Girls' Life: YA Magazine Review

Girls' Life Magazine, November 2009. $3.99.

I chose this magazine to review since it was the only magazine I could ever remember reading as a (pre)teen - our elementary school library had a subscription to it. So looking at this magazine 10 years later, I expected it to be fairly wholesome, and Girls' Life didn't disappoint.

The target audience for this magazine is very clearly girls in their early teens; the advice column contains answers to questions such as how to know if a boy likes you, how to get better grades in English class, and what to do if you don't have any special talents. However, the advice column also broaches the topic of sexual abuse, gay and lesbian issues, and death in an accessible, but not preachy, manner. There is a secondary column of "Body Q&A" later in the magazine, wherein doctors answer the questions of teens about puberty and sex, as well as any other bodily concerns ("This is weird, but I have a ton of nose hairs!").

There is a several page spread of Girls' Life fashion, featuring girls ages 15 - 17. Several pages of hair and make-up tips, including how to fix your hair like Jessica Alba, follow the fashion spread. The celebrities featured are very teen specific: I didn't recognize many of them, including Kay Panabaker, who graces this month's cover, and is apparently one of the Disney Channel super-celebrities. The content is somewhat American-focused: one feature article interviews the daughter of a soldier deployed to Afghanistan, and is particularly patriotic.

Perhaps where Girls' Life gains its greatest appeal is in its romantic advice (some offered by real boys themselves!) and quizzes. In "Forgive or Forget?", Girls' Life contributors assess boyfriend problems using a "Ditch-o-meter" - for example, if, "he's really hush hush about your relationship", that merits a ditch-o-meter of 4 - "until this boy is ready to go public, keep your distance". Several quizzes are scattered throughout the issue, including friendship quizzes, and relationship quizzes.

Though obviously a commercial venture, Girls' Life has a rather pedagogical feel to it: it mostly consists of advice to girls about how to deal with boys, parents, school, stress, body image and eating habits. However, despite the pedagogy, the format of the magazine is much like any popular glossy women's magazine such as Vogue or Elle, which increases its teen appeal.

It's no surprise I found Girls' Life in my elementary school library. It was a useful part of the collection 10 years ago, and would remain so today: however, I doubt how popular a choice this magazine would be with those who are older than 14 or 15.