Girls: A History of Growing Up Female in America
Girls from all walks of life and from all regions of America  are represented in Penny Colman's glorious celebration of the  resilience of girls throughout history. One story after  another--unearthed in diaries, memoirs, letters, photographs, household manuals,  popular magazines--reveals everyday experiences of girls. In 1704 a  group of French soldiers and Abenaki warriors raided a Massachusetts  settlement, killing many and taking 7-year-old Eunice Williams  prisoner. Eunice ended up being adopted by a family of Roman Catholic  Iroquois, and she chose to continue living her life as a member of this  culture, dressing in blankets and living in a wigwam. In the 1940s,  Drew Gilpin Faust's mother often said, "It's a man's world, sweetie, and the sooner you learn that the better off you'll be." Drew refused to bow to gender pressure, and joined the 4-H club, not to sew and can like the other girls, but to raise sheep and cattle with the boys.Girls such as Eunice and Drew have much to offer today's generation of girls. Their compelling stories and the accompanying photos and illustrations offer a running commentary on American girlhood, from the Ice Age to the present. Sections on slavery, crippling fashion trends (such as tight corsets and huge hoop skirts), and the working world provide a context for understanding the wide range of perspectives represented. This illuminating book will empower and inspire  girls ages 9 to 99. (Ages 9 and older)--Emilie Coulter--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.