The Geography of Girlhood
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
The Geography of Girlhood is a verse novel centered on coming-of-age, authored by American writer Kirsten Smith and released by Little, Brown and Company in 2006. The narrative centers on Penny Morrow, a fourteen-year-old girl living in a small town in the Pacific Northwest, who copes with the absence of her mother, a defiant older sister, a caring younger stepbrother, and the complexities of a romantic crush.
Reception
The novel received acclaim from Booklist, which described it as "powerful" and noted that the themes of geography and wanderlust effectively connect the poems, some of which had appeared earlier in literary publications.
School Library Journal praised Penny’s distinctive voice as "memorable," highlighting its "clarity," "keen insight," and "effective metaphors" that deliver a profound depiction of female adolescence.
According to Kirkus Reviews, Penny’s transformation from a timid girl into a well-rounded young woman is portrayed with satisfying character progression, preparing her for the challenges of adulthood.