A Girl's Life

In A Girl's Life, author and researcher Rachel Simmons shows how four teens overcame issues with body image, violence, bullying, and educational achievement through the support of both peers and adults. Fourteen-year-old Analuz is a healthy athlete whose size 15 body leaves her feeling self-conscious; 14-year-old Libby's circle of friends turned on her and subjected her to months of cyber-bullying; 16-year-old Carla participated in several physical fights as part of a “crew” of young women in her Boston neighborhood; 18-year-old Sonia, a Latina immigrant, was at high risk for both teen pregnancy and dropping out until her parents enrolled her in an all-girls school. Although A Girl's Life opens with the usual shopworn dictums about how self-esteem and academic achievement are negatively affected by mass media and cultural messages, the documentary quickly moves into more personal and engaging territory while examining the individual teens, their challenges, and concrete approaches that have had a real impact on their lives, including parental restrictions on texting for Libby, the intervention of a policewoman who takes a personal interest in Carla, and Sonia's positive experience attending a school where girls excel academically. Aired on PBS (with edited profanity), this engaging documentary emphasizes the important differences that families and friends can make in a girl's life. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)