Review of My girls: The power of friendship in a poor neighborhood.

"My Girls: The Power of Friendship in a Poor Neighborhood" by Jasmin Sandelson is an ethnographic study that follows a group of teenage women in North Cambridge, Massachusetts, as they navigate high school. The young women, most of whom are Black and either immigrants or daughters of immigrants, live in public housing and face the challenges of race, immigrant status, and poverty. The book explores the role of friendships in providing social and material support for these young women, challenging the notion that teenage peer groups are inherently dangerous. It also examines the positive impact of social media on their self-confidence and solidarity, although the study was conducted before the rise of platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The book highlights the need for college programs and policies that address the social health of students of color, as the transition to college can be particularly challenging for marginalized youth. [Extracted from the article]