The Evolution Of A Girl by LE Bowman, Illustrated by Marie Worden
Published by Black Castle Media Group

THIS is the kind of poetry book that while you may finish it quickly, you’ll come back to over and over. While I believe many audiences would benefit from and enjoy Bowman’s meaningful and accessible writing style, this book so honestly – almost to the point of being brutal – portrays what it is to be a young woman that it seems to speak a message to teenage girls, that their experiences do not and will not isolate them.

Her poems explore the difference between what the world is like as a girl, as a woman and the transitional period between them. There is understanding of the exquisite pain and joy in every part of growing up, and while it does not exactly follow a narrative structure in the way a film, fiction novel or play might, it feels more like a coming of age story than much of the content within that genre

The first section of the book reflects on what it is like to be a girl and shares both personal and widespread experiences that often intersect. She explains living as a young person with a combination of fear and recklessness, not knowing who to trust or how to take care of yourself in a way that is elegant and simplistic.

This part tells of mistakes that are made in youth, with a deeply sincere sympathy for where those choices come from, and that healing cannot exist without this hurt.

While other themes circle around it that relate in their own little ways, much of the book is centred around being in an unhealthy relationship and the feeling of it ending. While time has clearly passed since this part of the story, much of what makes this beginning section so captivating is that it comes across as fresh, the raw pain and longing and confusion of losing someone you were never meant to have comes through as though it has only just happened.

As the book goes on into the stage of transformation, there is maturity discovered in the way that it is in real life – with pain and time. There are flashes back to the intense passion and hurt of the previous section but balanced out by a distinct sense of growth.

Bowman here deals with developing an identity of your own. As this snaps into a place of rebirth and womanhood there is of course the justified anger, wishing vengeance for an innocence that was once taken advantage of.

Often we think of anger, as a destination after being hurt but Evolution Of A Girl goes further, recognising this feeling of rage, expressing it even but coming to a place of divine softness. There is a strength to learning to be kind in a way that serves yourself and those who need it after giving that kindness to all the wrong people who saw it as a weakness.

This is in part a book of poetry but more than that it feels like a guide to growing up, one that tells the truth with understanding and that inspires self-love and growth at a time it is vital.