What began as a series by journalist Masuma Ahuja for The Lily (a product of the Washington Post) expands here into the enlightening Girlhood. Ahuja gathers "colorful and rich" accounts of 30 girls from 27 countries that reveal similar themes: longing for adventures, big dreams, growing pains and figuring out individual identities. Girlhood, in too many places, means being "silenced or policed," but Ahuja underscores examples of everyday empowerment. In addition to the girls' photos and diary entries originating from homes near and far--Argentina, Kazakhstan, Vanuatu, Sweden, Mongolia and, perhaps most poignantly, Afghanistan before the U.S. withdrawal--Ahuja provides important context about country, community and circumstances. With a billion-plus girls in the world, a comprehensive collection isn't possible, but Ahuja provides readers with what she hopes is "representative of a vast range of girls' experiences." --Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon