2012 marks the 100th year anniversary of the Girl Scouts of America, founded by Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low. Currently, there are 3.2 million active Girl Scouts and more than 59 million American women enjoyed Girl Scouting during their childhood.
On My Honor, written by Shannon Henry Kleiber, is a historical account of the Girl Scouts of America’s founder, Daisy Gordon Low, and a self-help guide for modern-day mothers who are struggling to teach their daughters the importance of simple yet commonly overlooked values such as being a good friend, healthy living, spending time outdoors, and finding interests that will encourage personal growth.
When asked to read and review a new book about Girl Scouts and its founder Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low, I agreed. I have to admit I didn’t think I would make it through the book, but as a Girl Scout leader and mother of 3 Girl Scouts thought it might be of some interest to me. (Also read into this that I am NOT much of a reader these days) Was I in for a surprise!
Not only did this nontraditional biography hold my attention, it gave me insight into the history of Girl Scouts that I never knew (or maybe just don’t remember) as a Girl Scout myself and gave a wonderful connection to how that history has transformed into today’s modern (yet very similar) version/vision of Girl Scouts as today’s girls know it.
Our family is a scouting family. My husband (an Eagle Scout) is the Scout Master for my son’s Boy Scout troop. My middle daughter loves her Girl Scout troop and leader, and I am a leader for my twin daughters and 8 other girls who just bridged to Brownies. I thought my current connection to scouting would be the tie I had to the information Kleiber had to present in her biography. What I found was it brought back all the positive memories I had as a Girl Scout myself and the ties those experiences had to developing the person I am today.
While I had a hard time getting through the first chapter, I sailed through the rest of the material. I found myself making time to read this book as I really enjoyed Kleiber’s smooth style of recounting Daisy’s life and development of the Girl Scouts in the United States and how that has transformed over the years to a modern day application with her own troop of girls. I also liked the historical link to Boy Scouts and Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the influences and similarities of the two organizations formed to benefit and develop our youth into strong and unique individuals. It’s through this foundation that the current Girl Scout leaders can build a solid foundation for the girls in our troops and the girls who will be influential in our future.
I recommend this book for anyone who was/is a Girl Scout, has a daughter, or just believes in the positive power of what girls can do. I’m recommending it to my entire service unit and my troop moms in hopes of renewing/continuing their spirit of the positive experience Girl Scouts brings to the lives of girls.
About Shannon Henry Kleiber: She is a former staff writer and columnist for the Washington Post. She has also written for the Christian Science Monitor, Washington Technology, American Banker, and Edible Maddison. Kleiber is also the author of The Dinner Club: How the Masters of the Internet Universe Rode the Rise and Fall of the Greatest Boom in History (Free Press/Simon & Schuster, 2002). Kleiber lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and two daughters, where she is a Girl Scout leader of her older daughter’s troop. For more information, visit www.shannonhenrykleiber.com.
Julie is a writer for Jen is on a Journey, about Julie: I’m a 41 year old (and yes that seems old) SAHM, independent demonstrator with Uppercase Living, a self-taught artist/crafter (whichever term you want to put with what I create), and former social worker. My life revolves around myself, husband, son (12), daughter (9), and twin daughters (7). That makes 6 to keep up with! We have an active family who loves the outdoors, scouting, swimming, and volunteering. You can find me at http://juliecorrigan.
Book was provided for honest review, all opinions our own.
I want to read the book after reading the review. I, too, was a Girl Scout over 50 years ago. I’m glad that Girl Scouts is stll there for young girls.