On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library

by Glory Edim (Editor)

“When you look over your own library, who do you see?”


Since founding the beloved Well-Read Black Girl book club in 2015, Glory Edim has emerged as a literary tastemaker for a new generation. Continuing her life’s work to brighten and enrich American reading lives through the work of legendary Black authors, she now launches her Well-Read Black Girl Library Series with On Girlhood. This meticulously selected anthology features a wide range of unique voices, finally illuminating a distinctly robust sector of contemporary literature: groundbreaking short stories that explore the thin yet imperative line between Black girlhood and womanhood.


Divided into four themes—Innocence, Belonging, Love, and Self-Discovery—the unforgettable young protagonists within contend with the trials of coming of age that shape who they are and what they will become. With this tradition in mind, Innocence opens with Jamaica Kincaid’s searing “Girl,” in which a mother offers fierce instructions to her impressionable daughter. This deceptively simple yet profound monologue is followed by Toni Morrison’s first and only published short story, the now-canonical “Recitatif,” about two neglected girls who come together in youth only to find themselves on opposite picket lines in adulthood.


In Belonging, Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson” follows rambunctious students on a field trip where they are exposed to a new world of luxury. In Love, Dana Johnson’s “Melvin in the Sixth Grade” captures the yearning of a lovesick teen smitten with the only boy who looks her way. And in Self-Discovery, Edwidge Danticat’s “Seeing Things Simply” charts the creative awakening of Princesse, a young woman with a hunger to be fully seen. These inspiring tales of world builders and rule breakers conclude with Zora Neale Hurston’s “How It Feels to Be Colored Me,” a personal essay brimming with wit and strength: “When covered by the waters, I am; and the ebb but reveals me again.”


At times heartbreaking and at times hilarious, these stories boldly push past flat stereotypes and powerfully convey the beauty of Black girlhood. In bringing together an array of influential authors—past and present—whose work remains timeless, Glory Edim has created an indispensable compendium for every home library and a soul-stirring guide to coming of age.


Featuring stories by Jamaica Kincaid, Toni Morrison, Dorothy West, Rita Dove, Camille Acker, Toni Cade Bambara, Amina Gautier, Alexia Arthurs, Dana Johnson, Alice Walker, Gwendolyn Brooks, Edwidge Danticat, Shay Youngblood, Paule Marshall, and Zora Neale Hurston.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Feminism, Race, Contemporary, Literary Fiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 2021

About the author

Glory Edim is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a Brooklyn-based book club and digital platform that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood. In fall 2017 she organized the first-ever Well-Read Black Girl Festival. She has worked as a creative strategist for over ten years at startups and cultural institutions, including The Webby Awards and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Most recently, she was the Publishing Outreach Specialist at Kickstarter. She serves on the board of New York City's Housing Works Bookstore. --Penguin Random House

Reviews

[emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love when i have the presence of mind to review short story collections story by story as i go.

story 1: girl by jamaica kincaid
everyone has read this story before, i think, but that doesn't make it any less good when it comes up again.
rating: 4

story 2: recitatif by toni morrison
some stories should have handle with care warnings on them. i can't believe i'm expected to have this and the normal responsibilities of my daily life packed into the same set of hours.
rating: 4.5

story 3: the richer, the poorer by dorothy west
sisters :)
rating: 3.5

story 4: fifth sunday by rita dove
the drama of it all!
rating: 3

story 5: who we are by camille acker
everything i could say about this, like "perspective can do so much!" and "the ending of this is insightful!" is very corny so i will not.
rating: 4

story 6: the lesson by toni cade bambara
this is about teaching kids about the power of economic inequality, and if i learned one thing from my years of babysitting, it's that there's nothing quite as fun as radicalizing children.
rating: 3.5

story 7: dance for me by amina gautier
goddamn. high school, y'know?
what a hellscape.
rating: 3.5

story 8: bad behavior by alexia arthurs
it do be so tough to be a girl.
rating: 3.5

story 9: melvin in the sixth grade by dana johnson
the thing about a story that perfectly brings you back to elementary school feelings is that they suck and i hate it and i don't want to feel them, actually.
rating: 3.5

story 10: everyday use by alice walker
if there is one lesson to be taken away from this month of reading, it's that i need to read more alice walker.
rating: 4

story 11: we're the only colored people here by gwendolyn brooks
"But she was learning to love moments. To love moments for themselves.
ah so lovely.
rating: 4

story 12: seeing things simply by edwidge danticat
i haven't mentioned until now that each of these stories are divided into sections by theme - innocence, belonging, love.
this one is self-discovery and it is perfectly that.
rating: 3.75

story 13: in a house of wooden monkeys by shay youngblood
rad title, rad author's name.
well this was out of the ordinary!!!
rating: 3.5

story 14: reena by paule marshall
another thing i haven't mentioned until now: this book has discussion questions at the end of each story. it is very sweet and it does actually help me to think through each story before moving onto the next, which i sometimes struggle with when it comes to collections like this.
rating: 4

story 15: how it feels to be colored me by zora neale hurston
this is marked as the epilogue, which is odd but interesting!
nobody can write like zora neale hurston.
rating: 4.5

overall
i don't know when the last time i read an anthology like this was. i have read a lot of short story collections of late, but one where all the stories are by various authors and were published already...maybe i never have except for school?
regardless, it was a great experience, and i think did wonders for my Black History Month project. there are only so many authors i can get to otherwise.
rating: 4

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currently-reading updates

the only thing better than books = books about books

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reading books by Black authors for Black History Month!

book 1: caste
book 2: business not as usual
book 3: the color purple
book 4: the parking lot attendant
book 5: kindred
book 6: wrapped up in you
book 7: the boyfriend project
book 8: a song below water
book 9: filthy animals
book 10: passing
book 11: seven days in june
book 12: ayiti
book 13: notes of a native son
book 14: mediocre
book 15: sister outsider
book 16: the blue road
book 17: the fastest way to fall
book 18: real life
book 19: girl, woman, other
book 20: things fall apart
book 21: this close to okay
book 22: on girlhood

[Dre · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan and follower of Glory Edim's collective, Well Read Black Girl, I knew I had to get my hands on this ARC as soon as it became available. Reading her first book (of the same name) was such a refreshing experience, as it described my journey finding characters that looked like me in the literature I devoured. Now, with On Girlhood, I felt similar feelings as I ran through these stories-- a few of which I had read before.

On Girlhood is the perfect collection for the black woman who reads far and wide, searching for her likeness in stories. I wish I would have had this book growing up! So often I've enjoyed coming-of-age tales, yet longed to meet a main character that looked like me within the pages.. On Girlhood curates some of my favorite stories by authors such as Toni Morrison, Dorothy West, Zora Neale Hurston, and Alice Walker.

Divided into four sections- Innocence, Belonging, Love, and Self-Discovery, On Girlhood beautifully delivers black women's experiences in a way I appreciate so much. Reading each story has been a most amazing gift to me. It reminds me of all the stories I've collected and held close to my chest. Stories I saw my mother and grandmothers in. Stories I saw myself in. Stories I now share because I see my daughter and nieces in. If you get the chance, I implore you to please read this book and grab a few copies for other women you love-- especially the ones who appreciate a good story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC of On Girlhood by Glory Edim in exchange for an honest review.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“For Black girls, now and always” 🤎

This was a great collection of short stories about Black girlhood and womanhood, divided into 4 themes: innocence, belonging, love and self-discovery. I enjoyed some stories more than others, but I think that’s pretty much expected with any anthology. I love how the editor chose Zora Neale Hurston’s How It Feels to be Black as the epilogue to remind us that our Blackness doesn’t have to be viewed as a tragedy.

My faves were Toni Morrison’s Recitatif, Alexia Arthur’s Bad Behavior and Paule Marshall’s Reena.

[daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a great collection of stories with such a range of incredible authors. there were a few stories that felt a little slow compared to the pacing of others in their section but overall each fit well. the epilogue featuring hurston alone was so good i almost wish it was longer.

[Tya C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the words of other Black women brings me so much comfort🩷

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“For Black girls, now and always
All those books—another world—just waiting
At my fingertips.”

- Nikki Giovanni
“My First Memory (of Librarians)”
_________

✨
Back in July, I received an ARC from WW Norton and I knew I wanted to read it before the book came out this month. First off, the collection of stories is beautifully curated. “15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library” captivated me from beginning to end. Highlighting authors such as Edwidge Danticat, Amina Gautier, Dorothy West, and more - this collection of stories displayed the voices of young Black characters and their joy, belonging, love, and self-discovery.

Before reading this collection - I had not heard of many of these authors. But especially after reading “The Richer, The Poorer” by Dorothy West (my favorite in the book), I am looking forward to reading more by these authors.

The author brilliantly tells a story through her curation, highlighting a fraction of a piece of what the world was, and/or currently is, for Black folks.

Edim has a few other books that I quickly added to my TBR and look forward to eventually reading.
Incredible work.

For me, it lost a star because some of the stories, due to their age or story location, were difficult to get through for me. Some of them just didn't captivate me as much as others.

✨
You’ll love this book if you like:
- Realistic Fiction.
- Own-Voices Novels.
- Collections of Short Stories.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Bobbieshiann · Rating 4 out of 5]

“For Black girls, now and always”.

[Jacquelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's good, but the stories were a hit or a miss. All had good lessons in them, but some lacked direction and made it difficult to feel engaged.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being neither young nor Black, I don't think I'm really in a position to review the stories in this book--other than to say they are well-written and by well-known talented writers that include Jamaica Kinkade, Rita Dove, Edwidge Danticat and Gwendolyn Brooks. The two stories that will probably stay with me are Toni Morrison's Recitatif and Alice Walker's Everyday Use (which had a perfect ending). Zora Neale Hurston's How It Feels to Be Colored Me is so amazingly written that I want to read more of her writing. I love this line especially--"No, I do not weep at the world--I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife."

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gab actually checked this one out from the library - I saw it in our stack and decided to read this weekend… 😃

I usually enjoy short stories, and On Girlhood didn’t disappoint. I especially like the discussion questions at the end of each story!

I had already read the Morrison and Walker pieces, and this introduced me to other authors I’m excited to read more by!! I appreciated the “Further Reading” included at the end too, will def be utilizing that

[Sarah Welsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this collection! It was nice to take a break from novels and spend some time with short stories. I could easily re-read this and gain something new. My favorite stories were “Who We Are” by Camille Acker, “Bad Behavior” by Alexia Arthur’s, “Reena” by Paule Marshall and “Recitatif” by Toni Morrison. I’ll definitely be looking to add more to tbr from these authors.

[Mackenzie Finklea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very eye-opening glimpse into the world of young black women; spanning nearly a century. I enjoyed the variety of writing styles, and some of the essays captured me more than others. In my opinion, Edim certainly saved the most captivating essay for last.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

“For Black girls, now and always
All those books—another world—just waiting
At my fingertips.”
Stories that are so incredibly close to a lot of the black girlhood experience. Reading this, I felt warmth and understanding from each and every author.

[Nancy Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Here are some of my favorites:
“The Richer, The Poorer” because it made me realize there are still choices for me to make on how I want to live my life.
“Who We Are” because it made me uncomfortable. Who hasn’t run into a group of teenagers who want to make you uncomfortable?
“Dance for Me” because it makes me think about how it must feel to be one of only a few (in this case 2?) Black students in a school.
“Bad Behavior” because I was appalled that her parents would bring Stacy to Jamaica and then leave without telling her. I couldn’t imagine what they were all feeling before or after but I felt it.
“Melvin in the Sixth Grade” because again, it makes me think about how it feels to be different.
“In a House of Wooden Monkeys” because ritual prevailed over religion. Go away white man is how it made me feel.
“Reena” because it was about recount of lives of two Black women and what they encountered. It was one of the longer stories.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great collection! Like with any short story collection, there were a couple of misses for me, but they definitely inspired good conversation. There is a great mix of well-known and emerging writers. We read it for book club and it's an excellent pick!

[(Adri)ana | TenPieceLemonPepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

"For Black girls, now and always..."

- Nikki Giovanni
"My First Memory (of Librarians)”

stories written especially for Black girls. >>>

such a beautiful collection.

[Rio · Rating 4 out of 5]

incredible collection of stories by an incredible collective of authors. black girls are magic.

[Debra Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of short stories by some of the best female authors of color- Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Rita Dove, Edwidge Danticat, Toni Cade Bambara, Jamaica Kincaid, Gwendolyn Brooks, Zora Neale Hurston and more! Hard to pick a favorite!!!

[Ellie Hunja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection has ZERO misses - every single story is incredible. The writing makes you want to slow down and savor it. A must for all short story lovers!!!

[Jalisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection was hit and miss for me but I enjoyed “Recitatif”, “The Richer, The Poorer” “Reena” and “How It Feels to Be Colored Me”. Overall the collection felt true to Black girl and womanhood. The desire to be loved and accepted, the journey of discovering and re-discovering yourself, and the existential questions of what makes a life well-lived.

I don't feel like the small snippets from each story that were put as quotes in the beginning of each chapter were necessarily additive. The discussion questions weren’t ones that I think would start juicy conversation.

I love that the book ended with Zora Neale Hurston because she’s a reminder that Blackness is not a burden or a sorrowful thing. “I do not belong to the sobbing school of Negrohood who hold that nature somehow has given them a lowdown dirty deal…No, I do not weep at the world - i am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.”

[Kendra Wilson]

Great curation of short stories from different eras. Easy to enjoy

[M R · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great collection of short stories. I like the themes and the way they progressed until we reach that perfect encapsulation in the epilogue with, "How It Feels to be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston. There were some familiar stories, but largely I was unfamiliar with the stories within. I also liked the discussion questions at the end of the stories and the list for further reading so that we can find other things to give us the feelings found within these works. There were some lines and passages from those stories that I'm glad to know and excited to create some work around. Including:

From 'We're the Only Colored People Here' from Maud, Martha - "But she was learning to love moments. To love moments for themselves."

From 'In a House of Wooden Monkeys' - "Saint Julien came because she was Yate's best girlfriend. They were friends and lovers long before she met Moses. Saint Julien's husband was at sea for many months of the year, it was only natural that she longed for hands and lips of passion on her breasts and on the soft spot between her thights and warm arms to hold her through the endless nights her husband was away. So many men of the village loved the sea. She also could not have a baby by Yate to anger her husband. She often wished that many things were not as they were, but when the men returned from the sea, the women turned from each other in that intimate way, back to their men. It had always been that way, from her grandmother's time and before."

From 'How It Feels to be Colored Me' - "Among the thousand white persons, I am a dark rock surged upon, and overswept, but through it all, I remain myself. When covered by the waters, I am; and the ebb but reveals me again." I mean DAMN! Zora. What a way with words she had, such a gift to us all, always. And when she talks about seeing the music with her white companion and how for him it's just "music" and none of the emotion she feels.

[sheila]

I picked up On Girlhood on a whim last week when I was at my local public library. I was perusing the shelves for something to take home, and I was overjoyed when I read the title. I knew I had to take it home. It felt like fate.

Words can’t express how much I loved reading On Girlhood. Each short story deeply moved me, and I felt so reflected in the characters’ narratives. It was a vulnerable experience as well as a fulfilling one, seeing my lived experiences, dreams, fears, doubts, and hopes reaffirmed and echoed. Edim’s introduction captures this beautifully when she writes:
“I saw myself in these narratives. I found characters whose resilience, independence, and inner strength greatly inspired me. I found my voice in characters who looked like me and spoke like me—overcoming hardships to define themselves. I found a sense of self-worth and fortitude.”

On Girlhood is an anthology of short stories by Black women authors from the 20th and 21st centuries. Divided into four sections—Innocence, Belonging, Love, and Self-Discovery—each story offers a unique lens into the multifaceted experiences of Black girlhood and womanhood.

What struck me most is the timelessness of these narratives, especially the ones written in the 20th centuries. The authors’ voices—both classic and contemporary—carry themes that resonated with me. These stories invite me to celebrate, reflect, and, above all, feel deeply.

This book isn’t just a collection of stories—it’s a testament to the power of representation, reminding readers of the importance of seeing themselves in literature. It’s a must-read for anyone seeking to understand and honor the rich tapestry of Black girlhood and womanhood.

[Hazel P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unlearning leads to new learning. Favourite stories: Reena by #paulemarshall and Dance for Me by #aminagautier. The Lesson by Toni Bambara is also good.

I got the copy from library this week and was excited to read it, especially given I’ve been waiting for long for it to appear on Amazon AU Kindle store but seems like it won’t be there in a long time.

I love coming-of-age stories, some best ones I read last year were “The Inseparables” by Simone de Beauvoir, “A Girl’s Story” by Annie Ernaux and “Sula” by Toni Morrison.

The writer divides this short stories’ collection (anthology) into four sections, and my favourites are “belonging” and “self-discovery”.

I do feel exhausting when read two or three stories mentioning huge class difference and poverty. Otherwise, I picked up a few new things through the book, ie. the story Reena is not only about race but also feminism, about how not get frayed through marriage. And I relearnt the word “heritage” through one story.

And another thing I picked up from “The Lesson” by Toni Bambara is, anger. With anger it helps me envision a better version of those characters’ lives - the education they should have had and lives they should have led. So I got angry over “Dance for Me” and shook my head through the reading, “c’mon girl”, which may be a cmt for my youth “wasted” (no self-blaming here).

I’m unlearning girlhood through the book.

[Janice Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This meticulously selected anthology features a wide range of unique voices, finally illuminating a distinctly robust sector of contemporary literature: groundbreaking fifteen short stories that explore the thin yet imperative line between Black girlhood and womanhood.
Divided into four themes, Innocence, Belonging, Love, and Self-Discovery, the unforgettable young protagonists within contend with the trials of coming of age that shape who they are and what they will become within due time.
Though heartbreaking at times and witty, these short stories boldly push past flat stereotypes and powerfully convey the beauty of Black girlhood. In bringing together an array of influential authors past and present, whose work remains timeless, author Glory Edim has created an indispensable compendium for every home library and a soul, stirring guide to coming of age. Indeed worth the read.

[Isabel Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to own this book and read it over and over again. What a collection!!! There were definitely some stories that I enjoyed or felt more than others, but even then I just loved so much about this compilation of works and the way it was organized. A beautiful celebration of Black women's beautiful writing! What I love about short stories is that everything means something; the short form forces the author to really decide what is important. And these stories did that in the most amazing, enthralling way - so many that I literally wanted to just go back and reread so I could figure out more of the message. I love how there's always more to discover. I love the feeling that the author is making a point and I can sense it even if I haven't quite pieced it together yet. These stories did that and more!

[Benita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read many short story collections. I have always found the form to be too short for my tastes. This collection, however, was a very very very good read. The short stories were all carefully selected and included in this volume and was aimed at the specific audience of the readers of the Well-Read Black Girl Blog. Each of the selected stories were exquisitely written and helped to shed light on the Black Girl experience. Questions of identity, behavior, and expectations were all dealt with in this volume. If you are interested in learning more about the Black Girl experience this volume is a must read. It is both entertaining and enlightening. It has prompted me to look into the writing of some of the authors whose work I had never read. I highly recommend this collection - even if you don't like short stories.

[Mandy Codispoti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think there are many different reasons for reading...to learn, to be entertained, to understand, etc. That has to be taken into accounted when reviewing and reflecting on a book. I gave this 5 stars not because I loved every story in this compilation but because I was challenged or provoked or made curious by the stories in this compilation. I discovered authors that I had never read and now have a list of books that I want to read. Some of the stories gutted me and opened me up to the experiences of others. I love that there were no neat endings rather you were left wondering. My favorite story was the last story. I was left in awe of the writing, it felt magical and brought a smile to my face.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone wanting to “read until they understand” , this is an essential collection of short stories!
Many of these authors are women whose books I have not read in years and I now want to revisit. Toni Cade Bambera, Jamaica Kincaid, Paule Marshall and Alice Walker were my introduction to Black women writers in the 1980’s.
Zora Neal Hurston is a gem of an author - I loved hearing her voice again in “How it feels to be Colored Me.”
The selection of short stories is well organized by theme and and includes year of publication. The “further reading” list at the end is a perfect jumping off point!

[Kinsey Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my picks for a February reading challenge (books by Black writers), and it was a great pick! I really enjoy short stories but don’t read enough of them, so I loved getting to read many stories from many authors. They ranged time periods, too, which I thought was really cool in a collection. I also really appreciated the discussion questions included at the end of each story and the extensive reading list at the back—food for thought and repeated readings!

There’s so much value in reading things by someone with a different life experience than your own. It does you good.