Rating: 
Summary: An Account Of What Today's Youth Goes Through
Review: No one could have put it better than the youth of today, describing the ordeals that some teenagers are forced to deal with. I work at a local library and time and time again someone will come in a put the book on hold, and many times it is an adult, which I think is wonderful. But I also think that the majority of the people reading this book should be young girls who wonder about certain aspects of their lives. Too many times, girls problems are not recognized because we are taught to be a very strong sex who deal with our problems behind closed doors. I feel that Mary Pipher breaks down that barrier and shows with REAL examples, the need to talk things out and how to deal with family problems, rape and teen age sex. This book is most defiantly one I recommend to any adolescent, male or female, who wonders if they are the only one dealing with what is now, every day life
Rating:
Summary: Awareness
Review: My mom bought this book and read the first chapter. Then in the car one day, she talked to me about not losing my authentic self in the next few years. I understood her and thought "of course it won't happen to me" and dismissed it. Later that day, I picked up the book from her nightstand and read it in about three days. I understood what was happening to those around me and realized "the ophelia syndrome" had even happened to me a little bit. What this book has done for me is that it has made me aware enough to not let the ophelia syndrome happen any more. My mom still hasn't finished the book, but I'm glad I read it. I must say, though, Pipher's view of adolescent girls is unbalanced. Being a therapist, she sees more emotionally unhealthy girls than emotionally healthy girls, and we're not all doomed or anything! She exaggerates just a tiny bit. But all in all, the book made me aware and helped me learn more about this force I'm resisting. I think every adolescent girl should read it
Rating: 
Summary: Read this for the case studies, nothing else.
Review: I found the case studies absolutely intriguing, but as for the commentary on them...well, that was disappointing. Having had a rough time in my teenage years, I thought that I would relate more, or find relief perhaps, in Pipher's explanations. But I did not. I would call her tone along the lines of militant feminism. Granted society screws us up some, but it can't be held liable to the degree Pipher maintains. I am skeptical of a woman from a stable home in a small Nebraska town who creates theories that she claims are applicable to the rest of the US. She seemed to spend her whole commentary time whining about how different the 90s are from the 60s. I think that being a teenage girl really sucks, but Pipher gives me little relief that there is any good thinking and thus progress happening on the subject
Rating: 
Summary: Best book for Dads who care about their daughters...
Review: Being a single Dad, I look for all the guidance I can get; being well educated, I often turn to books to assist. This book is a winner in all aspects. Though case based as many other reviews indicate, it appears easy to apply the learnings in this book to adolescents: both boys and girls; as well as to adults: both men and women. I certainly went through much of the torment highlighted in this book; and wish to assist my daughter (age 9) through her rough times ahead. I wish my parents read it; I hope my ex reads it. I recommend this book for fathers, mothers and social workers alike. I agree that it should be required reading in our school systems
Rating:
Summary: Every father of a daughter should read this
Review: I could never understand why girls opted out of math, science, etc., and instead became focused on boys, clothes, etc. The author made these things much clearer. The case studies are sufficiently wide-ranging that you should be able to see a little of yourself in many of them. If, after reading this, your daughter grows up living as a false-self, living someone else's life, living with an eating disorder, shame on you
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for parents of daughters and sons.
Review: I have a 16 year old son whom I have tried to raise with compassion for others, especially the opposite sex. This book has given me avenues of
discussion I was unaware of. It also pointed out
a problem I have had all my life and believe, after reading this book, developed when I was going through my teen years. Thank you for a great book.
Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: I can't believe that some people have had the nerve to say that this book is awful and why didn't the author give us some depth and tell us what to do? Come on! I don't see them giving any brilliant ideas! I thought this book was a slap in society's face. It was great, and it really made me aware of everything culture does to adolescent girls. Read it
Rating:
Summary: An invaluble read!
Review: A MUST read for anyone even remotely interested in the issues of adolescence, society's treatment of women, teenage girls and their specific developmental issues -- I can't recomend this book highly enough! Read it with an open mind, then open your eyes and you will see what Pipher writes about. :
Rating: 
Summary: This book was not worth the cover price
Review: I was anxious to read this book after having it recommened highly to me, but I was very disappointed. The book seemed to be composed mainly of case studies, with no conclusions or recommendations, or even adequate explanations of behavior. There was a lot of talk about the authentic self, which seems a bit of psycho-babble to me. Tell me, what does that mean? All the book did was point out OVER and OVER again that girls are doing unhealthy things and in some unhealthy relationships. I simply have to turn on a TV talk show to see that. How about a little depth? Also, how about not making all those girls out to be VICTIMS. Where is their responsibility in this? If you are looking for a book of substance, DO NOT CHOOSE THIS BOOK
Rating:
Summary: How does she know?
Review: I think that it's wonderful that other's have found this book to be so insightful, and life changing, but personally, I did not. Maybe it's because I don't fit the description of any of the girls in this book. Being a 14 year old girl, I thought that I was abnormal after reading this book. I get along with my mom, as a matter of fact we're friends, I'm honest and I'm happy. Most of my friends are exactly the same way. Why is it that this author, trying to be expert, seems to believe that my whole generation is anorexic, or on drugs? Ms.Pipher would pose some riduculous easy to answer questions about why teenage girls do this, or that. The answers were so clear that even though I seem "abnormal", I was able to answer them myself. Furthermore, I find it hard to comprehend how a woman of Ms.Pipher's generation can suddenly become such an expert on my generation. I understand how she's had girls of my generation invovled in her work, but, nevertheless, some of the statements made are blatently WRONG! However, I must say that in some ways this book was correct (which is what prevented me from rating it 2). It's correct in the aspect that the media is depressing, and stereotypical. The media gives us ideals that are unreachable unless one is superficial, or unhealthy, or all of the above. It helped me understand some people at my school, but I didn't feel like I received any advice on how to deal with them. In cocnclusion, I'd like to say that this book could have been amazing had it been written by someone that has a deeper understanding of my generation, or in fact, is part of my generation. If you are a struggling parent I suppose I recommend this book to you, anything to save your children. If you are a teenage girl (especially an "abnormal" teenage girl like me) don't read this book unless you need to help a friend, or have a need to release anger by yelling at a wanna-be expert of a book!
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