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rmbolton's review
5.0
This is an incredibly powerful and important book that sheds light on topics that are far too easy to ignore in our safe little Western lives. It's far from a perfect book, as some reviewers rightly note, but I believe that something (in this case stories and data) is better than nothing and this book is Something.
callie_13's review
5.0
Inspirational and eye-opening. Personable and touches the heart. One of the best parts of the book is that you aren't left feeling helpless after; a variety of resources are given in the appendix to help make a change and start researching more.
wakenda's review
3.0
I agree very strongly with the basic message of this book, but the writing itself bugged me. There's a reason I waited years to get around to reading it and then only checked it out from the library. There are a lot of stories and examples of women in the developing world, but there are a lot of other books out there that get the same idea across with better writing.
bethsandford's review
5.0
This is a must read for all women (and men). I can not even begin to explain the importance of educating ourselves about oppression of women around the world. But it is not only about educating ourselves about this topic it really is about what you will do as a woman after reading this book to make a change. How much difference can one person make? This book gives many examples of just that! One person fighting for something they felt passionate about and finding a way to make a difference. Amazing and well worth your time if you choose to read it.
friya's review
2.5
the lack of depth is dissatisfying - topics are presented on a surface level without much critical analysis, and the writing feels redundant. there's an obvious and uncomfortable white savior/colonialist thing tied up within many of the anecdotes. still, i learned a few things; who would think that iodizing salt could be so effective in promoting female education?
booksadaisyes's review against another edition
5.0
This is an informative, easy to read (in that it is non-academic) sad but inspiring book. A must read! I will be encouraging my daughters to read it when they are old enough.
gapagrin's review
4.0
One of the things many people running charities learnt is that people are more likely to donate to a single person whose story they have heard than to something that will help many. That personal connection drives a lot of the willingness to help, so that's exactly what the author gives us: personal stories of individuals affected by some of the worst atrocities in the world. It was stated at the beginning of the book that the goal was to get the reader to act, to donate, to participate in the fight to end these problems.
While it's horrifying to think about the sorts of things that are still happening to women and girls worldwide, I liked the way this book presented them. Instead of the focus being on the problems, it's instead on what's being done, what's worked, and what you can do to help. It makes you feel like the fight can be won, which for me, at least, was much more encouraging, and motivating to join in. People like to see their success - which is why the personal connection works better than statistics - and this book certainly shows the successes. Hopefully this will motivate others to try to make a difference as well - the world will be a much better place for it.
While it's horrifying to think about the sorts of things that are still happening to women and girls worldwide, I liked the way this book presented them. Instead of the focus being on the problems, it's instead on what's being done, what's worked, and what you can do to help. It makes you feel like the fight can be won, which for me, at least, was much more encouraging, and motivating to join in. People like to see their success - which is why the personal connection works better than statistics - and this book certainly shows the successes. Hopefully this will motivate others to try to make a difference as well - the world will be a much better place for it.