Scan barcode
ohsoyhappy's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5 stars My Immigrant American Dream by Sandha Menon
I quite enjoyed this piece as I am also a first generation immigrant, I could resonate with the author. I completely agree with her quote "I'd been taught to always respect my elders, to never disagree, to accept what I was told. But adults, I was quickly learning, could be judgemental and cruel, prejudiced and bigtoed. Adults did not automatically get a pass anymore. I had the right to question them." as well as "There is no one way to be American. There is no one language, no one color, no one accent, no one religion. We are a country of multitudes; we should be proud to remain that way." A million time YES!
3/5 stars Her Hair Was Not of Gold by Anna-Marie McLemore
The focus of this is how the Virgin Mary and Jesus is normally portrayed and how the author realizes it and learns more about the whitewashing of the religion in a way. I can not relate as much, but it was an interesting read.
4/5 stars Finding My Feminism by Amy Reed
Survivor story. Powerful. This is the story of her journey as a feminist, how she felt fake and that she was not one of the survivors, and the spark within her to be that support for other women now through her writing.
4.5/5 stars Unexpected Pursuits: Embracing My Dignity & Creativity by Christine Day
An indigenous author's story about her life in school, erasure of her culture, finding her voice & passion, and the continuous journey she is taking.
4/5 stars Chilled Monkey Brains by Sona Charaipotra
Discusses the importance of own voices writing and how much representations really matter to us POC. This mentions the spark of this movement and the hope that it will become the norm.
4/5 stars Roar by Jaye Robin Brown
Important piece about finding and accepting oneself.
4.5/5 stars Easter Offering by Brandy Colbert
Talks about our whitewashed history and how racists the suffragists were. I now know that the quote "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired" came from Fannie Lou Hamer, a black woman civil rights activist who focused on voting rights for Southern Black people. How cool is she? Yet, it is unfortunate that I never heard of her until now. Powerful and empowering piece.
4.5/5 stars Trumps and Trunchbulls by Alexandra Duncan
Very important essay that thoroughly describes gaslighting with examples. I also enjoyed the empowering way it ended.
4/5 stars Tiny Battles by Maurene Goo
Piece by a Korean-American woman whom I can relate to because I've gone through some similar things she has gone through. I really liked that she said "Rage has empowered me, and I give you permission to let it empower you."
4/5 stars These Words are Mine by Stephanie Kuehnert
This is a supportive piece to all survivors that can validate their experience. A strong message that you are not alone.
3/5 stars Fat and Loud by Julie Murphy
A piece on someone learning to be an ally. I appreciate that she acknowledged her privilege.
3.5/5 stars Myth Making: In the Wake of Hardship by Somaiya Daud
This piece felt like a letter to future writers.
3.5/5 stars Changing Constellation by Nina LaCour
This piece focused on a friend whovleft and what the author felt she could have done and what she learned from that friend. A thank you note for being their unapologetic self wherever they may be.
3.5/5 stars The One Who Defines Me by Aisha Saeed
It frustrates me to hear about how blatantly racists these teachers can be. They make such a big impact on their students whether negative or positive. I can relate to the not burdening my immigrant parents with racist things that happened to me in school. It took me a long time to actually talk to peers about it (college).
3/5 stars Our Genes by Hannah Moskowitz
I haven't got much to say about this one except we can learn from racist upbringing.
3/5 stars An Accidential Activist by Ellen Hopkins
Message to keep active and staying informed.
4/5 stars Dreams Deferred and Other Explosions by Ilene (I.W.) Gregorio
Yes! I love her end piece regarding smashing the model minority because that is exactly what I plan on doing.
3/5 stars Not Like The Other Girls by Martha Brockenbrough
Wow. Second grader. Men are sick. So many different memories regarding similar things happened to this author and it twists my stomach how hard she tries to be like a boy to try to level out the playing field.
4/5 stars Is Something Bothering You? by Jenny Torres Sanchez
Wow. A recalling of the time in her childhood where her father was terrorized and chased down by KKK members just because he answered someone's question back in Spanish. Chilling account of the fear after the event & then after the 2016 result were announced. But ends with hope.
3/5 stars What I've Learned About Slience by Amber Smith
Literally the title of this essay. How slience fester and finding strength and a voice.
4/5 stars Black Girl, Becoming by Tracy Deonn Walker
Denying ones identity due to micro aggression and the process of expressing oneself freely. Lovely.
Overall this was a phenomenal anthology filled will so many voices, experiences, and encouragement. It was reassuring to hear the shared nightmare November 8, 2016 was to a handful of these women as I felt completely hopeless that day and cried because I felt our America was crumbling down (granted it was not amazing for all in the first place, but we weren't regressing as much as we are now) the blatant racism and overall hate is flooding our America. However, what is emerging from this is a new sea of hope from people who are just tired of being slienced. This gives me hope.
I quite enjoyed this piece as I am also a first generation immigrant, I could resonate with the author. I completely agree with her quote "I'd been taught to always respect my elders, to never disagree, to accept what I was told. But adults, I was quickly learning, could be judgemental and cruel, prejudiced and bigtoed. Adults did not automatically get a pass anymore. I had the right to question them." as well as "There is no one way to be American. There is no one language, no one color, no one accent, no one religion. We are a country of multitudes; we should be proud to remain that way." A million time YES!
3/5 stars Her Hair Was Not of Gold by Anna-Marie McLemore
4/5 stars Finding My Feminism by Amy Reed
Survivor story. Powerful. This is the story of her journey as a feminist, how she felt fake and that she was not one of the survivors, and the spark within her to be that support for other women now through her writing.
4.5/5 stars Unexpected Pursuits: Embracing My Dignity & Creativity by Christine Day
An indigenous author's story about her life in school, erasure of her culture, finding her voice & passion, and the continuous journey she is taking.
4/5 stars Chilled Monkey Brains by Sona Charaipotra
Discusses the importance of own voices writing and how much representations really matter to us POC. This mentions the spark of this movement and the hope that it will become the norm.
4/5 stars Roar by Jaye Robin Brown
Important piece about finding and accepting oneself.
4.5/5 stars Easter Offering by Brandy Colbert
Talks about our whitewashed history and how racists the suffragists were. I now know that the quote "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired" came from Fannie Lou Hamer, a black woman civil rights activist who focused on voting rights for Southern Black people. How cool is she? Yet, it is unfortunate that I never heard of her until now. Powerful and empowering piece.
4.5/5 stars Trumps and Trunchbulls by Alexandra Duncan
Very important essay that thoroughly describes gaslighting with examples. I also enjoyed the empowering way it ended.
4/5 stars Tiny Battles by Maurene Goo
Piece by a Korean-American woman whom I can relate to because I've gone through some similar things she has gone through. I really liked that she said "Rage has empowered me, and I give you permission to let it empower you."
4/5 stars These Words are Mine by Stephanie Kuehnert
This is a supportive piece to all survivors that can validate their experience. A strong message that you are not alone.
3/5 stars Fat and Loud by Julie Murphy
A piece on someone learning to be an ally. I appreciate that she acknowledged her privilege.
3.5/5 stars Myth Making: In the Wake of Hardship by Somaiya Daud
This piece felt like a letter to future writers.
3.5/5 stars Changing Constellation by Nina LaCour
This piece focused on a friend whovleft and what the author felt she could have done and what she learned from that friend. A thank you note for being their unapologetic self wherever they may be.
3.5/5 stars The One Who Defines Me by Aisha Saeed
It frustrates me to hear about how blatantly racists these teachers can be. They make such a big impact on their students whether negative or positive. I can relate to the not burdening my immigrant parents with racist things that happened to me in school. It took me a long time to actually talk to peers about it (college).
3/5 stars Our Genes by Hannah Moskowitz
I haven't got much to say about this one except we can learn from racist upbringing.
3/5 stars An Accidential Activist by Ellen Hopkins
Message to keep active and staying informed.
4/5 stars Dreams Deferred and Other Explosions by Ilene (I.W.) Gregorio
Yes! I love her end piece regarding smashing the model minority because that is exactly what I plan on doing.
3/5 stars Not Like The Other Girls by Martha Brockenbrough
Wow. Second grader. Men are sick. So many different memories regarding similar things happened to this author and it twists my stomach how hard she tries to be like a boy to try to level out the playing field.
4/5 stars Is Something Bothering You? by Jenny Torres Sanchez
Wow. A recalling of the time in her childhood where her father was terrorized and chased down by KKK members just because he answered someone's question back in Spanish. Chilling account of the fear after the event & then after the 2016 result were announced. But ends with hope.
3/5 stars What I've Learned About Slience by Amber Smith
Literally the title of this essay. How slience fester and finding strength and a voice.
4/5 stars Black Girl, Becoming by Tracy Deonn Walker
Denying ones identity due to micro aggression and the process of expressing oneself freely. Lovely.
Overall this was a phenomenal anthology filled will so many voices, experiences, and encouragement. It was reassuring to hear the shared nightmare November 8, 2016 was to a handful of these women as I felt completely hopeless that day and cried because I felt our America was crumbling down (granted it was not amazing for all in the first place, but we weren't regressing as much as we are now) the blatant racism and overall hate is flooding our America. However, what is emerging from this is a new sea of hope from people who are just tired of being slienced. This gives me hope.
chileanreader1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
enbylesbianism's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed many of the essays presented in this anthology and it introduced me to several YA authors I would like to read more of/from. However, it also made me uncomfortable more than once: sometimes, it was kind of the point, such as the essays focused on rape culture, sexual assault, racism etc. (which I still leave a trigger warning for, because it definitely is graphic and explicit enough for it to be needed), but there were also some moments where I don't seem to notice explanation for such discomfort, like Reed's usage of the F slur in her text as well as Caitlyn Jenner's deadname written on Brockenbrough's, which was also accentuated the lack of trans women amongst the authors. While I am aware that Reed addressed this issue at the beginning of the book, it still doesn't change this statement, although her awareness is positive.
sunstruck's review against another edition
4.0
A stellar collection of essays focusing on female empowerment, particularly with close emphasis on race, sexuality, and sexual violence. Most of the essays were raw and powerful, but my favorite was "Unexpected Pursuits" by Christine Day. Of course, while the messages are genuine, some essays shine brighter than the others and have a greater impact on the reader. Still, this book is a must-read for any young woman feeling alone, vulnerable, or unsure of what to do in such times ripe with dangerous political and socioeconomic climates.
lliv_patrick's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful compilation conversations about racism, sexual assault, LGBTQ+ and so much more!
.
Highly recommend for absolutely everyone.
.
Highly recommend for absolutely everyone.
eleennaeisloved's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
ritzcracker60's review against another edition
4.0
I don't usually read books like this- memoirs and autobiographies. But I was pleasantly surprised at the personal essays and inspiring stories of women who face injustice and inequality and are finding their own ways of fighting it. You can't really rate people's experiences because every single woman in this book faced hardships, but my favorite essays were definitely Finding My Feminism by Amy Reed and What I've Learned About Silence by Amber Smith. They were raw, heartfelt, and beautifully written.
Overall, I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for inspiring stories or a YA lover.
Overall, I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for inspiring stories or a YA lover.
holls_marie28's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
amdame1's review against another edition
3.0
Short stories about rape/sexual abuse, discrimination, and other injustices - especially/notably authors wanting to speak out since 45 took office. Very powerful stories, some more graphic than others. From a wide variety of voices with an apology from the editor that there was not a trans contributor. An important collection, but it is *so* hard to sell story collections to students. (does that diminish it's importance? Some stories more meaningful. At least one story was also included in the "hope" collection.