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| Authors: Andrea J. Buchanan, Miriam Peskowitz
Publisher: Collins
Category: Book
List Price: $26.95
Buy New: $10.95
You Save: $16.00 (59%)
New (66) Used (46) Collectible (3) from $6.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  141 reviews
Sales Rank: 1066
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.3
Dimensions (in): 9.9 x 7.6 x 1.2
ISBN: 0061472573
Dewey Decimal Number: 646.7008342
EAN: 9780061472572
ASIN: 0061472573
Publication Date: November 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Where's the dangerous book for KIDS?? November 2, 2007
139 out of 271 found this review helpful
Oh, I see, boys get to be "dangerous" -- i.e., risk takers -- while girls get to be "daring" -- i.e., taboo breakers, who "dare" to break a rule. And we all know which irrational and constricting cultural taboos and rules are in question here. (You can start with "being smart at math." Or "repeatedly checkmating a boy in chess." Or "refusing to wear dresses or skirts." Or "rough-housing." Or "refusing to defer to men." Or "speaking your mind.") Is this really the message we want to send our kids? Especially when adult working women today are often criticized -- and blamed for their limited financial success relative to men -- specifically for not being "risk takers"? (See, e.g., Lisa Belkin's op-ed in the NY Times online, "Life's Work: The Feminine Critique" (Nov. 1 2007).)
Meanwhile, here are the supposedly "daring" activities for girls to enjoy, as quoted from the Amazon editorial blurb: "female heroes in history [Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Marie Curie, no doubt], secret note-passing skills, science projects, friendship bracelets, double dutch, cats cradle, the perfect cartwheel [but not the perfect fastball or layup, of course] or the eternal mystery of what boys are thinking." I mean, excuse me while I crack open my flight bag!
Then let's compare all that wonderful derring do to the things boys get to enjoy: "Simple instructions for coin tricks and paper airplanes alternate with excerpts from history such as Famous Battles and facts about ancient wonders of the world and astronomy. The dangerous aspect is more apparent in such chapters as Making Cloth Fireproof, and Hunting and Cooking a Rabbit, but also applies to the overall premise that action is fun and can be worth the risks. A section on stickball, for instance, includes advice to possibly flee the vicinity in the event of a broken window."
Why ARE these books so aggressively gendered? Why couldn't the original "dangerous" book have welcomed ALL kids? Why did it have to create a clubhouse with a sign reading "NO GIRLS ALLOWED"? Why is it that knot-tying and paper-airplane-making only take on this hushed aura of holiness when they're used as a means to EXCLUDE someone? And why are girls then offered this pale Women's Auxiliary version? Is this so they'll all grow up and accept everything from the Masters Golf Tournament to 16% representation in the Senate without batting an eye?
If you want to perpetuate the notion that Little Girls are Made of Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice, then by all means by this book -- but don't forget the pretty pink party dress and the black patent Mary Janes.
But if you want to instill an old-fashioned sense of adventure and independence in your kids -- sons and daughters alike -- I highly recommend Arthur Ransome's "Swallows & Amazons," first published in 1930, and all the other books in that series. It's a story in which children - oh, the horror! - actually spend the summer camping out *all by themselves* on an English Lake District island, to which they also sail all by themselves. I can't think of a better role model for girls than the "Amazons," a pair of girl pirates who open the series by capturing the camp of the Swallows and holding them at bay with bow and arrow.
[...]
 Wish I had more nieces, granddaughters, friends with girls November 1, 2007
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
I am not "grown up" enough to be a grandmother or young enough to be a mother again, but I wish I was! Having thumbed through this delightful book (filled with memories and great girl ideas), I want to buy as many copies as I can find receipients on my holiday, birthday lists. Fun, information and "girl-pride" just burst forth. Delightful illustrations.
A wonderful book for young girls (or boys) - you'll love it as much as your kid! October 31, 2007
22 out of 30 found this review helpful
This is the perfect book to share with your daughter/ granddaughter/that special girl you know, whether she is 8 or 18 or somewhere in between. It has just the right mix of articles - informative, fun, and stimulating! When the "Dangerous Book for Boys" came out I wished for a version for girls and this book is as good as the one for boys if not better.
When you first flip through its pages it will remind you of the time you were her age. You probably read a book almost like this but not quite. I say not quite as this book does a perfect balancing act between skills and general knowledge, between techniques we learned from our grandmothers and the ones that became popular later. It tells you "how to press flowers" but also "five karate moves". "Make your own quill pen" is preceded by "how to change a tire". I remember reading a book almost like this in my childhood. I dearly treasured that book till its pages were yellow and stiff into my college days. I spent many afternoons after school experimenting with the projects. I remember the bitter candy apples I made from a recipe in that book, or the quill pen with which I wrote my "secret language" notes for my friends and this book brought back those memories. With more words than illustrations, the Daring book for Girls will encourage the girl who reads it to use her imagination.
This book will appeal to the "girly-girl" in every girl with the sections like "Palm reading", "Hopscotch", "Princesses today" or "Boys"; to her sense of adventure with articles like "Going to Africa" (short section on each country), "Hiking", "Reading tide charts"; and to the "builder" in her with sections like "Building a campfire", "Tree swings", "Every girl's toolbox". There is a ton of useful information and facts in this book too for those rainy or quiet days - "from French terms of endearment" to "Queens of Ancient world" to "Women Inventors". Sports are covered too - basketball, softball, netball, bowling, playing cards and more.
My daughter was thrilled to get this book. I wasn't sure she'd like it as much as I liked my childhood book. But she began her next project "how to tie a sari" in minutes and over dinner started telling me about the women inventors in the book. We have now designated this book the "mother-daughter time" book. Each weekend, we pick up the book and try something new! What a great antidote to the "Mom, I'm bored" refrain!
Some are activities she can attempt on her own and for others like building the ultimate scooter she will need help as it requires some sawing and drilling. It is a challenge for me too as I've not really attempted to build anything from scratch before. I'm ready with my saw and drill and as excited as her to begin that project!
This book gives just the right kind of stimulation for a younger girl's (or boy's) curious mind and their thirst for new knowledge and skills. This book will also grow with the reader as it gives practical advice for situations and even contains chapters like "Stocks and shares" and "Negotiating salaries." This book is therefore highly recommended and will make a great gift for a 7-14 year old.
A Godsend for a Father of Girls October 31, 2007
18 out of 22 found this review helpful
As a father to sons AND daughters, the Dangerous Book for my sons was great, but of course my oldest daughter wanted to know if Santa was bringing one for her too. She's only 4, so she's too young for anything but the pictures, but with this and Amazon, it looks like she'll get lucky.
It's a beautiful looking book, for a start, well bound, attractive colours etc. My wife found it fascinating and the more we looked at it, the more she kept saying 'Oh this bit is great!' I'm not going to be trying a backwards walk-over any time soon (not with my back!) but I'm not the target audience. I liked the choices of heroic women like Amelia Earheart and Joan of Arc. I also liked the children's games, things to make and the karate section! As said father to girls, I want them to defend themselves - but the authors haven't tried to make this a boys book for girls. Some of it is very old-fashioned feminine stuff and frankly, it's about time someone did it. Girls may grow up to be CEOs these days, but my daughters enjoy making pretty things from paper and string as well.
No doubt there will be some who complain about the lack of 'man-hating' in here, but hey, the seventies are a long time ago and some things appeal to girls more than boys. All that good stuff is in here, without apology. I know it appeals to my wife, who said it never would. I know it appeals to a twelve year old girl cousin, who now wants one. I think this is going to make a good present.
James
At last, an answer to "Mom, I'm bored!" October 30, 2007
26 out of 35 found this review helpful
"The Daring Book for Girls" is a great read, and the fact that I've hardly had a chance to pry it out of my daughter's grasp over the past week really says it all. I highly recommend the book for girls ages 8 and up.
Girls are good hands with authors Andi Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz. Whereas the original "Boys" version had an antiquated English vibe that turned me off, the "Girls" version evokes an American girlhood of a recent generation--building forts, making cootie catchers, reading Judy Blume, playing outside with friends. "The Daring Book for Girls" is positioned as something that Moms will buy for their daughters. It struck me that "back in the day" much of this knowledge was passed from girl to girl, older sisters either teaching little sisters, or being spied upon by them.
Today, kids are in organized sports and activities also have the quick fix of video games available to them. They don't have as many unplanned hours to fill hanging out with friends, coming up with activities like rubbing a peach pit into a ring. I hope this book will re-inspire some of those relationships and that the threads of kid lore will continue to be passed down among the kids themselves.
I enjoyed the eclectic organization of the book. Kid culture is nearly inexhaustible, and I was fine with the choice to intersperse topics as diverse as Joan of Arc, Making a Willow Whistle, and Periodic Table of the Elements. It makes for very enjoyable browsing. I do wish that there was more guidance to indicate which projects could be done right away as opposed to those that require a lot of preparation. My daughter wanted to make a scooter right off the bat, but this is a project that takes more forethought than "Hey Mom, let's do this right now!"
Finally, if there was ever a book that called out to be continued as a wiki, this would be it! I would love to see this knowledge base expanded with contributions from girls as well as women. I hope that the authors and publishers will embrace the possibilities of creating an online collaboration for Daring Girls of all ages.
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