The Geography of Girlhood

Novels told in verse usually fall into two categories: those that simply tell a story with poetry, and those that manage to capture a life so eloquently in verse that you fall headfirst into the story. THE GEOGRAPHY OF GIRLHOOD, thankfully, falls into the latter category. Kirsten Smith has managed to pen, through verse, the story of fourteen-year old Penny Marrow, a girl you will laugh with, cry with, and get to know very, very well within the pages of this book. Penny's older sister, Tara, was blessed with the beauty, and the ability to cut her sister down with only a glance. Her father's hope is simply that his daughters will have listened to him enough to stay away from bad boys and make a place for themselves in the world. And as for her mother? She left when Penny was six, and the only thing Penny has to remind her of her mom is a snow globe. Now she has a stepmother, and a younger stepbrother, and a family life that can be summed up with "don't be like your sister." For Penny, life is confusing, with the fights her friends have regularly and the first kiss that makes her faint and the huge infatuation she has on her sister's boyfriend. But behind it all is the wish that her mother would just come home, would be returned by the aliens who abducted her or whatever, and make everything better. For Penny, watching her father change and her sister change and herself change is too much to take without a mother. But years pass, and when she finally gets one thing that she wants--which is Bobby--it's not at all like she expected, and she loses friends and gains new acquaintances and still, in the back of her mind, she wants her mother. THE GEOGRAPHY OF GIRLHOOD is sweet and bitter, a poignant story filled with joy and heartbreak about growing up and learning to let go and first love. Thankfully, this is a book told in verse that you won't soon forget, a definite recommended read.

Penny was abandoned by her mother at a young age. She is dealing with a complicated family life, relationships, friendships and all the rest of those awkward situations that teenagers have to endure. With each turn of the page is a new poem to let the reader in on the trials and tribulations of Penny. Her words flow and sing the highs and lows of young womanhood. Kirsten Smith will have readers laughing and crying within a few pages with her very raw and real character. This is a must read for anyone who has ever been young, confused or in need of a wonderfully fresh read. Young girls will relate to the emotional overload that Penny goes through. Boys, love, life and friends are only a small part of this fresh and beautiful story. The Geography of Girlhood is a powerful novel completely written in poetic verse. Smith takes it straight on and writes in a no-holds-barred style that readers will appreciate.

WOW!!!! This novel-in-poems rendered me speechless; it is so poignant and moving and the author's poetry is breathtakingly beautiful. The story is so compelling, and the character of Penny is so vivid and real, she just jumps right off the page! It's unlike anything I have ever read before, and it is incredibly beautiful and gripping. I could not put it down, I read it all in one sitting. The author, Kirsten Smith, has created the most REAL teenager ever. Penny is so much like me and my friends. This is a teenager that girls can relate to now and forever. Throughout the book, I was constantly blown away by Smith's gorgeous writing, and relating so well to Penny's feelings and experiences. This book made me cry and laugh countless times. Smith is brilliant and the book is brilliant. This is a must-read for ALL girls out there!!

Absolutely amazing prose. A MUST for All GIRLS (teens, and girls-at-heart). Captivating from beginning to end.

The thing about the Geography of Girlhood is that it feels so completely real. The author writes beautiful, non-cheesy prose poetry that has true depth, but it's the story that made me want to devour page after page. I read it more than once and am giving it to my best friend as a gift!