobiography of somebody at the start of her career. Although two points make a line, not a pattern, I’ve got to say, I really like this approach. It seems like a very constructive use of time for a young performer, to get the first part of the autobiography written before they hit the big-time, when everything from childhood will be that much further away, and they, presumably, won’t have the sort of time to write the book that they would have had earlier in their careers.
Ms Kautsire writes with intelligence and empathy and it’s pretty clear that she knows she had a fairly blessed upbringing, with a supportive family and household staff, but I loved hearing about her drive to succeed. Because although it feels like destiny, there will be work and struggle, and Ms Kautsire seems to relish the prospect of it all.
It’s been a delight to get to know her.
This is the second time I’ve read an autobiography of somebody at the start of her career. Although two points make a line, not a pattern, I’ve got to say, I really like this approach. It seems like a very constructive use of time for a young performer, to get the first part of the autobiography written before they hit the big-time, when everything from childhood will be that much further away, and they, presumably, won’t have the sort of time to write the book that they would have had earlier in their careers.
Ms Kautsire writes with intelligence and empathy and it’s pretty clear that she knows she had a fairly blessed upbringing, with a supportive family and household staff, but I loved hearing about her drive to succeed. Because although it feels like destiny, there will be work and struggle, and Ms Kautsire seems to relish the prospect of it all.
It’s been a delight to get to know her.
September 6, 2020
The title of Kautsire’s “What Kind of Girl?” isn’t simply a question of self-exploration for the author, but beckons each of us to look within ourselves; beyond the boundaries of our assumed genders and societal molds, into what makes us who we truly are. This memoir is a beautiful time capsule of what it means to be a varied human in all of our mysterious, lovely, messy, and intricate ways; how striving to live the life we dream of by taking chances and trusting our inner voice is more than important, it’s everything. Kautsire has packed a punch with “What Kind of Girl?” and I can’t wait to see what other incredible adventures we’ll all be learning from during her time here in America.
March 1, 2021
This is a beautiful coming of age story, confidently told with care and thought. It is a memoire pitched on the clash between the cultures of Malawi and America, but that is a simplification as there are layers of cultural influences from centuries of Malawian history tugging at each other, and the clash is also between child and adult, girls and boys, and the kind of girl Caroline wants to be. In some ways it is the story of a childhood that is unique, but in others it tells of thoughts, doubts, fears, and dreams that must be common to children across the globe. I certainly smiled at many familiar emotions and similar experiences. Well worth a read, highly recommended.
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October 14, 2021What kind of girl? I will tell you. I saw a tough, intelligent young girl making her way in South Africa. She has loving parents, a father she looks up to, and he, in turn, wants what's best for his daughter. A mother who gets her best to teach her daughter how to be a proper woman in their society. As I read, I found a girl determined to make her own path in the world, regardless of what society expected of her.
She was, and still is, someone other young girls can look up to and admire as a role model. She isn't perfect, and tells us so in her writing, she makes mistakes, but learns from them. I see her going far in life. My only disappointment, there wasn't more to read.
She was, and still is, someone other young girls can look up to and admire as a role model. She isn't perfect, and tells us so in her writing, she makes mistakes, but learns from them. I see her going far in life. My only disappointment, there wasn't more to read.
August 18, 2020
A wonderful story of a young Malawian girl finding herself as she is influenced by her home country intertwined with western education. Caroline's story hits close to home because we share a very similar passion for acting, and dealing with how such a career is perceived in a country like Malawi adds to the challenge of making it.
I long to read more literature from black authors, and Kautsire provides an excellent outlook into the life of a young black woman.
I long to read more literature from black authors, and Kautsire provides an excellent outlook into the life of a young black woman.
August 30, 2020
A really clear, evocative book of one girl's experience of growing up in Malawi. With some of the stories Caroline recounts, I'm not surprised that many people asked, "What kind of girl...?!" I'm also not surprised that she had the determination to aim for her dreams and move to America! I wonder what the years have been like for Caroline since, though, and how she has found her life in America. A good, and fast, read, and one I would recommend.
October 17, 2020
A heartfelt memoir about a free - spirited woman growing up in Malawi before moving to the US to study and ultimately ro stay. Full of wonderful anecdotes and love for her family and culture.
September 6, 2020
The title of Kautsire’s “What Kind of Girl?” isn’t simply a question of self-exploration for the author, but beckons each of us to look within ourselves; beyond the boundaries of our assumed genders and societal molds, into what makes us who we truly are. This memoir is a beautiful time capsule of what it means to be a varied human in all of our mysterious, lovely, messy, and intricate ways; how striving to live the life we dream of by taking chances and trusting our inner voice is more than important, it’s everything. Kautsire has packed a punch with “What Kind of Girl?” and I can’t wait to see what other incredible adventures we’ll all be learning from during her time here in America.
August 24, 2020
I found this book very interesting and inspirational. The culture sounds amazing. A dream come true through determination. Good loving parents. Loving brothers. A little seven year old tomboy who had dreams with the help of God and Faith turned out to become a beautiful aspiring actress etc. It makes you laugh but most of all determination that you can do anything in life.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews