Book Review: Supergirls Speak Out by Liz Funk

Supergirls Speak Out Author: Liz Funk ISBN: 9781416562634

Supergirls Speak Out: Inside the Secret Crisis of Overachieving Girls by Liz Funk tells the true story of high school and college girls (and even some young professionals) who are extreme overachievers.

Think you’re an overachiever? Think again. When you read the stories of these young women who put so much pressure on themselves to succeed, you may just re-think your own work ethic.

I’ve always considered myself an overachiever. When I picked up this book, I even thought that I might be a “supergirl” but after reading the entire book, I’m pleased to say that I may have struck the happy balance between overachiever and the extreme.

The young women that Liz Funk profiles want to have it all. Liz traveled up all throughout the country and followed several different girls (5 main “characters”) throughout their busy high school days or at their college internships. She spoke with their friends and families and observed them at school and work.

These supergirls are usually beautiful; they have the perfect grades; they are involved in several school organizations; they are often athletes. In other words, they literally “have it all” But, having it all, of course, comes with a heavy price. These girls often wear themselves out so early in life that they end up in the hospital with a severe eating disorder or exhaustion. They don’t enjoy life to the fullest because they are too busy trying to out-do others.

The book is broken into different sections. The first few chapters of the book discuss high school, then college and finally breaking into the real world. Next, the book tackles issues of looks, eating disorders, sexuality, being known as “a bitch” and dealing with family pressures. The book wraps up with Liz’s suggestions of what should be done about this problem.

My only tiny problem with this book was that it seemed to be a little repetitive towards the end. I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over again.

Liz Funk is a fabulous writer. Did you know she is only 22? A self-proclaimed “recovering supergirl” Liz is a bit of an overachiever herself. She wrote this awesome book and contributes to several different magazines and newspapers.

There was one line towards the end of the book that particularly struck me: