November 19, 2007
Mother Talk book review: The Daring Book for Girls, by Andi Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz
When The Dangerous Book for Boys was released, there was a great hue and cry because A BOOK FOR BOYS IS EXCLUSIONARY! AND SEXIST! AND WE SHOULDN’T ENCOURAGE BOYS TO DO DANGEROUS THINGS!
Insert eye roll here.
I loved The Dangerous Book for Boys; I thought it was smart and funny and incredibly well thought out. I was also thrilled, as a mother of boys, to see a book that targeted them as readers, something that was not a Lego product tie-in or a poorly written cribbing of a super hero movie. I loved the idea that once upon a time, boys didn’t play video games all day, they did things, things we now think of as “dangerous,” things that were exciting and educational and got them out of the house and off the sofa.
I still love that idea.
I feel the same way about The Daring Book for Girls. I will admit that I was initially a little bit skeptical (and possible cynical), particularly about the title (boys get to do “dangerous” things but girls can only be “daring”?) and the general sense that we need a book SPECIFICALLY for girls (isn’t this what Nancy Drew novels are all about?).
But then I started reading the book, and all of my skepticism washed away in a tide of nostalgia for my own girlhood. Andi Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz have assembled a lovely compendium of Things Girls Should Know, one that really functions as a companion to “The Dangerous Book for Boys,” all the way down to the book’s appearance and structure. And the content is truly engaging: Going to Africa, Karate Moves, Peach Pit Rings. These are fun things for girls — and boys, too — to know and do. Reading “The Daring Book for Girls” reminded me of the adventures, real and imaginary, of my own childhood, none of which involved a television or an iPod or thrice weekly gymnastics classes.
And there is something else: “The Dangerous Book for Boys” won me over with its assertion that our culture has lost a sense of what it means to be a kid, to play outside and not be distracted by technology or the worries of adult life. Buchanan and Peskowitz play on this, but they remind us that for girls, the stakes are even higher:
In other ways, though, girlhood today has become high-pressured and competitive, and girls are inducted into grownup-sisterhood sooner, becoming tweens and teens and adult women before their time. (viii)
I agree. When I see wee little girls wearing t-shirts that say “I whine, you buy” and “I’m cute, you’re not” I breath a sigh of relief that I have boys. But I also mourn for the culture I grew up in, where kids got to be kids, not tiny little adults.
“The Daring Book for Girls” is a wonderful reminder that girls are powerful, that there is more to a girl’s life than pleasing boys, that adventure and excitement lurk in the most mundane of places. I would suggest that you buy BOTH of these books, regardless of the gender of your children (or despite the fact that you have no children); together they make up a wonderful library of childhood — not stories about being a child, but actual Things for Boys and Girls (of ALL ages) to Do.
Posted by Susan @ 9:37 am • Mother Talk book review, other places
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November 19th, 2007 at 9:50 am, Mara Says:
I agree with your last bit. Why do they have to genderize it so much– why can’t it just be Dangerous Things for Kids or whatever? When I first saw the Dangerous Book for boys at B&N I laughed, thinking about the stuff my sister and I did growing up…
November 19th, 2007 at 11:20 am, Jordan Says:
Great review! My older son was just given “The Dangerous Book for Boys” yesterday and we all love it - although it was hard to get a look since all the Dads kept stealing it! Glad to know the girls’ version is just as good.
November 19th, 2007 at 11:34 am, heels Says:
We have the dangerous book for boys (even though our son is only 2!) and I plan to buy the daring book for girls, possibly just for my own use! They have also become my go-to gifts for kids of friends who are established readers.
November 19th, 2007 at 12:22 pm, slynnro Says:
They have HUGE displays for this at Borders. I was wondering what it was about.
November 19th, 2007 at 12:23 pm, Anne Glamore Says:
We have the boy book, but received it AFTER the boys had built a fire in the driveway while I ran to the store for some milk. Even though they extinguished it properly (they were listening during Fire Prevention Week, except for the prevention part), I hid the book because we don’t need any new dangerous ideas.
November 19th, 2007 at 2:36 pm, Busy Mom Says:
I swear, why is it a crime to have something for “boys” or for “girls”?
No one is saying girls can’t do “dangerous” stuff.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating boys.
OK. I’m stepping away from the caffeine, now.
Haven’t reviewed my girls book yet.
November 19th, 2007 at 3:02 pm, Shan Says:
I am so tempted to buy this book for my almost-11-year-old niece for Xmas, but I haven’t perused it yet myself, so I’m wondering: do you know what the suggested age for the book is?
November 19th, 2007 at 3:29 pm, Susan Says:
The book doesn’t say, but I think it would be great for an 11-year-old. It’s a book she can keep for years, really.
November 19th, 2007 at 4:36 pm, All Adither Says:
I guess I haven’t been in a bookstore lately. Have never heard of it, but, having a boy and a girl, I’m intrigued.
November 19th, 2007 at 6:09 pm, Andrea Says:
Of all the things to get me out of lurking, this is it…? Anyways, I saw this book this weekend and had the same skeptical thoughts as you. My husband bought me “Dangerous” for my birthday, though I am a female and have no children. (yet!) But the concept for the book was just so simple and advanced and I had to have it. Plus, I loved the look of it (as well as this one). Anyways, the girls book surprised me as it did you. Great review!
November 19th, 2007 at 7:53 pm, Barbetti Says:
Wow, I’m way out of the loop. I haven’t even heard of these books.
But I have to say, for the first ten years of my life, I had four brothers and just two, distant high-maintenance sisters. I definitely understood my brothers better, so the boys book would probably be more familiar for me.
And why are kids growing up so fast?
November 19th, 2007 at 8:15 pm, kat Says:
i was going to ask about the age range as well as i have some rambunctious 13 year old neices that might get a kick out of this book.
November 19th, 2007 at 8:37 pm, MotherTalk » Blog Archive » “The Daring Book For Girls” by Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz Says:
[…] Friday Playdate says “But then I started reading the book, and all of my skepticism washed away in a tide of nostalgia for my own girlhood. Andi Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz have assembled a lovely compendium of Things Girls Should Know.” […]
November 19th, 2007 at 10:14 pm, Laura Says:
These books sound like great reads! I, too, mourn for the days when children were allowed/expected to be children.
November 19th, 2007 at 10:37 pm, margalit Says:
I have to review this for MotherTalk next week, so I’m not going to say much, but I have to admit that as a grown up tomboy, and the mother of a not quite girly girl, the initial book rang much truer to my interests and desires than did the Girl’s book.
November 20th, 2007 at 6:33 pm, Velma Says:
We have both - I bought the “Boys” for my husband, and the “Girls” will be Christmas gift for my daughter. Without getting heavily involved in a discussion of why it has to be gender oriented, anything that gets either or my children interested in such a diverse bunch of ideas is a great resource.
November 24th, 2007 at 8:27 pm, Melissa Says:
Thanks for the positive review, it’s a breath of fresh air to read someone with same views and a common sense perspective.
Great blog!