Book Review: The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Motthley

 

Written by Safa Alhassan 

The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley was a whole new experience, one I’ve been trying to fully come to terms with. It saddened me in a way that is difficult to explain because to imagine that people, not just anybody but young underage girls, would go through the tragedy of bringing children into the world on their own, in the most painful and ugly ways, and still be scorned, discarded, and pushed aside by a society that pretends to know better… it broke me. I’ve noticed I’ve been using the word “hypocritical” too much lately, and I don’t even like the word but honestly, that’s what it is.

The first thing in the book that pierced my heart and made me genuinely question if I wanted to continue reading was a young girl giving birth at the back of a truck belonging to the man who impregnated her while he stood there, uninterested, careless, and completely detached from her pain.

This book is a lesson, one aimed at our society, especially young girls. It shows a society that has failed them, and parents who have failed at parenthood. Sometimes, I try to excuse these adults, thinking maybe they too had a rough childhood. But as I write this review, I’ve realised something: there is no excuse for bad parenthood. These girls often grow up to become just like the parents who never cared for them, left to the streets simply because “they grew big.”

The Girls Who Grew Big is an intense read, especially for women. It is introspective, emotional, and forces you to think deeply. Yet it is beautifully written, with a lot of emphasis on the Black American experience. I learnt new things about a world completely different from mine. If you’ve only ever known love growing up, be grateful because not everyone has had it that easy. These characters aren’t just fictional; there are real people living these sad realities in different parts of the world.

Another thing I really loved about the book is the cover. It’s a canvas painting of a young woman taking a mirror selfie, showing her growing baby bump. I find the painting very raw, yet it carries a kind of pain i can't fully explain. First, the pain of the young mother who is simply trying to survive an experience she doesn’t fully understand, and then the pain of a society that has chosen to ignore her struggle.

There’s something very beautiful and unashamed about it. The clothes are revealing not just of the pregnancy, but of what others might consider “shame.” Yet she stands there, unashamed, holding all the hurt inside, a hurt only she can truly explain because she’s the one living it. It is a very powerful image. It carries so much strength and, at the same time, so much pain.

I totally recommend this book to girls, especially those coming of age. Reading it will help you take pride in your womanhood and give you reasons to raise your head, adjust your crown, and walk through life with confidence and self-love. Let it strengthen your unflinching love for yourself. Remember that you are a Queen, and nothing anyone says or does can reduce your worth.

And for those who have “gotten it wrong” at some point, this book teaches forgiveness reminding you to pick yourself up without beating yourself down with regret. Adjust your crown again and keep moving. Nobody was given a manual. No matter what you’ve been through, you matter.

This book is an amazing read. Please, go read it and gift it to your friends too.