August 13, 2026, Seward Folly

Dreamland Books and Yarn Staff Book Review by Shandra Conley

At a young age, girls are often given the talk about what would be expected as they start to ‘become a woman.’ I remember being in that  same 5th-grade science class where just moments before the overhead lights were creating a glare on the textbook pages that depicted ‘The Rock Cycle,’ and then being submerged in darkness as all the girls stared up at the whiteboard illuminated with the words, ‘The Menstrual Cycle.’ 

Although these two cycles are seemingly unrelated, in the next few slides I would learn that they indeed shared a common denominator: transformation. While igneous rocks transform to become sedimentary, girls transform to become women. When we think about it, that transformation of igneous to sedimentary rock through weathering and breaking down holds a sort of parallel to girls going through difficult trials and tribulations as they come of age. Maria Adelmann does a wondrous job at depicting these struggles for girls in her novel, “Girls of a Certain Age.”  

In this novel, Adelmann has brought to life 13 separate stories about girls who are, as the title simply puts it, at a certain age. Each story encapsulates what each girl is going through and feeling at this particular time in their lives. I found myself putting multiple sticky notes in each story to come back to review certain descriptions that stood out to me. Adelmann has demonstrated her ability to eloquently illustrate many of the inner thoughts of these girls. Although these girls’ stories are not, in theory, connected, we can spot an overarching struggle of identity and self-worth. Coming in at 228 pages, you will be taken through an abusive relationship, an unexpected pregnancy, a toxic friendship, chronic unemployment, a family member off to war, a disability, anger, and loneliness. 

This novel originally caught my eye due to its fun, vibrant, almost vintage Polly Pocket-looking colors of yellow and pink. However, as I began to dive into this book, I quickly realized these colors were simply the bright exterior to a much darker interior. Therefore, I give all future readers a fair warning that this book’s short stories will not be all rainbows and sunshine, or at least not in the way you think. Of course one should not judge a book based on its cover, and besides, girls just want to have fun, right?