Book Review: Letters to a Young Sister: DeFINE Your Destiny
by Hill Harper
Publication Date: Jun 03, 2008
List Price: $22.50
Format: Hardcover, 304 pages
Classification: Nonfiction
Target Age Group: Middle Grade
ISBN13: 9781592403516
Imprint: Gotham
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Parent Company: Bertelsmann
Read a Description of Letters to a Young Sister: DeFINE Your Destiny
Book Reviewed by Kam Williams
’In Letters to a Young Sister, Hill has covered all the important issues. As a woman, I can't agree more with how important it is to focus on becoming your best self, a point Hill makes several times in this book. That means focusing on individual accomplishments and doing the things that help you become a whole person…
Part of the reason I like having a friend like Hill is because during a time when my goals are constantly changing, he helps me find clarity… He wants to make sure I always do my best and challenge myself. He constantly reminds me that I am worthy and deserving of the best. There truly are good ’brothas’ out there, and Hill is one of the best. I hope you enjoy the book.’ ’Excerpted from the Foreword by Gabrielle Union (pages xvi-xvii)
Attorney-turned-actor Hill Harper received nothing but
positive feedback a couple of years ago after the release of
Letters to a Young Brother, his inspirational how-to book
aimed at African-American males. Its uplifting message
emphasized the value of a good education over the accumulation
of material possessions while also stressing the importance of
being the architect of your own life.
Still, everywhere he went, Hill was surprised at how many women
approached him about an opus offering similar sensible advice
for their daughters, so it was only fitting that he would choose
to write a companion text entitled Letters to a Young Sister.
With the help of a host of celebrities from all walks of life,
such as
Angela
Bassett, Michelle Obama, Ruby Dee, Congresswoman Carolyn
Cheeks Kilpatrick,
Nikki Giovanni,
Sanaa
Lathan, Bishop Noel Jones, Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford,
Nia Long,
Tatyana Ali, Lauren London and business executive Cathy Hughes,
he addresses a litany of concerns occupying the inquiring minds
of impressionable black females in their formative years.
The subjects touched upon range from boys to morals to
self-esteem to sexuality to academics to faith to racism to
reputation to sexism to fathers to misogyny and beyond. To give
you a taste of what to expect, here’s an excerpt of how Michelle
Obama responds to an A-student who says she’s being teased for
getting good grades.
’I was once in your shoes… Neither of my parents went to college, and I never knew college or Ivy League universities were an option for me’ Because of how hard I worked and the grades I made, I was ready for anything ’ ready for Princeton, and next Harvard Law ’ ready to move home to Chicago to give back to my community’ Ready to be a strong woman and raise two strong daughters. And ready to be the First Lady of the United States, if that’s what the future holds for me.
So I encourage you, young sister, to stay smart and thoughtful and creative’ Keep reading and learning and sharing your thoughts and ideas. Own who you are and be proud of you. I am.’
Overall, an uplifting collection of sage insights aimed at instilling black girls with self-confidence, self-respect and self-reliance while imploring them to dream big every step of the way to becoming a fulfilled and successful woman.
Related Links
AALBC.com Review of Harper’s Letters to a Young Brother:
Manifest Your Destiny
http://aalbc.com/reviews/letters_young_brother.htm
About Hill Harper is the author of the bestseller Letters to a Young Brother (Gotham Books, 2006), which won two NAACP awards and was named a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association in 2007. Winner of prestigious awards for best supporting actor, he currently stars in CSI: NY, and his numerous other credits include Beloved and He Got Game. Hill graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. from Brown University and cum laude from Harvard Law School. He also holds a master’s degree from the Kennedy School of Government. He was named one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive.