There are many books that were close to my heart when I was growing up. Some the names of which I can’t remember but know the story from top to bottom, and others that I have always known I will read to my kids some day.
Two authors that I know had a huge impact on me as a young girl were Meg Cabot and Judy Blume. Not everyone can write books that girls can relate to and learn from as well as they can. My mom was the one that one day handed me the book "Are you there God? It’s Me, Margaret," by Judy Blume, and told me to read it, since it had been one of her favorite books growing up. At that time I was pretty young and had not begun experiencing puberty yet. Margaret’s first-hand telling of her experiences with boys, friends, getting her period, and body changes made me understand what I was about to go through, something that happens to every girl at some point and is nothing to be ashamed of. Even though the book was written fifty years ago, everything about it is as relevant now as if it had been written this year.
When I was in fifth grade I had seen the "Princess Diaries" movies before, but when my friend told me to read the book series by Meg Cabot I decided to check them out and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The books were very different from the movies, and I got to read Princess Mia’s diary and grow up with her as she navigated High School and puberty. Cabot isn’t shy about including some slightly inappropriate elements in her books, as they are all part of growing up.
Although reading was just a means of entertainment for me, I learned more about life from those two authors than I ever did in school. As I grew up and experienced similar situations that the characters did, I would remember those books and think: “Meg and Judy knew that this would happen to me!” They helped me understand that growing up is as scary as it is exciting, but also something that everyone goes through, and that I would survive.
So, both 19 and 12 year-old me cannot thank them enough for everything they did for me, even though they will never know. I would encourage any young girl to pick up one of their books and learn what I did: that growing up, after all, is an adventure. One that is different and unique to every single girl. Enjoy it while it lasts, and when things go badly or get awkward, remember that someone like princess Mia Thermopolis has probably had it way worse.
