Souls of My Young Sisters
Read of the Week

It isn't every day that young women feel empowered or brave enough to share their personal stories; their own blunt tales of defeat and triumph that life has dealt them. In this latest edition of the Souls Of My Sisters series, which started 10 years ago by coauthors Dawn Marie Daniels and Candace Sandy when they asked celebrities and non to open their wounds and share their healing so that others can do the same, 51 young women in their 20s and early 30s became candid about the lessons they have learned on their way to adulthood. Souls Of My Young Sisters: Young Women Break Their Silence With Stories That Will Change Your Life ($10.80, Keningston Publishing) offers personal essays from a wide-range of women (contributors include radio personality Dee Vazquez; Nicole Paultre Bell; journalist, Kimberly N. Cooper; entertainment publicist, Syreta Oglesby; musician Lalah Hathaway amongst others), who have experienced many difficulties, sheltered their pain, and have overcome those hurts to lead productive lives. Stories include how a young woman overcome rape—twice—in a lifetime by different acquaintances; definining one's own racial identity in an all-white school; overcoming the sudden loss of a soulmate; setting and staying focused on achieving a goal; growing up as an orphan; overcoming self-centeredness and understanding priorities and much more.  Available June 1, 2010 at Barnesandnoble.com.