33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, Poems, and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women

Bolden, Tonya, editor. 1998. 33 THINGS EVERY GIRL SHOULD KNOW: STORIES, SONGS, POEMS, AND SMART TALK BY 33 EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc. ISBN 0-517-70999-6

Delving into this book, Tonya Bolden starts by stating, “It’s no secret. This book is about girl build-up” noting immediately the audience she intends to appeal to and the purpose of the collection. Within in the pages, readers will appreciate the variety of literary approaches such as essays, comix, interviews, poems, a campaign slogan, a letter, book excerpts, diary episodes, a commencement speech,and short stories. Each of these written especially for this book by thirty-three strong, vibrant women offering advice on and experience about growing up as a teenaged girl to include actress Sigourney Weaver, author Sandra Cisneros, and successful businesswoman Anita Roddick. “The transition from childhood to adulthood isn’t easy, and the selections here are comforting and inspirational, with the contributors serving as both mentors and coaches (Rosenfeld).” Each of these authors has a unique style, voice, and perspective reaching out to girls of all kinds. Although each addition holds a message of its own, they are organized so each segues into the next with a similar, yet unique message especially building the self-esteem, self-acceptance, and self-respect of teen girls. Other subjects dealt with are popularity, overcoming obstables, sexual orientation, speaking up for oneself, talking to boys, success, and dealing with the formidable road to womanhood.

Photographs and graphics are complementary to each authors’ piece such as the photographs of Grechin Rosenkranz from birth to age 14 showing her will to surpass her obstacles with spina bifida or the picture of a diary/journal with Joan Jacobs Brumberg’s piece “It’s Okay to Talk to Yourself” encouraging young adults to keep a diary. Some might consider this a handbook for teenage girls because of its tone of empowerment and encouragement. Judith Oritz Cofer encourages readers to “embrace each and every day,” and Taibtha Soren lets girls know that “the process of self-acceptance takes time.”

The book is well-organized and offers features that enhance its use. The table of contents provides an easy way for readers to find what they are looking for listing the title of the selection, the author and page number. Varied fonts, font sizes, sidebars, speech bubbles, bulleted lists, and borders also add appeal to the text. Those wishing to learn more about the contributor of a selection can read about that person in the “About the Contributors.” The editor, Tonya Bolden also provides information about herself and Acknowledges the original works that these excerpts have been taken from.

Credited as a 1999 Best Adult Book for High School Students by the School Library Journal, 33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, Poems and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women was also listed as a 1999 YALSA Best Book for Young Adults. It has also been included in the H.W. Wilson Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog in its eighth and ninth editions, 2000 and 2005 respectively.

References

Rosenfeld, Shelle. 1998. “33 Things Every Girl Should Know: Stories, Songs, Poems and Smart Talk by 33 Extraordinary Women.” Booklist May 15, 1998: 1611+. Literature Resource Center (accessed November 22, 2011).