As someone who was a Girl Scout for the majority of her childhood I was super curious about this book. Despite years of being part of the organization, so much of this book was completely new information to me. This book explored so much of the darker history and questionable morality of the Girl Scouts that it was almost an expose, except it seems the information was there for a whole, just never discussed. The author did a phenomenal job with research and presented the book in a way that was both easily accessible and entirely engrossing.

*This book was received as an Advanced Reviewer's Copy from NetGalley.

Like the author, I too was a white girl scout from Ohio. Which is probably a lot of detail that you're wondering why I've provided it (except for the girl scout part of course). It's because my experience was very similar to hers, minus apparently all the history and international stuff that other troops knew about that I guess we were never told? I can say I definitely don't remember being taught about the founder, and I had no idea we had special International Camps (not that we could have afforded to go anyway). But anyways, that's not really the point or topic of this book.

This book is about the Girl Scouts, but not in the innocent cookie-selling ways that their image projects. It talks about the grey area they kept in, where inaction could arguably called just as bad as action a certain way. It talks about race, Japanese internment camps, Native American schools and assimilation, among other things. Even today, on pivotal societal issues, you'd be hard pressed to get the girl scout leadership to say something one way or the other on topics, choosing instead to be neutral.

Which, I get. If you want to survive in a world that can be hostile, sometimes neutrality is the way to do that. But if at the same time you're looking to be a model for girls everywhere and an ethical one at that; that's where neutrality is probably not the best policy. Leadership chose to ignore some of the wrongs that were happening in their own communities, which meant not serving the girls they purported to be there for.

Each chapter brings you through time from the founding to the present day and illustrates the not-so-nice side of the Girl Scouts. But also tells a lot of history too. Do I regret my time in the scouts after reading this book? Eh, not so much more than I already did, because although I was in for years, it was just another place where I didn't quite fit in. Knowing this history now, would I enroll a daughter if I had one? No, probably not, unless some changes were made to tell a truthful history and work towards being better as part of being in the girl scouts.

Definitely an interesting book that opens up a whole new world that people probably didn't realize was there. Past the crafts and campfires, there was a lot seething underneath. While I don't want to diminish the good or important experiences that people had, I do think that the other side needs to be acknowledged as well.

Review by M. Reynard 2025

Thank you to @netgalley for this super fun read!

Ladies, raise your hand if you were in Girl Scouts! Intrepid Girls by Amy Erdman Farrell tells the story of one of America’s most recognizable organizations from its humble origins to modern day adventures. What I loved about this book was the raw honesty at which it was approached. “ Girl Scout empowered girls and indoctrinated them to understand the outer limits to which then could push,” writes Erdman Farrell. In addition to giving the reader a history of the organization the author also grapples with hard truths, such as the whiteness of the Girl Scouts. “No one ever talked about this whiteness to us children; it was simply so normal it was invisible,” states Erdman Farrell early on in the book. Well researched, reflective and informative this was an enjoyable read!

"It is the innocence which constitutes the crime" - James Baldwin 1962

Intrepid girls is a comprehensive overview of the convoluted history of the Girl Scout of the USA from it's founding to present day. It addresses the ugly truths of the founding and success of the organization including the Girl Scouts involvement in deconstructing Native American culture, the imprisonment of Japanese Americans during WWII, and racial segregation against African Americans. This information has all but been erased through the revisionist history touted by the GSUSA. Amy also highlights the way the GSUSA has historically hidden behind white female innocence in an attempt to placate religious conservative members, while simultaneously claiming to be "inclusive" of all girls. While she does mention the positive impact scouting has had on many girls, herself included, she does not use this to justify the harm committed.

I found the book to be incredibly well researched, easy to read, and balanced. It's an important read I would recommend to anyone who has participated in Girl Scouting. Especially those who are considering becoming involved today. Honesty about the complicated past of the GSUSA, and the United States in general, is crucial to avoid a repeat of past injustices.

I was a Girl Scout in the early 2000s, and often credit the organization for teaching me invaluable life skills I might otherwise not have learned. Involvement with scouting opened a world of opportunities I would not have had otherwise, and I made some of my best memories with my troop. I have looked forward to the days I could enroll my own daughter in scouts, but have also felt uncomfortable with some of the underpinnings of the organization. I feel like this book has both validated me, and armed me with the knowledge to better lead my daughter through the organization, should she chose to join. I will absolutely be recommending this novel to every potential scout parent I meet on the playground.

Intrepid Girls is a thoughtful and deeply researched examination of the Girl Scouts, told through a mix of personal reflection and historical investigation. The book’s strength lies in its clear-eyed honesty: while it honors the positive impact the organization has had on many girls' lives, it does not ignore the ways it failed to serve all equally. The author pays particular attention to the experiences of women and girls of color, whose stories have too often been overlooked or minimized. The result is a history that is richer and more accurate than the familiar, sanitized version often presented.

This is not a mere nostalgic celebration, but rather a respectful and necessary reckoning. The author’s personal experiences are woven in with care, offering insight without overwhelming the larger narrative. By foregrounding stories of exclusion and perseverance, Intrepid Girls gives voice to those whose contributions and struggles deserve more recognition. It’s a compelling and important read that holds space for both appreciation and critique, encouraging a deeper understanding of what the Girl Scouts has been, and what it could become.