Author: Nijiama Smalls
Publisher: Nvision Solutions
ISBN: 1734692804
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
"I wish my father had been present in my life, so I would not have accepted a lot of crap from men." "Growing up, I didn't feel loved by my mother which caused...." "It is hard to find and maintain a solid group of trustworthy girlfriends to do life with." "I was devastated by a previous lover and that hurt changed me for the worse." "I often don’t feel loved." "I’m not happy with how my life turned out." If you have ever said any of the above, then this book is for you! This means there may be emotional wounds that are stopping you from living your best life. Disappointments, rejection, competition, overthinking, and family secrets are some of the emotional wounds that cause inner chaos and damage our sense of self. As black girls, we suffer differently, and our history is complex. Nijiama Smalls is all too familiar with the suffering of black girls and shares her personal journey of uncovering the origin of Black girl trauma while also addressing the ongoing process of healing and recovery from wounds caused by past hurts.The beauty of this book is that it provides a prescription for healing in the form of a soul-cleansing process. Enter this journey so that you can be set free to live the life God has planned for you. Sis, it’s time to heal and end the suffering.
The Black Girl's Guide to Healing Emotional Wounds
Author: Nijiama Smalls
Publisher: Nvision Solutions
ISBN: 1734692804
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
"I wish my father had been present in my life, so I would not have accepted a lot of crap from men." "Growing up, I didn't feel loved by my mother which caused...." "It is hard to find and maintain a solid group of trustworthy girlfriends to do life with." "I was devastated by a previous lover and that hurt changed me for the worse." "I often don’t feel loved." "I’m not happy with how my life turned out." If you have ever said any of the above, then this book is for you! This means there may be emotional wounds that are stopping you from living your best life. Disappointments, rejection, competition, overthinking, and family secrets are some of the emotional wounds that cause inner chaos and damage our sense of self. As black girls, we suffer differently, and our history is complex. Nijiama Smalls is all too familiar with the suffering of black girls and shares her personal journey of uncovering the origin of Black girl trauma while also addressing the ongoing process of healing and recovery from wounds caused by past hurts.The beauty of this book is that it provides a prescription for healing in the form of a soul-cleansing process. Enter this journey so that you can be set free to live the life God has planned for you. Sis, it’s time to heal and end the suffering.
Publisher: Nvision Solutions
ISBN: 1734692804
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 144
Book Description
"I wish my father had been present in my life, so I would not have accepted a lot of crap from men." "Growing up, I didn't feel loved by my mother which caused...." "It is hard to find and maintain a solid group of trustworthy girlfriends to do life with." "I was devastated by a previous lover and that hurt changed me for the worse." "I often don’t feel loved." "I’m not happy with how my life turned out." If you have ever said any of the above, then this book is for you! This means there may be emotional wounds that are stopping you from living your best life. Disappointments, rejection, competition, overthinking, and family secrets are some of the emotional wounds that cause inner chaos and damage our sense of self. As black girls, we suffer differently, and our history is complex. Nijiama Smalls is all too familiar with the suffering of black girls and shares her personal journey of uncovering the origin of Black girl trauma while also addressing the ongoing process of healing and recovery from wounds caused by past hurts.The beauty of this book is that it provides a prescription for healing in the form of a soul-cleansing process. Enter this journey so that you can be set free to live the life God has planned for you. Sis, it’s time to heal and end the suffering.
Black Girl Rising
Author: Brynne Barnes
Publisher: Chronicle Books
ISBN: 1452183554
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 38
Book Description
This enduring anthem for Black girls celebrates their power, potential, and brilliance—for themselves and for the world. You are a thousand curls unfurling in your hair. You are a thousand fists standing proudly in air. You are the song of swallows, lifting sun as they sing— breaking light with their beaks, breaking sky with their wings . . . Black girlhood is beautiful! In this deeply moving celebration and rallying cry, and in the face of the many messages that still work to convince Black girls that they should shrink themselves, hide their light, know their place, Brynne Barnes and Tatyana Fazlalizadeh reclaim that narrative: A Black girl's place is everywhere, and her selfhood is everything she can dream it to be. With poignant, poetic prose and striking, color-drenched illustrations, this empowering picture book centers the inherent worthiness and radiance of Black girls that is still far too often denied. A love letter to and for Black girls everywhere, Black Girl Rising alchemizes the sorrow and strength of the past into the brilliant gold of the future, sweeping young readers of all backgrounds into a lyrical exploration of what it means to be Black, female, and glorious. EMPOWERS AND INSPIRES SELF-LOVE: This uplifting anthem of Black brilliance shuts out invalidating messages and replaces them with unconditional assertions of Black girls' rights to be loved, to be inspired, and to exist fully in their power. Everything about Black girls deserves to be seen and celebrated—and this picture book provides a welcome opportunity for readers of all ages to do so! MAKES A GREAT GIFT: From graduation to birthdays to other key milestones, this book makes a perfect present for consumers looking to celebrate, empower, and inspire the women in their lives—whether daughters, granddaughters, nieces, cousins, or friends. EXCELLENT READ-ALOUD: Warm, loving sentiments paired with poetic prose and a light rhyme make this picture book a great choice to read aloud together at story time, bedtime, or any time. It's sure to become a fast favorite and inspire countless moments of parent-child connection. Perfect for: • Parents, grandparents, and caregivers • Teachers and librarians • Readers who loved Hair Love and Little Leaders • The vast #WeNeedDiverseBooks community • Anyone seeking books about Black joy, female empowerment, or Black history • Gift-givers looking for a unique and inspiring book for the girls (or women) in their lives
Publisher: Chronicle Books
ISBN: 1452183554
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 38
Book Description
This enduring anthem for Black girls celebrates their power, potential, and brilliance—for themselves and for the world. You are a thousand curls unfurling in your hair. You are a thousand fists standing proudly in air. You are the song of swallows, lifting sun as they sing— breaking light with their beaks, breaking sky with their wings . . . Black girlhood is beautiful! In this deeply moving celebration and rallying cry, and in the face of the many messages that still work to convince Black girls that they should shrink themselves, hide their light, know their place, Brynne Barnes and Tatyana Fazlalizadeh reclaim that narrative: A Black girl's place is everywhere, and her selfhood is everything she can dream it to be. With poignant, poetic prose and striking, color-drenched illustrations, this empowering picture book centers the inherent worthiness and radiance of Black girls that is still far too often denied. A love letter to and for Black girls everywhere, Black Girl Rising alchemizes the sorrow and strength of the past into the brilliant gold of the future, sweeping young readers of all backgrounds into a lyrical exploration of what it means to be Black, female, and glorious. EMPOWERS AND INSPIRES SELF-LOVE: This uplifting anthem of Black brilliance shuts out invalidating messages and replaces them with unconditional assertions of Black girls' rights to be loved, to be inspired, and to exist fully in their power. Everything about Black girls deserves to be seen and celebrated—and this picture book provides a welcome opportunity for readers of all ages to do so! MAKES A GREAT GIFT: From graduation to birthdays to other key milestones, this book makes a perfect present for consumers looking to celebrate, empower, and inspire the women in their lives—whether daughters, granddaughters, nieces, cousins, or friends. EXCELLENT READ-ALOUD: Warm, loving sentiments paired with poetic prose and a light rhyme make this picture book a great choice to read aloud together at story time, bedtime, or any time. It's sure to become a fast favorite and inspire countless moments of parent-child connection. Perfect for: • Parents, grandparents, and caregivers • Teachers and librarians • Readers who loved Hair Love and Little Leaders • The vast #WeNeedDiverseBooks community • Anyone seeking books about Black joy, female empowerment, or Black history • Gift-givers looking for a unique and inspiring book for the girls (or women) in their lives
Black Girls Must Be Magic
Author: Jayne Allen
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0063137933
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 286
Book Description
“Masterfully written and pitch perfect, Black Girls Must Be Magic is, simply, magic.”—Good Morning America In this highly anticipated second installment in the Black Girls Must Die Exhausted series, Tabitha Walker copes with more of life’s challenges and a happy surprise—a baby—with a little help and lots of love from friends old and new. For Tabitha Walker, her grandmother’s old adage, “Black girls must die exhausted” is becoming all too true. Discovering she’s pregnant—after she was told she may not be able to have biological children—Tabitha throws herself headfirst into the world of “single mothers by choice.” Between her job, doctor’s appointments, and preparing for the baby, she’s worn out. And that’s before her boss at the local news station starts getting complaints from viewers about Tabitha’s natural hair. When an unexpected turn of events draws Marc—her on and off-again ex-boyfriend—back into her world with surprising demands, and the situation at work begins to threaten her livelihood and her identity, Tabitha must make some tough decisions about her and her baby’s future. It takes a village to raise a child, and Tabitha turns to the women who have always been there for her. Bolstered by the fierce support of Ms. Gretchen, her grandmother’s best friend, the counsel of her closest friends Laila and Alexis, and the calming presence of her doula Andouele, Tabitha must find a way to navigate motherhood on her own terms. Will she harness the bravery, strength, and self-love she’ll need to keep “the village” together, find her voice at work, and settle things with Marc before the baby arrives?
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0063137933
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 286
Book Description
“Masterfully written and pitch perfect, Black Girls Must Be Magic is, simply, magic.”—Good Morning America In this highly anticipated second installment in the Black Girls Must Die Exhausted series, Tabitha Walker copes with more of life’s challenges and a happy surprise—a baby—with a little help and lots of love from friends old and new. For Tabitha Walker, her grandmother’s old adage, “Black girls must die exhausted” is becoming all too true. Discovering she’s pregnant—after she was told she may not be able to have biological children—Tabitha throws herself headfirst into the world of “single mothers by choice.” Between her job, doctor’s appointments, and preparing for the baby, she’s worn out. And that’s before her boss at the local news station starts getting complaints from viewers about Tabitha’s natural hair. When an unexpected turn of events draws Marc—her on and off-again ex-boyfriend—back into her world with surprising demands, and the situation at work begins to threaten her livelihood and her identity, Tabitha must make some tough decisions about her and her baby’s future. It takes a village to raise a child, and Tabitha turns to the women who have always been there for her. Bolstered by the fierce support of Ms. Gretchen, her grandmother’s best friend, the counsel of her closest friends Laila and Alexis, and the calming presence of her doula Andouele, Tabitha must find a way to navigate motherhood on her own terms. Will she harness the bravery, strength, and self-love she’ll need to keep “the village” together, find her voice at work, and settle things with Marc before the baby arrives?
The Only Black Girls in Town
Author: Brandy Colbert
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 0316456373
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
From award-winning YA author Brandy Colbert comes a debut middle-grade novel about the only two Black girls in town who discover a collection of hidden journals revealing shocking secrets of the past. Beach-loving surfer Alberta has been the only Black girl in town for years. Alberta's best friend, Laramie, is the closest thing she has to a sister, but there are some things even Laramie can't understand. When the bed and breakfast across the street finds new owners, Alberta is ecstatic to learn the family is black—and they have a 12-year-old daughter just like her. Alberta is positive she and the new girl, Edie, will be fast friends. But while Alberta loves being a California girl, Edie misses her native Brooklyn and finds it hard to adapt to small-town living. When the girls discover a box of old journals in Edie's attic, they team up to figure out exactly who's behind them and why they got left behind. Soon they discover shocking and painful secrets of the past and learn that nothing is quite what it seems.
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 0316456373
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
From award-winning YA author Brandy Colbert comes a debut middle-grade novel about the only two Black girls in town who discover a collection of hidden journals revealing shocking secrets of the past. Beach-loving surfer Alberta has been the only Black girl in town for years. Alberta's best friend, Laramie, is the closest thing she has to a sister, but there are some things even Laramie can't understand. When the bed and breakfast across the street finds new owners, Alberta is ecstatic to learn the family is black—and they have a 12-year-old daughter just like her. Alberta is positive she and the new girl, Edie, will be fast friends. But while Alberta loves being a California girl, Edie misses her native Brooklyn and finds it hard to adapt to small-town living. When the girls discover a box of old journals in Edie's attic, they team up to figure out exactly who's behind them and why they got left behind. Soon they discover shocking and painful secrets of the past and learn that nothing is quite what it seems.
Black Girl Civics
Author: Ginnie Logan
Publisher: IAP
ISBN: 1648022189
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 233
Book Description
What does it mean to be a civic actor who is Black + Young + Female in the United States? Do African American girls take up the civic mantle in the same way that their male or non-Black peers do? What media, educational, or social platforms do Black girls leverage to gain access to the political arena, and why? How do Black girls negotiate civic identity within the context of their racialized, gendered, and age specific identities? There are scholars doing powerful work on Black youth and civics; scholars focused on girls and civics; and scholars focused on Black girls in education. But the intersections of African American girlhood and civics have not received adequate attention. This book begins the journey of understanding and communicating the varied forms of civics in the Black Girl experience. Black Girl Civics: Expanding and Navigating the Boundaries of Civic Engagement brings together a range of works that grapple with the question of what it means for African American girls to engage in civic identity development and expression. The chapters collected within this volume openly grapple with, and disclose the ways in which Black girls engage with and navigate the spectrum of civics. This collection of 11 chapters features a range of research from empirical to theoretical and is forwarded by Black Girlhood scholar Dr. Venus Evans-Winters. The intended audience for this volume includes Black girlhood scholars, scholars of race and gender, teachers, civic advocacy organizations, civic engagement researchers, and youth development providers.
Publisher: IAP
ISBN: 1648022189
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 233
Book Description
What does it mean to be a civic actor who is Black + Young + Female in the United States? Do African American girls take up the civic mantle in the same way that their male or non-Black peers do? What media, educational, or social platforms do Black girls leverage to gain access to the political arena, and why? How do Black girls negotiate civic identity within the context of their racialized, gendered, and age specific identities? There are scholars doing powerful work on Black youth and civics; scholars focused on girls and civics; and scholars focused on Black girls in education. But the intersections of African American girlhood and civics have not received adequate attention. This book begins the journey of understanding and communicating the varied forms of civics in the Black Girl experience. Black Girl Civics: Expanding and Navigating the Boundaries of Civic Engagement brings together a range of works that grapple with the question of what it means for African American girls to engage in civic identity development and expression. The chapters collected within this volume openly grapple with, and disclose the ways in which Black girls engage with and navigate the spectrum of civics. This collection of 11 chapters features a range of research from empirical to theoretical and is forwarded by Black Girlhood scholar Dr. Venus Evans-Winters. The intended audience for this volume includes Black girlhood scholars, scholars of race and gender, teachers, civic advocacy organizations, civic engagement researchers, and youth development providers.
The Other Black Girl
Author: Zakiya Dalila Harris
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1982160152
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
A Hulu Original Series Coming Soon “Riveting, fearless, and vividly original” (Emily St. John Mandel, New York Times bestselling author), this instant New York Times bestseller explores the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing. Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, she’s thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They’ve only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events elevates Hazel to Office Darling, and Nella is left in the dust. Then the notes begin to appear on Nella’s desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW. It’s hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realizes that there’s a lot more at stake than just her career. Having joined Wagner Books to honor the legacy of Burning Heart, a novel written and edited by two Black women, she had thought that this animosity was a relic of the past. Is Nella ready to take on the fight of a new generation? “Poignant, daring, and darkly funny, The Other Black Girl will have you stressed and exhilarated in equal measure through the very last twist” (Vulture). The perfect read for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1982160152
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
A Hulu Original Series Coming Soon “Riveting, fearless, and vividly original” (Emily St. John Mandel, New York Times bestselling author), this instant New York Times bestseller explores the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing. Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, she’s thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They’ve only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events elevates Hazel to Office Darling, and Nella is left in the dust. Then the notes begin to appear on Nella’s desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW. It’s hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realizes that there’s a lot more at stake than just her career. Having joined Wagner Books to honor the legacy of Burning Heart, a novel written and edited by two Black women, she had thought that this animosity was a relic of the past. Is Nella ready to take on the fight of a new generation? “Poignant, daring, and darkly funny, The Other Black Girl will have you stressed and exhilarated in equal measure through the very last twist” (Vulture). The perfect read for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace.
Empowered Black Girl
Author: M.J. Fievre
Publisher: Mango Media Inc.
ISBN: 1642505617
Category : Young Adult Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 111
Book Description
Youth Empowerment for Black Teen Girls from Famous Black Women “It’s time for us Black girls and Black women to be empowered, and I’m glad we have Fievre to show us the way.”―Monique Jones, author of The Book of Awesome Black Americans #1 Best Seller in Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction on Prejudice Even strong, fearless, and badass Black teen girls and Black women need empowering words of affirmation. Now more than ever, we must give our minds and bodies the TLC they deserve because Black women empowerment begins with the youth empowerment of Black teen girls. Author of Badass Black Girl, M.J Fievre brings you inspirational words of wisdom through famous Black women who have changed the world, including Audre Lorde, Lupita Nyong'o and Angela Davis. Take a deep breath. We don’t always have to be strong. It’s essential for Black women and Black teen girls to understand that taking a break to focus on our mental health is bravery. We, too, need reminders and empowering words of affirmation that we are incredible and enough. Empowered Black Girl teaches you to: Master using daily words of affirmation Experience a life filled with love, Black joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction Take control of your destiny and direct your future Strengthen your self-esteem and youth empowerment If you enjoyed empowering books like Badass Black Girl, Badass Affirmations, Well-Read Black Girl, or Brave: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Beating Worry and Anxiety, then you’ll love Empowered Black Girl: Joyful Affirmations and Words of Resilience.
Publisher: Mango Media Inc.
ISBN: 1642505617
Category : Young Adult Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 111
Book Description
Youth Empowerment for Black Teen Girls from Famous Black Women “It’s time for us Black girls and Black women to be empowered, and I’m glad we have Fievre to show us the way.”―Monique Jones, author of The Book of Awesome Black Americans #1 Best Seller in Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction on Prejudice Even strong, fearless, and badass Black teen girls and Black women need empowering words of affirmation. Now more than ever, we must give our minds and bodies the TLC they deserve because Black women empowerment begins with the youth empowerment of Black teen girls. Author of Badass Black Girl, M.J Fievre brings you inspirational words of wisdom through famous Black women who have changed the world, including Audre Lorde, Lupita Nyong'o and Angela Davis. Take a deep breath. We don’t always have to be strong. It’s essential for Black women and Black teen girls to understand that taking a break to focus on our mental health is bravery. We, too, need reminders and empowering words of affirmation that we are incredible and enough. Empowered Black Girl teaches you to: Master using daily words of affirmation Experience a life filled with love, Black joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction Take control of your destiny and direct your future Strengthen your self-esteem and youth empowerment If you enjoyed empowering books like Badass Black Girl, Badass Affirmations, Well-Read Black Girl, or Brave: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Beating Worry and Anxiety, then you’ll love Empowered Black Girl: Joyful Affirmations and Words of Resilience.
This Journal Belongs to Ratchet
Author: Nancy J. Cavanaugh
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN: 1402281080
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 322
Book Description
Move over Diary of a Wimpy Kid—there's a new journal in town and it belongs to Ratchet. "A book that is full of surprises...Triumphant enough to make readers cheer; touching enough to make them cry." —Kirkus, STARRED Review If only getting a new life were as easy as getting a new notebook. But it's not. It's the first day of school for all the kids in the neighborhood. But not for me. I'm homeschooled. That means nothing new. No new book bag, no new clothes, and no new friends. The best I've got is this notebook. I'm supposed to use it for my writing assignments, but my dad never checks. Here's what I'm really going to use it for: Ratchet's Top Secret Plan Turn my old, recycled, freakish, friendless life into something shiny and new. This Florida State Book Award gold medal winner is a heartfelt story about an unconventional girl's quest to make a friend, save a park, and find her own definition of normal.
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
ISBN: 1402281080
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 322
Book Description
Move over Diary of a Wimpy Kid—there's a new journal in town and it belongs to Ratchet. "A book that is full of surprises...Triumphant enough to make readers cheer; touching enough to make them cry." —Kirkus, STARRED Review If only getting a new life were as easy as getting a new notebook. But it's not. It's the first day of school for all the kids in the neighborhood. But not for me. I'm homeschooled. That means nothing new. No new book bag, no new clothes, and no new friends. The best I've got is this notebook. I'm supposed to use it for my writing assignments, but my dad never checks. Here's what I'm really going to use it for: Ratchet's Top Secret Plan Turn my old, recycled, freakish, friendless life into something shiny and new. This Florida State Book Award gold medal winner is a heartfelt story about an unconventional girl's quest to make a friend, save a park, and find her own definition of normal.
Soul Healing: A Guided Journal for Black Women
Author: Jane Smith
Publisher: Rockridge Press
ISBN: 9781638073321
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
Publisher: Rockridge Press
ISBN: 9781638073321
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
Ordinary Girls
Author: Jaquira Díaz
Publisher: Algonquin Books
ISBN: 1643750828
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 353
Book Description
One of the Must-Read Books of 2019 According to O: The Oprah Magazine * Time * Bustle * Electric Literature * Publishers Weekly * The Millions * The Week * Good Housekeeping “There is more life packed on each page of Ordinary Girls than some lives hold in a lifetime.” —Julia Alvarez In this searing memoir, Jaquira Díaz writes fiercely and eloquently of her challenging girlhood and triumphant coming of age. While growing up in housing projects in Puerto Rico and Miami Beach, Díaz found herself caught between extremes. As her family split apart and her mother battled schizophrenia, she was supported by the love of her friends. As she longed for a family and home, her life was upended by violence. As she celebrated her Puerto Rican culture, she couldn’t find support for her burgeoning sexual identity. From her own struggles with depression and sexual assault to Puerto Rico’s history of colonialism, every page of Ordinary Girls vibrates with music and lyricism. Díaz writes with raw and refreshing honesty, triumphantly mapping a way out of despair toward love and hope to become her version of the girl she always wanted to be. Reminiscent of Tara Westover’s Educated, Kiese Laymon’s Heavy, Mary Karr’s The Liars’ Club, and Terese Marie Mailhot’s Heart Berries, Jaquira Díaz’s memoir provides a vivid portrait of a life lived in (and beyond) the borders of Puerto Rico and its complicated history—and reads as electrically as a novel.
Publisher: Algonquin Books
ISBN: 1643750828
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 353
Book Description
One of the Must-Read Books of 2019 According to O: The Oprah Magazine * Time * Bustle * Electric Literature * Publishers Weekly * The Millions * The Week * Good Housekeeping “There is more life packed on each page of Ordinary Girls than some lives hold in a lifetime.” —Julia Alvarez In this searing memoir, Jaquira Díaz writes fiercely and eloquently of her challenging girlhood and triumphant coming of age. While growing up in housing projects in Puerto Rico and Miami Beach, Díaz found herself caught between extremes. As her family split apart and her mother battled schizophrenia, she was supported by the love of her friends. As she longed for a family and home, her life was upended by violence. As she celebrated her Puerto Rican culture, she couldn’t find support for her burgeoning sexual identity. From her own struggles with depression and sexual assault to Puerto Rico’s history of colonialism, every page of Ordinary Girls vibrates with music and lyricism. Díaz writes with raw and refreshing honesty, triumphantly mapping a way out of despair toward love and hope to become her version of the girl she always wanted to be. Reminiscent of Tara Westover’s Educated, Kiese Laymon’s Heavy, Mary Karr’s The Liars’ Club, and Terese Marie Mailhot’s Heart Berries, Jaquira Díaz’s memoir provides a vivid portrait of a life lived in (and beyond) the borders of Puerto Rico and its complicated history—and reads as electrically as a novel.