We Come as Girls, We Leave as Women

Book excerpt: WHEN THE SENIOR CLASS of the world-famous Madame Ellington School for Girls begins their final year, several students experience life-changing events that will reshape who they are throughout their transitions into womanhood. From final exams to graduation dresses, these become second priority as they struggle to navigate their personal lives. Romantic relationships, body-image issues, sexuality, and criminal activity threaten to turn their worlds upside down. Graduation is the goal, yet at what cost will each of them succeed? Whatever their fate, they learn they don't have to go it alone. "This delightful coming-of-age story serves as a clarion call for harmony with oneself and with others. Chrishaunda Lee Perez deftly orchestrates a madrigal of female voices spanning class, color, and creed to arrive at fundamental truths about the human spirit-and its ability to transcend circumstance. The triumphs and tribulations of each character are told with empathy and wit, and the reader cannot help but cheer as each young woman discovers that self-empowerment begins with self-acceptance." - PAULA WALLACE, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER, SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN