Rating: 
Summary: The girls' voices sounded the same
Review: I couldn't even finish Ophelia Speaks. I was disappointed because I wanted a reponse to the Pipher book but this wasn't it. I teach teen age girls who live turbulent lives. Most of them are poor and I don't think many of them would tell the stories that were in this book. There are many resilent young women out here and I wish their stories would be told. A balance of voices would have made this a better book. Where were the teenage mothers, the young people who deal with race issues, the sports stars, I could go on..
Rating: 
Summary: unbalanced
Review: While I commend the editor for putting together this project, and respect the girls whose stories are included, I feel that the book is unbalanced. Almost all the girls included seem to be going through some pretty extreme experiences. An adolescent-psychologist told me that 1/3 of teenagers have major problems, 1/3 have minor problems and 1/3 navigate adolescence fairly smoothly. This book seemed to focus on teens in the first two groups. Perhaps they are the ones who responded to the editor's request for articles on eating disorders, drug abuse, suicide attempts, etc, and on down the list til her last and only strongly positve category, Why I am proud to be female. Perhaps girls who are enjoying life and involved in more positive activities aren't as inclined to sit down and write about it. Was the editor's aim to show that teenage girls are ill-fated, in line with the thesis of Reviving Ophelia? Also, some of the writing in these responses is poor and not really worth reading whatever the content.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than 2 Cups of Chicken Soup
Review: I feel that teenage girls can relate more to this book than anyChicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. The stories in the book touched myheart. It totally makes my outlook on things for the positive. Even one story made me cry. This book is one of the best ever. Any teen girl can relate to atleast one story.
Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't live up to "Reviving", but still decent
Review: After reading some of the negative reviews on this book, I just have to say, do you people KNOW any upper middle class teen girls? When you're reading a book on the struggles of adolescent girls, it's usually a given that they're going to be some of the more affluent, educated ones. And as for whether or not their contributions were eloquent or articulate, this is the way we write! Yes, some of the entries were a bit trite, but that is why there were more than one for each section! All in all, this was a very decent follow up to Reviving Ophelia, especially considering the age of the young woman who compiled it. Worth the money, but only if you've already read "Reviving Ophelia"
Rating:
Summary: Sadly lacking
Review: A most disappointing book. A self absorbed litany of over-privileged adolescents bemoaning their lot. The style and depth of this book is so deeply lacking it is hard to focus on the bleak contents. Clearly some entries were no more that journal reiterations from a bad Monday! Unfortunately devoid of depth or clarity, this book has no redeeming qualities and was not worth the investment, either financial or in time.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for any adolescent girl!
Review: I am a girl of 13, soon to be 14, who found this book insightful, healing, and a book that should be read throughly and twice. I had heard about it and when I saw it at the library, I thought what the heck, so I checked it out and found it to be one of the most wonderful books that I've ever read. The girls write with full honesty which is all we're looking for these days. With heartfelt stories that range from race to heartbreak to death to pregnancy, this book is something that can heal, can help, and can reveal things that every adolsecent girl knows deep down.
Rating:
Summary: Ophelia Speaks but has nothing to say
Review: I was excited to read this book because I had read Reviving Ophelia and was looking forward to a different perspective on some of the same issues. I was disappointed. I wonder how these entries were selected and what the author's point was in selecting them.
Rating:
Summary: The best, most realistic collection of teenage stories!
Review: Ophelia speaks is my favorite book because I feel as though I can identify with it. I've never read anything before that describes exactly how I feel. Any teenage girl growing up today could easily relate to most if not all of the stories in this well put together book.
Rating:
Summary: Pessimistic but Realistic at the Same Time
Review: This book is a definite eye opener. Most teenage girls never even think about or maybe even know about some of the subjects mentioned in the book. I think this book somehow takes away some of the naivetes everyone is born with, but it's a good thing since the world isn't black and white. If you like books with happy endings all the time this book is definitely not for you. This book is for the people who live the grey.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Stories and poems,but Shandlers commentary is annoying
Review: it was not necessary for Shandler to share her personal opinions and stupid comments, she really got on my nerves. I wanted to herar the stories, not her story.
|
