A Girl's Guide to Securing, Spending and Stashing Cash
November 15, 2022
A mixed bag of financial advice aimed at girls. Thought-provoking activities and budgeting suggestions pepper this entertaining, illustrated guide for girls interested in money. In casual, approachable language, Tomlinson introduces financial ideas, guiding readers to think about their own needs and personalities in order to plan for the future. Advice on why and how to save (for an implied audience of girls without dire financial need) is solid, and the cheerful artwork and journaling activities make the dry subject matter approachable. Though some debunked research is cited in supporting stories, much of the advice is valuable, from standard methods of budgeting to warnings about online scams and buy now, pay later schemes. The section on investing, however, ranges from inexplicable (suggestions to monitor the Consumer Price Index or lists of adult investment vehicles) to inappropriately risky (an exploration of the stock market, with a brief afterthought about the illegality of minors trading) to downright terrible (a factually incorrect discussion of cryptocurrency that treats it as a risky-but-viable investment). Despite some unhelpful jargon ("Debt is a form of financial instrument"), the concepts are generally clearly explained overall. Illustrations feature people who are diverse in skin tone, although nearly all the chapter-opening images are of light-skinned girls. Great guidance for building good fiscal habits; shockingly bad advice about investing. (glossary) (Nonfiction. 12-15)
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January 1, 2023
Grades 9-12 In 10 lessons, financial expert Tomlinson provides useful advice for teenage girls on how to be fiscally responsible. Oerter's colorful illustrations accompany text that describes how to build a solid financial foundation, set easily attainable and achievable goals, and live within one's means. The book discusses immediate and delayed gratification, earning money, advantages and disadvantages of credit cards, loans, the concept of buying now and paying later, cashfishing and other scams to avoid, financial abuse, and retirement planning. Each chapter ends with reflections that reinforce the main points. Tomlinson offers some questionable investing suggestions, such as cryptocurrencies--she admits it's risky--and only after listing investing examples does she say that investors have to be at least age 18, although she acknowledges parents may be investing on behalf of their children. Most teenagers also are unlikely to check the Consumer Price Index. Still, the explanation of the differences between the wants and needs of budgeting are informative; while some of the investing ideas may not be the best, this offers solid advice on money management.
COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
March 1, 2023
Gr 9 Up-Conversational, informative, and contemporary, this book is all about money: what it is, how to earn it, and ways to make it work. The 12 chapters contain information that will help girls understand economic and personal finance concepts, encouraging them to establish practices that will secure their future. The content is fair-minded in that it addresses that individuals have different wants, needs, and goals. There is a strong theme of the importance of investing in your own human capital, thus being able to be self-sufficient and independent. While edited for an American audience, the author's British roots are revealed in word usage. For example, holiday refers to vacation and lesson likely means classes. There is also the construct of using the phrase Crown Jewels when summarizing the main issues of a chapter. The descriptive chapter titles in the table of contents allow for locating specific information. A detailed glossary is included. The appealing digitally created illustrations displaying scenarios, activities, quizzes, side bars, and charts make for a fun read. Note that there is a workbooklike quality to the text, and even though readers are instructed to write and record answers and reflections in a separate notebook, some may be tempted to write in the book itself. VERDICT This book would make a great gift. Personal finance teachers could find ways to implement some of the book's activities in classroom instruction. School libraries working to empower their female students will want to add this to the collection.-Lynne Stover
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