My Girl: Adventures with a Teen in Training Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I very much liked the encouraging message of My Girl. It was great to read about a positive mother/daughter relationship, and a pre-teen going into being a teenager without all the horrible issues the media would have us believe are rampart. Sarah sounds like a very sweet girl, and Karen Stabiner a devoted and caring mother.
That said, I must admit that the book bothered me in several ways. One is an issue that I have with many parenting books and narratives. Although the author wants to think they live a life most of us can relate to, most of us do NOT have all the resources they do. If you can afford to buy a horse (even with some bargaining), pay for private school (with no mention of scholarships), go on a long vacation to Italy and so on, you have tools at your disposal that the average family does not. I know many children grow up into their teenage years happily without such things, but it sure would make it easier to not have to deal with inferior public schools, to have the luxury of time away in a foreign country, and to be able to nurture an interest like horse showmanship.
My question is always---what is the purpose of this book? If it's to tell about a specific family's story---fine. But there's really not enough here for that. It's not a story that is fascinating enough to really interest those who don't know the people involved personally. If it's to give an example for others---well, I for one very much doubt that many of us at all could do the things that Karen did for Sarah. We COULD provide that kind of love, but I can see myself with my daughter in the future having to send her to, horror of horrors, public school (as my sons attend) and us NEVER having the luxury of a long vacation in Italy, and even if she loves horses, I think our exposure to them will be limited to rides at carnivals. I think books like this are written in a way for the author's inner circle---like those other authors giving testimonials on the back cover.


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