Absolutely amazing! I think this is a must read for every girl/woman! She should read it and pass it on to her brothers, her husband/boyfriend. It is honest and frank and very powerful. I loved it

I really enjoyed this however I think i would have liked the ebook better than the audio. I just feel like the narration took away from the poems which I'm sorry to say as I know the author narrated it. However I would still like to purchase the book as like I said I really enjoyed it and as a mother of 2 daughters I feel like it is a must have book to have in the house for them to read when then are older to help guide and teach them in female empowerment. I think this is a must read for everyone. Not just woman but for men too. To help show them what we woman are put through by them and by society as a whole.

I am so glad I read Dear Girl by Aija Mayrock. I happened to stumble upon it and thought I would check it out. Then I started learning about Aija and how impressive she is. Then NetGalley had the audio version in which the author is the narrator. The words are enough, but listening to the audio, brought it to the next level.

Aija is a young woman, now almost 25, who published her first book at 16. She speaks and writes about bullying and mental health. And she does it in a potent and influential way.

Dear Girl is a debut collection of poems that Aija notes to the reader is not a memoir. What she doesn't warn you is that the poetry is powerful and it's going to punch you in the gut, making you feel vulnerable and then it will make you feel invincible, like you could conquer anything.

The audio of this book is Aija performing her poetry in spoken-word. She puts so much emotion into her words and no words are wasted, that not only are the words and message powerful, but the experience is intense.

If you are a woman or if you have women in your life who need to be empowered, then Dear Girl needs to be read by you, them and all who love you and them. I look forward to seeing what Aija does in her activist work and future writing. We are lucky to have her voice in the world.

Bookworm Rating: 🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛

The book is a collection of poems which act as a conversation, a cry and a ray of hope and sometimes a reprimand from the author to numerous readers.
The book covers many grounds from sexuality, body image, consent to harassment, misogyny and sexual, physical and mental abuse. It might seem like a wide scope, maybe too many issues of society crunched up into a hundred pages, but this is literally what every woman goes through every day.
There are two things that I loved about the book and which really stood out for me. One is the appropriate level of storytelling; nothing is over-exaggerated; it is kept simple and truthful and naked, exactly as it is with no shrouds of metaphors in them for varying degrees. The second is that the poems aren’t meant to be a rant. They do portray the anger and the disappointment, but they are also inspiring. They talk of healing and empowerment and equality and being proud of surviving and talking about your own story.
It is driven by emotions that become more volatile as you read them more and more. I can’t say enough for this book so here is what I’ll say instead – if anyone asks me to describe poetry in its bare form with raw emotions that touch the soul, I will tell them to read this gem.
The book is narrated by the author herself, and I felt like she has kept her emotions right to the surface. I could almost imagine the expression of anger and often the tears that just missed the fall because communicating became more necessary.

-Arc Provided by Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review-

Empowering, Relatable, and Seen before.

Some poems were personally relatable, while others sound more like motivational phrases (nevertheless still nice and to the point) with no shortage of cliches. These poems follow the Rupi Kaur trend of short empowering pretty poems written to make young girls feel valid and on top of the world. And while there are strong moments, I feel as if I’ve read the same words by different people.

The Poems touches topics such as Sexual harassment, rape, trauma, misogyny, gender identity. Dear Girl also includes moments with LGBTQIA+ and POC representation, however, they can be seen a performative at times.

Recommend to Young Readers who don’t tend to read poetry, this is a good starting point.
Personal Favorite Poem is “Dear Boy”

Many Thanks to NetGalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing for this ARC

Dear Girl
by Aija Mayrock
Narrated by Aija Mayrock
Andrews McMeel Audio
Andrews McMeel Publishing
Poetry
Pub Date 25 Aug 2020



I am reviewing a copy of Dear Girl through Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley:



Dear Girl is a collection of empowering poems for young women. A journey from girlhood to womanhood through poetry.



Dear Girl is the story of searching through the truth, even in silence.



This collection tells of deep, painful wounds, but it also speaks of healing.



Dear Girl is a reminder of a women’s resilience, it is talking about wanting more for their children, for our children, for the women of tomorrow.





Dear Girl is a love letter to the sisterhood.



I give Dear Girl five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

I can see and appreciate the message Aija wants to convey though this collection of poetry, but I also believe it needed to be a bit more cohesive thematically. However, it puzzles me that she is so young and yet manages to express such profound and powerful feelings that resonate through her voice. I have to say that having listened to it read by the author made the experience more personal and viscera, and I'd definitely recommend the audio version.
I'll be following her future work closely because I see great content coming from this emerging poet.

Empowering poetry for today's women. Strong and powerful these poems are read well by this author and I enjoyed Aija Mayrock's fierce perspective on today's issues.

I volunteered to listen to this book, through netgalley in exchange, for an honest review. This audiobook is good. I enjoyed listening to this author, her voice is good. This is a short and enjoyable audiobook. I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone and everyone. I can not wait to listen or read more by this author in the near future.

This is already my second time reading this book. I loved it then, and I love it even more now especially after listening to the audiobook. The author being the narrator really helped a lot in bringing the emotions out of this book. This is more than just about feminism. This is about equality, self-love, friendship, family relationship, how to be a good parent, growth, and so much more in between. It’s the poetry book that I would literally buy for every friend on their birthday. This book understands, encourages and fights.

book contains collection of poetry meant to inspire and empower women and each stayed true to the theme. Some poems were really inspiring, while others seemed repetitive and generic. Poetry style was a lot in sync with contemporary poets like Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace.

There is nothing I like better than to hear poetry recited by the author and this audio book delivers. Mayrock's contemporary poetry is powerful, emotional, and contains important messages of self-acceptance, healing, feminine power, and sisterhood. It is a beautiful collection brought to life by her voice.

This was my first poetry collection as an audiobook, and it has convinced me that this is a wonderful way to consume poetry. There were poems in this collection that felt like a call to action instead of simple poems, and those were powerful. I did, however, feel that the strongest poems in the collection were the ones that tied to the author to her loved ones; it was clear how much stronger the emotion was in these poems. That personal connection really elevated those pieces for me in contrast to the calls to action that lacked a vulnerability I like to see in the poetry I read.

BOLD, DYNAMIC, POWERFUL
READING AGE- 12 AND ABOVE
MY RATING - 5/5
One of my best reads for 2020
The audiobook speaker is the same as the author if I am correct and oh my god! Such powerful voice! Dear girl is narrated so beautifully, the music in the background fits so well with the narration. Yes, it is a poetry book but something in which we all can find ourselves in. I would also like to describe it as a adress, a beautiful warning, a future to come collection of poetry. The voice was so clear and beautiful that it makes you actually wonder and think. The poems are 5/5 all of them. They act as healing process to I'm sure wounds of millions of people. Everyone on this planet should hear this. 5/5 to the audiobook. The poetry talks about various social issues as well and ends on a beautiful note.

I normally have a hard time rating such personal collections, this collection really resonated with me. I felt every word. Thank you to Aija and her publishers, and NetGalley, for allowing me to listen to, and review, this powerful spoken word/poetry collection. I recommend that everyone take a listen to this, or read it when it releases on August 25th, 2020.

A collection of poetry with a feminist theme. I loved that the author is also the narrator for the audio version. She brought life to the poems. I really enjoyed this. I’m excited to read some more of her poems.

Thank you to Netgalley, Aija Mayrock and Andrews McMeel audio for an audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I liked many of the poems in this short poetry book, but some I found cliche. For anyone spending time on Instagram, on bookstagram or plain Internet, the ideas of empowering women and being true to your self are not new. I'm all for that, sure, but in the form of a short poem it sounds like another catchy saying.

Every theme that has to do with women has been approached and ticked off in this collection, and I would have prefered a more in depth approach or focus on a specific theme/ direction. I couldn't help but notice that some ideas were sameness found on Instagram or have been repeated in different contexts over the last few years.
⁣
I underlined quite a few good lines and some turns of phrase made me stop and reread. I think for a reader whose go-to choice is not poetry this could be an easy introduction to this genre. I do believe most readers could resonate with some of the poems in the collection.

Audiobook

I was approved to review this book through NetGalley.

Description from NetGalley:

From a poet and celebrated spoken-word performer comes a debut poetry collection that takes readers on an empowering, lyrical journey exploring truth, silence, wounds, healing, and the resilience we all share.

Dear Girl is a journey from girlhood to womanhood through poetry
It is the search for truth in silence
The freeing of the tongue
It is deep wounds and deep healing
And the resilience that lies within us
It is a love letter
To the sisterhood

This audiobook is a fusion of powerful words and beautiful music. Together, they create an emotionally resonant listening experience.

My Review:

It was an audio version which I loved since the author performed her poetry. I have to admit that until last year when I started teaching APLIT and was forced to teach poetry that I have never been one to pick up a poetry book. However, I've found a new appreciation for poetry and poets as I've taught myself and my students the nuances of poetic prose. This collection of poems is powerful and should be read by every young girl and woman across the country. As I listened I did long to have the words in front of me because there were so many lines I wanted to go back to and reflect on as I listened. There is something special about listening to poets perform their poems that help the reader/listener gain a new understanding of the words but it's also helpful for us visual learners to have the words in front of us. I understand that at spoken-word poetry events this would not be the case but I want something tangible to hold onto as I digest the poems.  

I see this collection not only as an addition to my classroom (I've already started brainstorming lesson plans with these poems in mind) but also as a perfect gift for my female student assistants (I like to gift them a book as a token of my appreciation at the end of the semester). This collection is empowering, motivating and thought provoking! I will be purchasing the audiobook when it is published on August 25, 2020. Be on the look out for it; I promise you will want to add this to your personal library and your classroom library! 

The paperback version is already available, but don't miss out on the performance of these striking poems via audiobook!

This book is a collection of poetry by the author revolving around the journey from girlhood to womanhood. It speaks power, strength, acceptance, walking ahead together. It rages a fire within you while calming your soul.. This book is precious and I am in for anything that Aija Mayrock writes!

JUST PICK IT UP

Ps: Take up the audiobook because author's narration is so so lively!

I've read the digital verision of this book and decided to try out the audio book as well because I read that she also does spoken poetry. In fact, I looked up one of her videos on youtube before listening to her audio book. She certainly has the talent for audibles.

My review from the digital version still stands. The overall tone of the book sounds angry and too repetitive. Although I found the audio book reading too dramatic. The beginning sounded like she was reading a fairy tale to children and I didn't think it suited the contents of her poetry book.

Aija Mayrock brings so much expression and passion to her reading of Dear Girl. There is nothing I like better than to hear poetry recited by the author and this audio book delivers. Mayrock's contemporary poetry is powerful, emotional, and contains important messages of self-acceptance, healing, feminine power, and sisterhood. It is a beautiful collection brought to life by her voice. The one thing I didn't enjoy is that a few of the poems have instrumental music accompanying them, and I found that a distraction from her words. I highly recommend this audio book!

Advanced audio book provided courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.