Girls Write Now
2024 Holiday Gift Guide
The Girls Write Now 2024 Gift Guide is here! Get a head start on your holiday shopping with unique products and ideas from and for our beloved community. Find the perfect gift for your friends and loved ones of all ages and backgrounds.
Our gift guide is just one way that we promote the work of our community. You can directly support our groundbreaking writers by donating to Girls Write Now.
Gifts that Give to Girls Write Now
GIRLS WRITE NOW ON THE ART OF THE CRAFT: A GUIDEBOOK TO COLLABORATIVE STORYTELLING
HarperOne
This hands-on guide—conceived of and written and edited by the young people of Girls Write Now—draws from the organization’s dynamic curriculum and the writers’ own personal experiences spanning decades. It offers aspiring writers the tools they need to develop their craft—including tips, insight, and advice on the writing and publishing process as well as critical thinking about the future of storytelling.
Here & Now: Girls Write Now 2024 Anthology
Dutton
Do not read this book, unless you want to know what real humans are thinking. Taking poetic license to express things in ways that make AI fear it will be replaced by humans, the stories in these pages reflect the here and now: a collective urgency as the pandemic recedes, the world overheats, wars overwhelm, and the national discourse is conducted in a language far from love. Give the gift of the voices of today’s youth in our newest publication, Here & Now: Girls Write Now 2024 Anthology to a young person in your life.
Tools of Empowerment
Pavé The Way® Jewelry
Pavé The Way® Jewelry is a unique social enterprise model that redefines the power of investment in jewelry. Pavé The Way® donates 100% of profits to your charity of choice, so the power to direct support to the causes you care about is in your hands. In the “Tools of Empowerment” Series, Pavé The Way® reimagines the tools that help make way for the next generation.
Write in ‘Girls Write Now’ at checkout!
Gifts of Inspiration
Writing Prompts Coffee
Nicole Itkin
Substack
WRITING PROMPTS COFFEE is a Substack newsletter where Girls Write Now mentee Nicole Iktin sends out a writing prompt every day! Grab a cup of coffee, a pen, and a notebook. Use each prompt to sit back, think, and write. The prompts are a mishmash of everything: reflections on emotions, thoughts on her favorite books, deliberation on the questions she NEEDS answers to! You can use each prompt as inspiration for a writing project you’re working on or simply to think about yourself and what’s been going on. Enjoy!
What if Women Ruled the World? Magnet
Judy Chicago
Created for the New Museum’s exhibit Judy Chicago: Herstory, this magnet features an image of the iconic banner, What if Women Ruled the World? It serves as a daily reminder of the power of your voice, to think outside of the expected, and to take charge of the world around you.
Prompt Oracle Cards
Priscilla Thomas
This deck of 52 double-sided prompt oracle cards might add some spontaneity to a writing routine—or spark new inspiration!
Rupi Kaur’s Gratitude Prompts
Rupi Kaur
Girls Write Now champion Rupi Kaur shares her writing journey with a thoughtfully curated deck of 70 writing prompts that invoke curiosity and a deeper connection with the self. While focusing on the theme of gratitude, use this card deck as a part of your daily ritual to inspire appreciation and creativity. We hope it becomes a tool for you to continue to discover more about your inner and outer worlds, and a light to help navigate you through it all.
Gifts By our 2024 Honorees
Yellowface
R. F. Kuang
Harper Collins Publishers
White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting novel from R.F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel.
Madness: Race & Insanity in a Jim Crow Asylum
Antonia Hylton
Hachette Book Group
In the tradition of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Madness is a page-turning 93-year history of Crownsville Hospital, one of the nation’s last segregated asylums, that the New York Times described as “fascinating…meticulous research” and bestselling author Clint Smith endorsed it as “a book that left me breathless.” This is a captivating and heartbreaking meditation on how America decides who is sick or criminal, and who is worthy of our care or irredeemable.
red helicopter
James Rhee
HarperOne
In kindergarten, James Rhee received a toy red helicopter in gratitude for a simple act of generosity—sharing his lunch. Decades later, the lesson from that small gift led him to develop a human-centered framework for business and personal achievement that helped him overcome seemingly insurmountable hurdles and find unprecedented success. red helicopter is designed for families, parents, and their children, as well as for any leader accountable for the livelihood and well-being of others.
Gifts for Young Writers
Invisible Kitties
by Yu Yoyo
HarperCollins
Equal parts magical and humorous, Invisible Kitties tells the story of a young couple that one day accidentally comes into possession of a delightful, playful kitten. Bright eyed and bushy tailed, this new companion, aptly named Cat, upturns the routine of the narrator and her husband in their cramped apartment, and soon they find their existence forever altered as they gradually gain insight into the fantastical world of cats.
Hidden Language of Cats
by Sarah Brown, PhD
Penguin Random House
Can we understand what cats’ meows and other signals mean? How do cats actually perceive us? And how can we use this information to inform how we talk back to our feline friends? Referencing historical records, exploring modern scientific studies of cat-human communication, and including simple, elegant line drawings, The Hidden Language of Cats is perfect for any cat lover who wants to learn more about their companion.
Perla the Mighty Dog
by Isabelle Allende
Penguin Random House
In the first children’s book written by critically acclaimed, New York Times-bestselling superstar Isabel Allende, Perla, the mighty dog, teaches her human brother, Nico Rico, how to use his superpowers to stand up to a bully.
The Weirn Books vol 1 & 2
by Svetlana Chmakova
Yen Press
In the Night Realm, vampires, shifters, weirns, and other night things passing for human prowl the streets…but they still have to go to school! Ailis and Na’ya are pretty average students (NOT losers), but when a shadow starts looming and a classmate gets all weird, they are the first to notice. It gets personal, though, when Na’ya’s little brother D’esh disappears―It’s time to confront the secrets of the forbidden mansion in the Silent Woods! Join the acclaimed author of Awkward, Svetlana Chmakova, for an outing into her favorite fantastical world full of magic and adventure!
After her terrible adventures in the Silent Woods, Na’ya’s world seems to have returned to normal…that is, except for the nightmares that keep haunting her. What she needs is the power to protect everyone in case the evil scientist returns, and she has the perfect solution—she’ll turn into a dragon, once and for all! With help from Ailis and Jasper, everything seems to be going according to plan. But what’s that dark shadow slithering around the spell-casting range…?
Your Letter
by Hyeon A. Cho
Yen Press
Sori Lee is hoping for a fresh start at her new school—which is easier said than done when every single thing reminds her of why she transferred. As luck would have it, an anonymous letter taped to the bottom of her desk provides a perfect distraction. Little does Sori know that she’s about to embark on the scavenger hunt of a lifetime! What starts off as simple curiosity becomes a healing journey as Sori discovers just how far a small act of kindness can go.
Delicious in Dungeon: The Complete Box Set
by Ryoko Kui
Yen Press
Feast upon a smorgasbord of monstrous cuisine in this delectable spread of all fourteen volumes of Delicious in Dungeon! Join Laios, Marcille, Chilchuck, and Senshi as they delve into the depths to save their lost comrade—and stuff themselves silly in the process! And if all that doesn’t whet your appetite, this box set even includes an exclusive poster for dessert!
Isabelle Allende Barbie
Mattel
The Barbie Inspiring Women Series proudly honors author and activist Isabel Allende. Now one of the world’s most widely read writers, Allende first began raising her powerful voice while in exile from a military coup in her home country of Chile. Partnering with Barbie Dream Gap Project, and Allende’s Editor Joanna Castillo at Writers House, Girls Write Now celebrated Isabel in a series of special events. This doll is a limited edition gift to honor the trailblazing women in your life!
Gifts From Our Community
Coat Check Girl
Laura Buchwald
Embark on a touching journey with Josie Gray as she navigates the turbulent waters of loss, love, and the supernatural. After bidding farewell to her cherished grandmother, Josie finds herself adrift in a sea of grief, compounded by the complexities of an ambiguous romantic entanglement and the return of her unsettling “gift”-the ability to sense and communicate with spirits. A presence haunts the restaurant where she works, dredging up long-buried memories from her childhood. Set against the backdrop of the bustling restaurant scenes of New York City and New Orleans, The Coat Check Girl is a compelling tale weaving together threads of sorrow, redemption, and the enduring power of connection. Join Josie as she discovers that sometimes, it’s in confronting the shadows that we find the brightest light.
Most Wonderful
Georgia Clark
Penguin Random House
Holiday rom com fans rejoice! Georgia Clark brings you the cozy romance you need this season. Seeking direction and holiday cheer, three siblings head up to their mother’s house in the country, determined to swear off love and focus on themselves and their work. But the spirit of the season seems to have different plans for them, and their best intentions are quickly derailed in the most delightful and festive of ways.
Join us at our Friday Night Salon with Georgia Clark on December 13 either in-person or virtually!
Wake Up to Love
Nikki Walton
HarperCollins Publishers
Imbued with spirit, warmth, and unconditional love, Wake Up to Love draws inspiration from many traditions and experiences, opening our awareness to the moment, and deepening our connection to spirit. Unexpected success created a spiritual crisis for Nikki Walton, which ultimately lead her to search her soul, scour religious texts, and come into closer connection with the divine in her daily life. This inspired GoOD Mornings, 5-minute meditations centering love and spirit to start the day, a popular podcast which has established her as a spiritual leader. She also offers prompts and insight into how this practice has opened her heart to expansiveness and freed her of fear.
Buried Paper Airplanes —And You
Maya Collins
Bottlecap Press
Snow-covered roadkill and the eating of groceries are fragments of grief and longing in this chapbook, Buried Paper Airplanes —And You by Girls Write Now Mentee, Maya Collins. A candid exploration of mental illness and womanhood reminds the reader of works by Shira Erlichman. Richard Siken’s marriage of the holy and the mundane is paired with Annie Dillard’s powerful metaphor. Coming of age and the human psyche are explored within chosen moments, intense and vivid. The work is an immersive experience that engages the senses, uncovers wounds—and offers a shining sliver of hope.
The Waves Take You Home
Maria Alejandra Barrios Vélez
Lake Union Publisher
In this heartfelt story about how the places we run from hold the answers to our deepest challenges, the death of her grandmother brings a young woman home, where she must face the past in order to become the heir of not just the family restaurant, but her own destiny.
The Art of Crying
Pepita Sandwich
Hachette Book Group
In The Art of Crying, Pepita Sandwich makes the case that crying is humanity’s most misunderstood and magical special effect. We are the only animals who shed tears as a result of the emotions we feel. But crying is not our weakness: it’s our superpower. Our tears are a path to growth and healing that leads to deeper and more fulfilling experiences.
Write On
Priscilla Thomas
Write On is a community for writers to connect, write together virtually, and support one another! Give a writer in your life the gift of community.
GWN15 gets you 15% off a subscription to Write On.
43 Stages of Greiving
Micharne Cloughley
Nextstage Press
43 STAGES OF GRIEVING: A COMEDY tells the story of a pregnant, dying robot and a human who attempted to live forever. Like almost anyone who has grieved, they can both attest that the idea there are only five stages of grieving is hilarious. But with a presumably incoming infant on the way, they can’t sit around and eat cheese all day (there are of course stages of grief for both hard cheese and soft cheese). Together they try to make plans for an unknown motherhood, kind but complicated technology, and a future without them. This is a comedy for a grief saturated world.
Undiplomatic: How My Attitude Created the Best Kind of Trouble
Deesha Dyer
Hachette Book Group
In this vivid portrayal from a true “around the way girl” on the personal impact of the Obama presidency, Deesha shares her road map from imposter to impact. In Undiplomatic, she invites you on a journey of self-discovery where she overcame doubt, unearthed true love for herself and learned that your unique worth is not something to be earned, but something inherently deserved. Uplifting, funny and candid, Deesha’s story shows you how to embrace your authenticity at all costs, and the joy and freedom that awaits on the other side.
Not Your China Doll
Katie Gee Salisbury
Dutton
Before Constance Wu, Sandra Oh, Awkwafina, or Lucy Liu, there was Anna May Wong. In her time, she was a legendary beauty, witty conversationalist, and fashion icon. Plucked from her family’s laundry business in Los Angeles, Anna May Wong rose to stardom in Douglas Fairbanks’s blockbuster The Thief of Bagdad. Fans and the press clamored to see more of this unlikely actress, but when Hollywood repeatedly cast her in stereotypical roles, she headed abroad in protest. Anna May starred in acclaimed films in Berlin, Paris, and London. She dazzled royalty and heads of state across several nations, leaving trails of suitors in her wake. She returned to challenge Hollywood at its own game by speaking out about the industry’s blatant racism. She used her new stature to move away from her typecasting as the China doll or dragon lady, and worked to reshape Asian American representation in film.
A Season of Perfect Happiness
Maribeth Fischer
Dutton
Ten years after an unspeakable tragedy caused Claire to flee her hometown in Delaware, she finally feels content. She has a quiet, tidy life in Wisconsin, a place she picked at random for its shape on a map. Her careful existence centers on a simple plan: keep her social circle small and keep the past a secret.
Gifts from Our Favorite Bookstores
Softcover T-Shirt
P&T Knitwear
For the soft-at-heart. Celebrate your sappiest sensibilities with the Softcover T-Shirt.
Hardcover T-Shirt
P&T Knitwear
An extra-soft hardcover T-Shirt to wear your love of books on your sleeve!
Constant Reader Book Set
McNally Jackson
Celebrate the holidays with humor, history, and style with the CONSTANT READER gift set, featuring a collection of Dorothy Parker’s razor-tipped book reviews and a snappy, limited-edition hat to match. Parker, a legendary writer, humorist, and unapologetic critic, was also a passionate civil rights activist who left her estate to the NAACP. This gift is a stylish nod to those who inspire with their words and actions—just like Parker herself.
Gifts to Treat Yourself!
Well Behaved Women Ring
New York Public Library
Hand forged and hand stamped, this adjustable ring features the inspiring words of Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American historian of the history of early America and the history of women. Keep close a thought-provoking and empowering message.
Sweet July Sweet Mornings Candle
Sweet July
Wake up with our Sweet July Sweet Mornings candle. A luxurious blend of sweet citrus and cashmere will help start your day off right with a scent that both calms and inspires. Fragrance Notes: Yuzu + Lemon + Cashmere
Hand Pomade
Le Labo
Beat the winter dryness with formulated with plant-based ingredients! With a blend of shea butter, coconut oil, and almond oil. Rich texture that softens and moisturizes hands.
Basil is paired with verbena, a citrusy and vegetal aromatic note, increasing each facet of basil.