The phenomenal success of Mary Pipher's Reviving Ophelia alerted the nation to the sad state of teenage girls in America today. With the media's constant barrage of implausibly thin, brazenly sexy. impossibly glamorous models, it's no wonder that girls are confused and frustrated. But while a number of books have addressed the problem, no book until now has addressed the girls themselves -- and given them the tools to fight back.

Real Girl/Real World fills that gap. Written by two women in their 20s who still remember vividly what it was like to be a teen, this snappy, straight-talking guide helps girls make up their own minds about what kind of people they want to be. From cosmetics, diets, and body image to sexuality and feminism, the authors dispel myths, put issues in perspective, and give girls the power to choose for themselves. To make sure their message gets through, they've made the book highly accessible. Illustrated throughout with cartoons and photographs, it's filled with bulleted lists, timelines, sidebars, vignettes, quotes from real teens, and "toolboxes" that provide resources for further information.

"Real Girl/Real World covers issues that are central to girls' lives -- whether we want them to be or not....contains real girls' experiences, facts, and information that show that there is no 'right way' to be". -- from Real Girl/Real World