Vickie Nam,
YELL-Oh Girls!
Quill, 2001.

YELL-Oh Girls! is a much needed anthology for all Asian American girls. Composed of diary entries, unsent letters, creative writing assignments, poems and songs from Asian American girls all around the country, this anthology yells with voice from a community that has been considered silent in the past. Vickie Nam did an amazing job collecting writing from girls of various ethnic backgrounds, ages and locations. This collection shows that while each young woman's voice is unique, the issues that occupy the minds of all these girls are similar. That unity recurs over and over again with multiple voices, and hearing these similar themes in distinct forms was a real comfort to me while reading this anthology.

This anthology has appeal not only for Asian American girls, though it is definitely intended for them. It contains themes and issues to which all teenage and adult females can relate, such as body image, parental and family pressures, multicultural relationship, discrimination and youth political activism. It's a voice most girls are familiar with. I wish YELL-Oh Girls! had been available when I was a teenager. At least I would have known that I wasn't alone, that my voice matters. But I'm so glad that Vickie Nam has given us this gift to inspire and befriend teenage girls now, and help them learn to yell.

My only complaint is a selfish one. I wish, as a girl half Chinese and half Thai, there were more entries written by girls of mixed backgrounds and even of South Asian backgrounds. However, this quibble won't prevent me from recommending this book to anyone. YELL-Oh Girls! is a monumental achievement long overdue.

Chalida Anusasananan