By Judith Harlan (1997)

Wouldn't you like to be a feminist, too? Ms. Harlan's book defines a feminist as anyone who supports political, economic and social equality for women. Is that you? As a parent, are you raising feminist children? As a teacher, are you educating feminist boys and girls? Or, are you a parent or teacher who still listens more to boys, believes girls cannot operate machines, use microscopes or computers, and take out the garbage?

If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, you are failing the feminist movement, and you better beware of any young girl who has read this book. Ms. Harlan is encouraging girls to create equality in every context of their lives, including home, school and work. To help young readers make the world more girl-positive, Judith Harlan begins by helping them identify obvious and hidden discrimination. She also tells them how to protect themselves and their friends from harassment, and expand both their potential and their future options.

Girl Talk is also full of information about great women in history, many of whom, I am embarrassed to say, I had never heard about. It also identifies records set by women and consistently provides messages that include:

• "Stay confident"


• "Women are strong"


• "Spend time shaping your life, not your body"


• "Be active"


• "Take a parent fishing or dance with him or her around the living room" (my personal favorites)

Girl Talk is aimed at girls who were strong and confident at age 10 or 11, but who might be forgetting who they are and what they can be after the age of 12. It is also an enjoyable read for those of us who can use a reminder about how wonderful girls are, and how easily their potential can be underestimated!

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