Description
In these twenty-two short stories, published between 1857-1933, the phrase brave girl did not emerge. But the girl in each of these was brave. This was the era in which Louise May Alcott’s immensely popular novel Little Women (1868) about the transition from childhood to adult life came out. While she didn’t use the phrase brave girl or teenager, it was about that period in a girl’s life. Today teens must cope with challenges not dreamed of in the stories in our book: commercial appeals to buy, buy, buy, films like Pretty Woman that make easy sex look good, social media Instagram selfie temptations, workplace sexual intimidation, inequitable pay to males, etc. Now the times are different from when little was a word coupled with girls, and that is why we have chosen to do a book about proactive teens. Hopeful, it will help popularize the term “brave girls” to both their parents and the teens themselves.
The message of the stories in this book is that it takes special courage for young women (Brave Girls) to act for the benefit of themselves and others. Teens (13-19) must consider how to circumvent or break through their male-dominated worlds that keep them subordinate. For those trying to do so, the words brave girls should normally be expressed together.
While Brave Girls can be read from cover to cover, we would recommend another approach. Dip into the adventures one at a time. Then think about what you have read. Read them aloud to yourself or a sister, brother, parent, friend, or shut-in. Each tale not only features a brave girl but also pictures those with whom she interacts. And then discuss them.
But like your dad who taught you how to ride a bike by putting you on it, shouting encouragement, and giving you a push, the rest is up to you
Read the stories, think about them, learn their lessons, and try to apply them to your own lives. If you do this, you will have given it, at worst, a very brave try.
