If I had a daughter, I'd share these with her. I could see this also being useful as a creative writing exercise, to write letters to the young girls and women we want to reach, or even to a younger self. Thank you for the ARC! Motivational reading.

The letters that were in the ARC were fun and interesting to read but there seemed like there was a lot missing. I think that's the nature of this ARC so I still think it was a good and worthwhile read overall, but there was a lot of skipping in the meantime.

I read this in 2023 and enjoyed it.

Congratulations to the author and thanks to the publisher for the copy!

If you're expecting the typical format that most Rebel Girls books follow, this one will surprise you. This installment would be a great coffee table book, or something to read a letter from each night or something like that. It is very personal, as it is told in each individual's voice and from their hearts. Whether it be them simply telling their stories, or sharing hard learned advice. There's definitely something that will resonate with everyone as the included individuals vary greatly in accomplishments, career, diversity, etc - so I'm sure there's something for everyone. Though it's a different format than we are used to, it's definitely a great addition.

"Dear Rebel" is a treasure trove of wisdom and inspiration delivered straight from the hearts of 145 incredible women. Samantha Barry and her illustrious co-authors, including Melinda French Gates and Randi Zuckerberg, have created a powerful tapestry of advice for today's girls. The book reads like a heartfelt letter from mentors who've navigated diverse paths.

Each woman's contribution is a gem, revealing personal anecdotes and hard-earned insights. From entrepreneurship to activism, the book covers it all with an engaging blend of humor and sincerity. The diversity of voices, ranging from business moguls to activists, adds a dynamic quality that keeps you hooked from cover to cover.

"Dear Rebel" isn't just a collection of advice; it's a celebration of resilience and the audacity to defy norms. It's the kind of book you want to keep on your shelf, ready to be revisited whenever you need a dose of encouragement. Whether you're a young girl forging your path or someone seeking inspiration, this book is a beacon of wisdom, reminding us all that rebellion, when fueled by passion and purpose, can change the world.

Dear Rebel is a stunningly illustrated compilation that weaves together advice and reflections from women spanning diverse backgrounds and expertise – from academics and political activists to athletes, artists, actors, and writers. The inclusion of voices from various world cultures adds depth to the collection. The emphasis on representation resonates strongly, providing a platform to explore the inspiring stories and wisdom of these remarkable women. A truly worthwhile read, this book stands out as an excellent choice for home enjoyment, a valuable addition to any library, a thoughtful gift, or an enriching resource for school and classroom libraries. Highly recommended for its impactful content and universal appeal.

I was completely unfamiliar with Rebel Girls before this but this was amazing and I'm going to seek out more.
This is the kind of book you're probably better off reading one section at a time so you can digest it. There is so much positivity and so many great ideas.
One of the biggest ideas is that you can be a rebel and have wild ideas but still respect and care for your family. This is an idea that shouldn't be original; so many people cut off their biggest supports while trying to establish their own identities.
One of my favorites was a girl who wanted to help handicapped pets so she just did it. What an inspiration!
Read this book if you want to feel like there is great good in the world!
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Welp - it finally happened. I found a Rebel Girls book I did not enjoy. In Dear Rebel, “more than 125 extraordinary teens and women share their advice, experiences, and the secrets of their success-in their own words”. And… it’s just not Rebel Girls, y’know?

It is beautifully full colour. It is probably a breathtaking item in print. But it is just so treacle, with so much sincerity that it starts to feel insincere. The idea, the format - it doesn’t appeal to me, and I’m not sure it would have when I was the target market’s age either. I’m sure I’ll be in the minority, and that’s okay too. I'll keep buying Rebel Girl books in print for my future kids - just not this one.

I always love reading Rebel Girl stories— they always manage to inspire me in ways that I wasn’t expecting.
This inspiring collection of letters from powerful women all around the world is a must-read for women and girls of all ages.

As usual, "Rebel Girls" knock it out of the park. The book is chock-full of anecdotes and advices given to girls by accomplished women. I am actually sad that I didn't know most of the women in here because they were simply never in my area of interest. But it is extremely cool and yes, you should read this book even if you're an adult (and in my case, not even a girl or a woman) and see how powerful it makes you feel.

I LOVED reading these stories - they are all so impressive, unique, and inspiring. The plethora of voices presented in this fabulous volume makes this a beautiful read that can touch many individuals who need to feel uplifted and inspired. Each story is so interesting and universal, but anyone will find their own story that they can feel heard in one presented here. I look forward to purchasing this title for my high school English class to read some to my students as well as have my students read some on their own. I would highly recommend purchasing this title.

This anthology is a mosaic of experiences, with letters, poems, essays, and more from a diverse group of over 125 remarkable women and girls, including those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. Their stories span from the realms of activism and entrepreneurship to art and athletics, offering a wealth of knowledge and encouragement.

The entries are brief yet profound, allowing for quick but impactful reading. Each contribution is accompanied by a color photograph of its writer, adding a personal touch to the advice and experiences shared. Notably, the collection includes insights from prominent figures like Melinda French Gates and up-and-coming voices alike, providing a rich tapestry of perspectives.

The anecdotes and guidance these women offer touch on overcoming obstacles, discovering passions, and the importance of dreaming big. They share personal stories of success and struggle, fostering a sense of connection with readers. The book's vibrant graphics and design only enhance the experience, making it not just a read but a visual delight.

In this collection, young readers will find not only guidance but also affirmation of their potential to take on the world with confidence and curiosity. It's a treasure trove of inspiration for anyone eager to learn from the journeys of others and carve their own path with vigor and vision

Great inspiration for your readers from lots of women from different backgrounds. A great book to read of time a refer back to. Some of the inspirational quotes are amazing.

An inspiring collection of letters and wisdom from women across a number of different backgrounds and fields and identities. A great read for young children, and anyone who may need the motivation from figures they can look up to. A worthwhile read; and I would recommend not reading this all in one sitting but rather over time.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for this free eARC

An inspiring collection of letters from powerful women all over the world.
Written for women and girls of all ages or better yet from rebel girls to rebel girls.
Some of the main points are truly wonderful and inspiring:

"Never give up on your dreams"
"Follow your curiosity and lead with your heart"
"Self-care is critical"

Dear Rebel shares many tips and words of wisdom perfect for any student who may feel unsure about the world around them. I love the positivity and hopeful tone used throughout this book.

Dear Rebel is a collection of letters, wisdom, and wishes from women to youngsters about life lessons and about finding their way authentically. Released 3rd Oct 2023 by Rebel Girls, it's 420 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's aimed at young people roughly 8-12 years old (Lexile 920L).

This is a beautifully illustrated collection full of advice and recollections from women from a broad number of backgrounds and areas of expertise including academics, political activists, athletes, artists, actors, writers, and more. The writers are from a wide variety of world cultures.

Representation is so important. It's nice to read about these inspiring women, and the wisdom they have to share. Worthwhile. This would make a superlative selection for home use, library acquisition, gifting, or school/classroom library.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars

I enjoyed this new collection from Rebel Girls, but it felt like a lot of the "secrets" that were being shared by the women were repetitive. These books/essays are meant for a younger audience but I feel like the target audience is going to have a hard time sitting through 400+ pages with 125+ different entries.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rebel Girls for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Here’s another fantastic addition to the Rebel Girls line-up of inspiring stories.

In Dear Rebel, readers take in the advice of 145 women who motivate girls age 8 and up with letters, poems, and essays. Each provide that often much needed push to dream big.

Words from each impressive individual are accompanied by photos and colorful backgrounds. The choice as to how you tackle this book is up to the individual reader. I went the traditional route reading each story in the order presented. You can also choose your favorites and begin with those using the handy “Content” listing at the front of the book.

Memorable ones for me include best selling Indian-American writer and advertising executive Alka Joshi who proclaims “All it takes is one person to believe in you…” Then there is adventurer Sally Kettle who urges you to keep trying despite your doubts and worries. One more: I smiled at young Cassidy Crowley’s Tips and Secrets for Starting Your Own Business.

Success is usually preceded by struggle and having these stories close by ensure that girls will be empowered to reach their goals.

In a Nutshell: An inspiring collection of letters, poems, anecdotes, and motivational write-ups on various topics written by rebel girls to rebel girls.

I have been a Rebel Girls fan ever since their first book, ‘Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women’, came out in 2016. Since then, I have read quite a few of their offerings, though I have skipped some of their latest books as it was getting too repetitive for me. This book, however, promised a different approach, and I couldn’t resist picking it up.

The usual Rebel Girls books focus on the bios of inspiring teens and women (cis and trans) from across the world, with one page dedicated to the life story of the person, and the other containing their portrait (sketched by a woman artist) and one of their memorable quotes. This book ups the ante by not providing mere bios but by having penned articles by 125 women of varied ages, varied cultural backgrounds, varied skillsets, and varied achievements. The result is a dazzling array of stimulating essays by superstar achievers. As always, the book is inclusive, with representation from all populated continents and varied racial backgrounds. Some of the “women” are just kids, proving to the readers that they are never too young to make a change.

I loved the range of the topics covered by these women. Since they all come from diverse backgrounds, their words also span a range of emotions and advice. Motivating yourself especially after failure, being accepting towards disabled people and people of races others than yours, taking care of the planet, building a big company, beginning your own small business, using your brains/body, pushing the bar – the list of topics is exhaustive and covers almost everything little girls might need to know. These achievers come from sports, politics, business, dance and music, movies and TV shows, environment and nature, and many other fields, but their learnings can be applied in any discipline as the base values are the same. Many pages have a QR code that can be scanned for bonus stories and interviews.

Rather than sticking only to inspiring pep talks, the women choose an assortment of writing styles to put across their point. Thus we get letters (either to the readers or to their own past selves or to a particular family member), anecdotes from their past, motivational essays, recipes that they love, encouraging poems, life lessons, instructions on how to go ahead with certain tough tasks. This variety works in favour of the book because having only motivational write-ups across 400+ pages would have been boring, for sure. The only format I didn’t like were the letters addressed to family members, usually daughters. This created a disconnect between the reader and the content.

I also loved the fact that the book included actual photographs of most of the contributors. Don’t get me wrong: I loved the illustrated portraits drawn by diverse female artists in the other Rebel Girls books. But with such a personal topic, an actual photo works way better.

A slight shortcoming that affected my experience was that the write-ups had not been compartmentalised based on topics. Having 125 contributors is a big deal, and ensures that the book is the lengthiest of the Rebel Girls books at 422 pages. (I think this is too long for this genre and the target age group.) But as I was reading the content sequentially, I found the going somewhat jumpy. One write-up on business tips, the immediate next one on a life-changing personal tragedy, the next one on a challenging adventurous accomplishment, the next one on a transgender woman’s coming-out story – you see how the topics flit across random experiences. This won’t be a problem if readers don’t read the book sequentially but open a random page and read it for their daily dose of pep talk.

One trivial point that most little readers won’t even notice, but that I adored: One of the articles is by Randi Zuckerberg. Many might realise from her surname that she is Mark Zuckerberg’s sister, but the book doesn’t mention her brother nor Facebook in her bio. I love that the authors referred to her by her own self-identity than as “Mark Zuckerberg’s sister.” This is something many journalists are yet to learn.

All in all, if you are looking for one hefty yet inspiring book for the middle-graders in your life, this book is perfect. I wouldn’t recommend this only to girls. Everyone needs a dose of inspiration and inclusive thinking, so this should work for all kids of the tween age range (and even for teens.)
Don’t read it in one go; savour the write-ups over a period of time, and watch them make a difference to your thinking.

4 stars.

My thanks to Rebel Girls and NetGalley for the DRC of “Dear Rebel: 125+ Women Share Their Secrets to Taking on the World”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.