Girl Power: Young Women Speak Out!

by Hillary Carlip

Carlip illuminates the worries, hopes, dreams and experiences of girls ages 13 to 19, through their stories, poems, letters and notes. Their voices come from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives--cowgals, lesbians, teen mothers, sorority sisters and girls in gangs--and reveal the depth, vulnerability, wisdom and power of the writers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism

368 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1995

About the author

Hillary Carlip is an award-winning, best-selling author of five books, a noted visual artist, and has been creating content, websites, and news in the digital space since 1999.

Her latest project, Find Me I’m Yours (RosettaBooks), is a revolutionary, multi-platform entertainment experience that starts with an eBook novel and expands into an entire "storyverse" filled with interactive content including original rom-com style videos, 33 unique, custom-designed websites – many of which feature web series created by and starring A-list talent – and countless ways for readers to share their own content, connect, and personally engage with the narrative.

A game changer in the way stories are told and experienced, Find Me I’m Yours was conceived, written and designed by Hillary, and co-created, directed, and produced by her partner, Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated TV comedy writer/producer/director Maxine Lapiduss. This Click Lit® eBook is the premiere project from Hillary and Maxine’s newly launched company, Storyverse Studios.

Her last book, A la Cart: The Secret Lives of Grocery Shoppers (Virgin Books), received raves including a starred review from Publishers Weekly who cited Hillary's "humor, grace and brilliantly creative eye," and called the book a "hilarious, delightful, unique achievement."

Her memoir, Queen of the Oddballs: And Other True Stories from a Life Unaccording to Plan (HarperCollins), is an American Bookseller's Association Book Sense Pick Best Seller, a Lambda Literary Award finalist in two categories (humor and memoir), and was selected by Borders as one of the Best Literary Memoirs of 2006.

Hillary forged the way in bringing the voices of teenage girls into the mainstream with her first book Girl Power: Young Women Speak Out (Warner Books). She was honored by the New York Public Library when Girl Power was selected for its prestigious "Best Books for Teens" list. When Hillary appeared on Oprah, the hour show was devoted to the book.

Hillary's second book, Zine Scene (Girl Press), which she designed herself and co-wrote with the renowned author Francesca Lia Block, won an American Library Association Award, and was included in a show at the New Museum for Contemporary Art in New York City.

As a visual artist, Hillary’s work has been sold at prominent galleries in LA, NY, and Chicago, and shown alongside Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst in a five-city museum exhibit during 2013-2014 entitled Stocked: Contemporary Art from the Grocery Aisles. She also has pieces included in the permanent collection at the Ulrich Museum of Art in Wichita, KS.

A web pioneer, Hillary co-founded VOXXY.com in 1999, one of the earliest and most acclaimed websites featuring interactive content with A-List talent. For two years Hillary oversaw all creative aspects including designing and producing their multiple websites, which earned the 2000 Bandie Broadband Award for innovation in the category "Newest New Thing."

As a web designer, Hillary has designed and produced hundreds of award-winning, attention-grabbing, custom websites for major stars (including Jennifer Aniston), companies large and small, the Australian Government, best-selling authors, web series, acclaimed films and filmmakers, actors, musicians, artists, non-profits, and more.

The Wall Street Journal has called Hillary and her work "Humorous, touching and insightful;" Chicago Tribune: "Gloriously idiosyncratic;" the New York Times declared, "Ms. Carlip's curriculum vitae reads like a Cliffs Notes version of American Popular culture,” and the New York Daily News said, "New York Daily News said, “Carlip is 10,000 miles ahead of every other writer: She’s a visionary.”

Reviews

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can remember reading this in high school and thinking this was the best book ever - definitely helped expose me to zines, Riot Grrrl, and feminist thinking. I think Sassy magazine told me about it!

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think it was exactly this book that inspired me to start a zine.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words of real teens divided into readable portions - inspirational, great reading for teens or those working with teens!

[Darvelys]

This is another book i Enjoy reading it really catches my attention reading book like this i dont know why but it dose.This book is also a book about things that might happend in real life these are short stories bout girls that have faces bad situation in life and they write down the storie they write it down in a mistery way is very interesting

[Jillyface · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know of any emo teenagers who need a present, this used to be my favorite book (say 12-14). I wrote down the poems I liked and wrote summaries of the experiences of other girls who made me feel human. (sigh)

[Pam P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have given this to two students who were so lost, I was hoping they could find a friend and some acceptance in the pages. It worked for them, or at least helped them hang on until they grew stronger. I have to find a few more cheap used copies for this years group.

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really impacted my life as a young teenager and has stayed with me ever since. I don't know if I'd still find it as insightful or interesting now as I did then, but it'd be interesting to find out.

[Emilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. From laughing to crying, the individual stories inside touched my heart. I really wish everyone had a copy of this book. Maybe there'd be more tolerance, and sympathy in the the world.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up when I was a 13 year old girl who had just relocated to Chicago from Nebraska and left everything I knew behind. Girl Power seriously kept me somewhat intact at a time when nothing made sense. This was the definitive book of ages 13-16 for me.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my first feminist reads...a middle school favorite

[Darvelys Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thiz Book is amazzing Iove it i read it like 2 times is very interesting because it talk bout teenage girls going truew alot of stuff in life..

Morena:)

[Linda]

Gina Girl Power by Hillary Carlip – written as from adolescent girls from all demographic areas – eye opener

[Carrie]

women's studies

[bruin]

man, this was pivotal to my development in late middle school and early high school. total blast form the past.

[Jadah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written for young females or women in general. Every chapter and page of this book is like a dairy of girls that tell their story’s like dealing with depression, rape, and having a child at a young age etc. I really recommend this book because it really helps you if your going through the same things has the girls in the novel. Another cool thing about this book is that it shows girls that’s self love and self empowerment is a good thing for females.

[cynthia sprowl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like it

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun artifact. The author has had an odd path in life. Apparently a whole episode of Oprah's show was dedicated to this book. I'd like to watch it but can't find it.