Amazon The Truth for Girls Category:  Children Publisher: Enchanted Self Press ISBN-10:  0979895200 Pages: 112 Copyright: Jan 1, 2008 ISBN-13: 9780979895203 A fictional diary that reaches across the divide of daughter and mother.  THE TRUTH is a delightful, humorous secret diary, written by a girl who is 10-11 years of age. She is wise and yet innocent. Her words acknowledge those priceless truths that we all knew as kids. She makes us cry and laugh and see ourselves. Everybody loves reading her thoughts, secrets, adventures and solutions to difficult problems. Girls are naturally curious and this book gives them a real opportunity to see how a girl like themselves in so many ways handles her toughest problems and most personal thoughts. Mom can read the book along with her daughter and not only be brought back to herself as a youngster, but find on every page relevant topics for discussion with her daughter. How do you handle a bully? How do you handle a crush on a boy? What about teasing? How do you find time to listen to your daughter? Do we have enough fun together? What really matters? There is space right within the book for the girl and or mom to make notes or her own diary entries. The book ends with discussion ideas that can also open up whole new areas of topics for mom and daughter or the young reader and other members of her family, friends, or teachers. Behind this very easy read, written by a positive psychologist with over 25 years of clinical experience, is the psychological message to the girls reading THE TRUTH that they can and must keep the fire and passion of their girlhoods as they grow up and have the courage to carry the most precious parts of themselves into adulthood.. For parents the book is a way back to what made them feel most special at 10 or 11. Once parents are back in the place where their kids live, then listening, trust and real sharing can begin. Every girl and ever parent wants this kind of TRUTH! Excerpt Dear Diary, date: I am in love. I thought I would fall in love when I was much older, maybe 15 or 16. Not today. I was sitting in class, reading a social studies chapter, trying to answer an awful question at the end of the chapter, “Which state has the most coal mines,” when the door opened and a new kid walked in. There he was! I knew as soon as I saw him. He was wearing a cute plaid shirt and he had brown hair and brown eyes. I could imagine kissing his lips. My heart felt like it turned over in my body. My pulse started to race. I couldn’t concentrate. I felt excited, like I suddenly had a big secret. “Our eyes locked.” I read that in a book that my mom had by her bed. It was true. When I looked into his brown eyes, I felt we had known each other forever. Looking at him made me feel all fluttery inside. I wanted him to sit near me so badly I could have died. But he sat in the row in front of me, a little to the right. Not too bad. Now I can look at him all day. My best friend, Angela, sits beside him, to his right. I hope she doesn’t fall in love with him too. He’s mine! His name is Paul. Paul September 20 Dear Diary, date: 2 How will I ever be able to think about school work again with all these funny feelings in my belly and my heart beating so fast I can’t breathe? I can’t wait to go to school tomorrow. Now I know how girls fall in love. It happened to me today and I’m only 10. And that’s the truth. September 21 3 Dear Diary, date: I have a secret. I want to know about growing up. I want to ask my mother questions, like when will I need a bra, but I can’t. Whenever I try she always looks away and starts to fidget with her fingers. Then she will ‘remember’ that she has to cook supper or do the laundry and I never really get an answer to my questions. Why is that? Doesn’t she know how confused I am? How am I supposed to be ready to get older if she can’t even tell me what to expect? Sometimes I wish I was Mrs. Allen’s daughter. That’s Angela’s mother. Mrs. Allen tells Angela everything she needs to know. Angela is so lucky and that’s the truth. I’m a little lucky because at least I get some of my questions answered second hand. October 12 Dear Diary, date: 4 I’m worried. How will I know who else to marry if I can’t marry Paul? How will that ever happen? I couldn’t stand to be alone as a grownup, and I would die if I couldn’t have children. My dolls are my babies. I sleep with Cookie and Cuddles. They wear six-month size baby clothes. Cuddles has holes in her nose and breathes when you press her stomach. I love them so much! October 13 5 Dear Diary, date: I hate my mother sometimes. We were on the back porch and I finally asked her how will I know when I need a bra? She just walked back into the kitchen saying, “You’re too young. I didn’t think about things like that at your age. You should be out playing or doing chores” I shouldn’t have bothered. Maybe Angela can ask her mother. I feel so angry inside. I hope I can sleep tonight. Why can’t my mother just talk to me? October 14 Dear Diary, date:

Mother Daughter Book Club
Dr. Barbara Holstein is truly connected to this age group [4th - 6th grade girls]. During our mother daughter book club discussion, Dr. Holstein elicited positive, thoughtful discussion from the girls around some awkward topics such as family difficulties, trust and self-respect. It was a memorable meeting for our group. I recommend this book for anyone looking to find an effective way to keep the communication channels open with your daughter.
Maribeth Pelly, mother of three daughters.

Teens Read Too
This is a very short little book that delivers a big punch.

It is written in the form of a diary. The writer is a 12-year-old girl in an era before the big technology boom. There are no cell phones or computers. It reminded me of when I grew up.

But the questions and the observations that "the girl" writes about are just as timely today. Subjects such as when will I get my first bra? Does a certain boy love me as much as I love him? Why can't my parents get along? It has many truths that I believe if we all followed them the world would be a lot better off.

At the back of the book there are questions that the author, who happens to be a psychologist, wrote directed to the kids who read this book. These questions could also be used by a mother/daughter team reading this book together. They have a lot of depth and could make talking to each other a little easier.

After reading THE TRUTH (I'M A GIRL, I'M SMART, AND I KNOW EVERYTHING), I learned to remember to make all of my kids in my class feel more welcome. I can do this by not ever picking athletic teams and by not belittling questions asked. I already knew this but sometimes a little reminding is good, especially when it is right before a new school year.

All in all, a very pleasant read.

Midwest Book Review
Little Miss know-it-all - a label that can describe many a teenage girl. "The Truth: I'm a Girl, I'm Smart, and I Know Everything" is a charming look at the mind of a young girl - how they think, how they view the world, and how they think the world should be. A look back from the future for many women so that they can laugh at how stupid - or how wise - they once were, "The Truth: I'm a Girl, I'm Smart, and I Know Everything" is a top pick for community library humor collections.