The book covers a lot of ground, for a wide spectrum of ages. About 60% of the book is useful to a mom of a 11-13 year old girl if said mom has somehow never learned the maneuvers and hierarchy/cliques that so many girls live by. Lots of good advice on how to tactfully deal with situations and good explanations on why people do the confounding things that they do. I expect to see things more clearly and give better advice now. I only browsed the latter 40% of the book because it is more applicable to moms of older teens.

I listened to this book via Audible but I will be buying a physical copy so I can re-read. It’s a MUST for parents of girls (and even boys, if someone is so inclined) and educators. As a school counselor AND parent of a pre-teen girl, this information is valuable and vital to my role in the lives of my students and my own children.

This book was the inspiration for Mean Girls, and it was so wild to see what Tina Fey pulled directly from Wiseman’s real interactions with young girls.

This is a fascinating read for not just parents, but anyone who spends time around kids. Incredibly timely, even though girl world is much different now than it was in 2002. I would be really interested to read how Wiseman navigates educating girls and boys in regards to social media and the internet.

Takeaways:
1. Girls are amazing.
2. Girls are diabolical.
3. Girls deserve to be taken seriously.

This book is SO interesting and insightful about pre-teen and teen girls' social worlds. I actually bought it in hardcover so I could refer back to it when I start dealing with girl-problems with my own daughters! I think anyone interested in understanding this group (including the boys this age) better would find this book helpful!

This book had some good insights, but definitely felt lacking. It was also dated as it was pre-everyone owns a cell phone days. I did not finish. I just didn’t feel the authors solutions were viable.

Honestly, watch Mean Girls! This book was the inspiration for the film and I think Tina Fey hit the nail on the head with the Queen Bee dynamic.
Unfortunately, this book fails to address other groups besides middle/upper class white straight girls. There is little to no mention of any other racial demographic. I was disheartened that the author chose to relegate the topic of sexual orientation to a mere small chapter, sandwiched between heterosexual dating and sex.
Overall, it's quite obvious (soccer moms in suburbia) who is viewed as the target audience.

I felt like I was reading an Instagram influencer's parenting tips. I realize that I'm late to this book, and Insta wasn't even around back then, but seriously if it were, she would have been one of the mommy influencers (whether she has children or not isn't even an issue, it's just the tone of her book).
This book didn't work for me at all. I wanted it to, I've heard good things about it, but it's a no from me.

A must read for anyone raising a daughter, especially in the digital world we live in! This book gave me insight and will undoubtedly be a go-to for me!

This would have been 5 stars within the 10 years it came out (20 years ago now), but parts of it feel outdated and there are some more recent experts on the subject with more relevant content (namely, Lisa Damour). That said, it was also a bit surprising how much hasn’t changed in “girl world” from even 40 years ago and there was definitely still sound advice, talking points, and tips. It would be really interesting to see/hear an updated, reprint of this book.

This book is a must read if you have children. Not even just a girl, but any children. This book gives an enormous amount of insight into girls and, for that matter, women. Even if you have a boy, he will either date girls or be friends with them or both, so reading this book will still prove invaluable!

The book itself is written well - very personable with a balance between informative information (facts, science, studies), personal anecdotes of both teens and moms, quotes from teen girls and a good amount humor. The resources section in the back alone is worth the price of the book (in my opinion). But beyond that, she has a great way of putting it all together to create an enjoyable and informative book.

I'll admit that the book also did a lot of eye opening for me with regard to my own high school experiences and friends. I was NOT a queen bee but it was very interesting to realize what "type" I was, why certain circumstances were the way they were or played out the way they did (ie. queen bees being jealous and asserting their dominance, which I now realize had nothing to do with me, etc.) and TONS of suggestions on how to understand and deal with your teen daughter in a way that will honestly help while not being overly permissive. That fact is one I really appreciated - I often read things that seem to suggest being friends and allowing almost anything, which isn't something I don't agree with and can't stand. The author gives many realistic suggestions (not always what you want to hear, but based in reality!) and supports them with quotes from teen girls, specific examples, and describes in detail why they would be effective.

There were a few times I thought it got a bit dry and I have been trying to get through and finish the book FOREVER, but I think it had more to do with the hectic nature of my life lately than any reflection on the author or her abilities. But I mention it because if you are not able to really read the book and give it the attention it deserves, I'd recommend setting it on the to-read shelf until you do have the time. If that will never happen on its own, then try to make the time because this book is invaluable. I know I'll be reading it again before my daughter becomes a teen and when she does, I plan on having this as a reference book and always handy, because I'll need it!!

Two of my colleagues wore pink today. Someone else said, "On Wednesdays we wear pink," a reference to the movie Mean Girls. I thought of this book, on which it's based, which I read years ago. An essential read for any secondary school educator, whether they work with boys or girls.

I cannot believe that this non-fiction piece became the iconic Mean Girls. I am not the target audience for the book but I thought I'd give it a go having watched the movie recently. I didn't like it. Overly simplified, unrealistic, preachy, and not well researched. Boring. And dated. Not a fan.