Customer Reviews
Excellent Book 
2008-05-14
This was an excellent resource for me. The book was very up to date with information. It was perfect to read about specifics relating to my daughter only. It gave me great ideas to assist my daughter and our life now and through out the stages of her life. It had very "hip" and "today" type answers for me. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a daughter or female relative with Aspergers.
This book contains one absolute gem of an essay, and lots of absolute muck. 
2008-04-27
If half-stars were allowed, I would have given this book 1 and 1/2 stars, and both of those stars would have been owed strictly to Jennifer Mcilwee Myers (herself an Aspie), for her brilliant essay, "Aspie Do's and Dont's: Dating, Relationships and Marriage." It was nothing short of genius, as well as being moving, refreshing and funny.
It is honestly beyond my comprehension why this piece of art was featured alongside tripe like "Girl to Girl: Advice on Friendship, Bullying and Fitting In" by Lisa Iland. This latter essay was written by a neurotypical young woman who has both a brother, and, apparently, "many friends" on the autistic spectrum, and contains gems like "The Popularity Hierarchy" and "Mainstream Your Imagine". It was as painful to read as you might imagine. I suppose it could be useful enough if one wished to attempt to turn an interesting Asperger's girl into vapid automaton, but it's not a goal of mine.
Slightly more comprehensively written, but equally painful to read, was the essay "Preparing for Puberty and Beyond". It sounds useful, doesn't it? Alas, here's an example: "It is socially appropriate for teenage girls to shave their legs and underarms. Girls who don't shave are likely to be teased and humiliated. Most neurotypical girls decide to shave on their own, but the idea of shaving may not occur to girls with Asperger's. At some point before high school, parents will need to explain the reasons for shaving and carefully instruct their daughters on leg and underarm shaving." Maybe it rings true to you, but, personally, if my precious Aspie daughter grows to leg-shaving age without expressing a desire to shear herself, I don't intend to hand her over a handy dandy Gillette and tell her she'd better get herself looking "socially acceptable." Is this really the kind of advice these kids need?
This books flaunts some pretty big names in the Autism/Asperger's world, such as Tony Attwood and Temple Grandin. I think "flaunts" is accurate enough: Dr. Attwood and Dr. Grandin's works are merely token gestures, small essays at the beginning and at the end. One is left with the feeling that the creators wanted their names on the book to give it intellectual heft that it otherwise sorely lacks.
My advice: Find this book at your local library, and read "Aspie Do's and Dont's", as well as the short selections by Drs Attwood and Grandin. Don't spend your hard-earned money on it. Save it to spend on anything else by Tony Attwood and/or Temple Grandin; you'll get a lot more out of it.
Nothing useful here 2008-02-27
I chose this book when I saw Liane Holliday Willey's name associated with the title. Her book, Pretending to be Normal, was very insightful and useful to my teenage daughter. I assumed that the same compassionate, insightful approach of Ms Holliday Willey would at least influence a book that referenced her works.
Sadly, I found Asperger's and Girls cold and clinical, with no new information. The only useful advice I found- to let your college daughters with AS learn to solve their own problems while as a parent of an adult child you confine yourself to listening and brainstorming with them- applies to all parents of all college students. It's nothing AS specific, and it's been said before, and many times.
The irony here is that the adult with AS (Ms. Holliday Willey) writes with compassion and empathy- qualities difficult if not impossible for many AS sufferer's to process and express, while the non-AS authors of Asperger's and Girls show no real insight or concern for the heart of the girl's they claim to understand and purport to help.
I wish I could get my money back. There is nothing more useful here (AS specific) than tips to minimize bullying in public school. Since my children don't attend public school, and I already have a strong, healthy relationship with healthy boundaries established with my daughter, I just wasted fifteen bucks.
To any other parents of AS girls about to head off to college, I recommend Liane Holliday Willey's book Pretending to be Normal. It is full of insight into the social experience of an AS student in college: what worked for her, what didn't work for her; what she wished she had done differently; what she recommends other AS college students consider as they plan for a successful college career. That is a book every college bound AS girl should read.
Very disappointing 2008-02-17
I was so anxious to get this book and am very let down. Nearly every one of the "experts" are not Aspies, and they repeat the same information over and over, many times quoting and requoting one another. It also seemed to dwell over and over on menstrual periods. There really is more to a female than that.
It's a very shallow book. Each "expert" seemed to type up their own disjointed report and they all got smashed together and called a book. It would have been much more worthwhile if one person wrote the book and covered more topics instead of each person repeating.
A book that is leaps and bounds more informative is Liane Holliday Willey's 'Pretending To Be Normal'. She covers so much more ground, is concise, uses so many real world experiences that I could relate to easily. This one doesn't have that.
Girl's point of view 
2008-01-18
As a newly diagnosed woman with Aspergers, I identified with many statements within the articles written by the other women with Asperger's who wrote in the book. They have helped to give language to describing how it feels to be Aspergers and to be able to share that with others - especially my partner.
A definate must book 2007-11-17
At last, here is a book that provides up-to-date information about girls and women with Asperger's Syndrome. Covering topics such as diagnoses, education, puberty, relationships, and careers, experts in the field share practical advice for both caregivers and the women and girls who are affected by Asperger's. Other chapters are written by women who have been diagnosed with ASD. They candidly reveal their experiences and compassionately advise others. Finally, this book recognizes the unique problems of girls on the spectrum. About the Authors: Dr. Tony Attwood is the world's foremost authority on Asperger's Syndrome. Dr. Temple Grandin is arguably the most successful woman with autism. Catherine Faherty, Shelia Wagner, Mary Wrobel, and Teresa Bolick are major figures in the Asperger's field. Lisa Iland, who has a brother with autism, offers insightful social advice. Jennifer McIlwee Myers and Ruth Snyder have Asperger's Syndrome; their intriguing stories will make you laugh and cry.
A dissapointment 2007-11-12
It was not the book I thought it would be. I was excited about the topic of Aspie Girls, but this book lacked depth that would be helpful, IMO. Get other books by Temple Grandin and Tony Atwood.
It was not what I was expecting 
2007-10-04
As an Aspie female, I was a little taken back by how much I fit the bill and yet how much I felt the authors assumed we don't understand. I don't think it is so much not "understanding" as an inability to "apply" the information to ourselves. For myself, as I feel that I am on the "outside looking in," the body I see when I look down does not seem to be attached to my brain -- therefore, it is not my body and not my responsibility. I wonder if that statement makes sense to anyone out there?
Great practical advice 2007-09-10
I bought this for my 20 year old with aspergers, and it has even been helpful for me, not to mention how much she's getting out of it. Several good chapters, and the chapter by Lisa Iland is worth the price of the book by itself--my daughter STUDIES this chapter and has learned so much about social skills for girls her age, and is inspired to seek out more.
Aspie Girls finally recognized! 2007-07-27
It's about time girls with Asperger's-associated symptoms were acknowledged and discussed. The experts do a good (though somewhat repetitive) job of explaining why it took so long for Aspie girls to be "discovered." But the best thing about this book is the way the adult Asperger's women enlighten us about how these girls feel and think, the kinds of gender specific problems they have, and especially the handy tips about how we who love our Aspie Girls can best help them cope with the difficulties they face. Thanks to all who contributed to this book!
