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A Smart Girl's Guide: Getting It Together: How to Organize Your Space, Your Stuff, Your Time--and Your Life
Missed buses? Forgotten clarinet and homework? Lost cleats? No girl is born knowing how to organize her space, stuff, or time, but it's easy to learn! From backpack to bedroom, this book can teach you tips and tricks to take charge of things in life that may be tripping you up. Inside you'll find loads of ideas, fun quizzes, and even advice from other girls on how to get your life organized and keep it that way. The result? Not only will you forget and lose less, you'll feel less stressed and have more time for what you love.
96 pages, Paperback
Published April 27, 2017
18 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Erin Falligant
87 books22 followersAs an American Girl author and editor, Erin Falligant has developed books across a number of series, including Angelina Ballerina, Hopscotch Hill School, and American Girls Short Stories. While writing Braving the Lake, a story with more than 20 endings, she had great fun imagining the many paths the story could take. She views the Innerstar University™ books as “wonderfully challenging to write and a great teaching tool for readers, who can read the stories again and again to find out how the decisions they make lead to different outcomes.” Ms. Falligant has a master's degree in child clinical psychology and coaches Girls on the Run, where she helps girls build self-confidence and create paths of their own near her home just outside of Madison, Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
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August 30, 2020It’s REALLY awesome and gives good tips. Me and my mom are going to read it together and see what we can do to make everything get more organized.
January 26, 2024
I wish I had this book at age 11. It’s a fun, funny, no-nonsense yet judgement-free book about how to organize your space and life as a young girl. And honestly, I’m 25 years old and there were STILL some really great tips that I need to take to heart.
I love that it addressed diverse living situations too, from sharing a room to living in a very small space to splitting time between multiple homes. And the testimonials from real girls around the world were a nice addition. This book would be a great gift for a girl ages 9 to 14. A concrete tool to help order their space and time. Super helpful.
I love that it addressed diverse living situations too, from sharing a room to living in a very small space to splitting time between multiple homes. And the testimonials from real girls around the world were a nice addition. This book would be a great gift for a girl ages 9 to 14. A concrete tool to help order their space and time. Super helpful.
August 1, 2022
It helped me a lot. They really encouraged me to clean.
July 12, 2021
I have always loved to sort other peoples stuff not so much my own stuff, this book helped with sorting my own stuff and getting rid of the clutter I stored everywhere. I really enjoyed this book.
December 7, 2025
This book is designed for tweens, ten-and-up. It's been almost a half a century since I was that age, plus (if you ignore my mother's complaints that I didn't always put my discarded shoes in the closet), I was generally organized and good at time management. And, for the past 25 years, I've been a professional organizer. So, I may be a little picky about organizing advice, and I'm particularly aware (from the grownup side) of the special organizing needs of tween girls.
That said, this is definitely one of the better books books written on organizing and time management for tweens or teens, and though (as a professional) I have some issues, I think that if a girl picked this out of her school or public library, it would likely be received well. (I suspect a parent or grandparent giving this as a gift, unasked-for, would not go over as well.)
The tall, slim (94-page) book is charming. While it's full of cheery illustration, it does not come off as childish, per se. The book is divided into six main sections: an overall introduction to the overwhelm related to disorganization, organizing for and at school, organizing one's living space, dealing with the specific at home zones (studying/desk area, entertainment, getting dressed, getting ready/grooming), time management, and scheduling.
For late elementary and early middle-school kids, this is just about the right level of explanation. Each section has quizzes, advice, flow-charts, and last-minute "one small step" guidance to help propel change.
As a professional organizer, I often find books written by non-professionals to be lacking in an understanding of one or more concepts and this book would fall in that category. The tone is friendly and the advice, per se, is solid, and book is great for neurotypical kids. But it's definitely targeted toward neurotypical, middle-class kids with a great deal of local of control over their own environments. There's a nod to maybe sharing a room with (only) one other sibling, or (a two-page guide to) setting up organized spaces in two separate homes (such as when parents share custody).
But there are tacit expectations that there's a "norm" of reader, and it doesn't need to be that way. First, there's no awareness that the reader may be neurodivergent and need accommodations. There are no differently abled or disabled kids; nobody is wearing an insulin pump or using a wheelchair, and there's no acknowledgement that a reader might need to be organizing resources and supplies related to a disability.
The illustrations are not all of white kids; but when you eliminate the "personal story" double-pages between sections, there are relatively few Black (or brown) girls represented. There are no girls wearing hijabs, and the section on donations references churches, only, rather than (for example,) "houses of worship" or mentioning any other faith tradition.
Socioeconomically, there's a focus on middle-class (or wealthier) kids, with the narrative assuming they own a variety of resources for solutions that may not be the case. The only acknowledgement otherwise is at the end of a two-page spread about organizing a stress-free desk, there's one paragraph that starts, "No desk? Create a to-go tote..." that covers things like writing implements or scratch paper, but provides no solutions equal to those described in the rest of the chapter. A desk-less child would be left without any solution for dealing with returned academic papers, tests, or any documentation. A few sentences suggesting accordion files or inexpensive file crates would go a long way toward making a child feel less abandoned by the process or embarrassed by their lack of what author shows as "typical" in a girl's household.
In terms of neurotypicality, a child with ADHD, autism, or executive function disorders or delays would not be particularly well-served by this book. There are pronouncements of what should be kept in a backpack or at school vs. what should not be that my clients (whether kids or adults with ADHD) wouldn't be able to parse; many pages later, in a flow-chart, there's a suggestion that if you don't know where something should be kept, to ask your teacher. Both children and parents with ADHD would be overwhelmed by the various ways (some logical to neurotypicals, many not), and a page explaining WHY something should be kept (as I'd explain it) in active work areas vs. near storage vs. archive storage would be really helpful to readers.
Additionally, the various quizzes designed to clue readers in to whether they are visual, sequential, or practical are not wrong, per se, but they leave out so much that goes on in the cognitive processing of both neurotypical and neurodivergent kids and teens that without some note that there are OTHER ways to perceive and group things, readers may be upset to be left out.
There are also just some pronouncements that are WRONG, because they fail to take into account the huge differences between people who live different lifestyles. Owning three pairs of flip-flops in different hues of purple, lavender, and magenta may seem excessive to someone living in Idaho, but to a girl growing up on the beach in Hawaii or Florida, owning three pair (or more) would be the norm. Pronouncing certain practical choices as clutter fails to see the larger situation.
Falligant's writing is engaging and never bossy, and the tone is that of a "fun aunt" rather than an authority figure.
Again, the book is a solid and entertaining book for the "average" American girl, assuming she leads a narrowly-defined typical life: neurotypical, able-bodied, middle-class, etc. The advice is smart and practical, couched with gentle humor and warm guidance for maintaining emotional/nostalgic ties and the understanding of the importance for sleep, avoiding overstimulation and overwork, and taking responsibility for communicating for parents, teachers, and coaches.
If your children is fits the rubric, you can feel comfortable with them; if not, you may want to read it together to add the elements the author has missed, and to provide both comfort and structure so that their needs have missed.
That said, this is definitely one of the better books books written on organizing and time management for tweens or teens, and though (as a professional) I have some issues, I think that if a girl picked this out of her school or public library, it would likely be received well. (I suspect a parent or grandparent giving this as a gift, unasked-for, would not go over as well.)
The tall, slim (94-page) book is charming. While it's full of cheery illustration, it does not come off as childish, per se. The book is divided into six main sections: an overall introduction to the overwhelm related to disorganization, organizing for and at school, organizing one's living space, dealing with the specific at home zones (studying/desk area, entertainment, getting dressed, getting ready/grooming), time management, and scheduling.
For late elementary and early middle-school kids, this is just about the right level of explanation. Each section has quizzes, advice, flow-charts, and last-minute "one small step" guidance to help propel change.
As a professional organizer, I often find books written by non-professionals to be lacking in an understanding of one or more concepts and this book would fall in that category. The tone is friendly and the advice, per se, is solid, and book is great for neurotypical kids. But it's definitely targeted toward neurotypical, middle-class kids with a great deal of local of control over their own environments. There's a nod to maybe sharing a room with (only) one other sibling, or (a two-page guide to) setting up organized spaces in two separate homes (such as when parents share custody).
But there are tacit expectations that there's a "norm" of reader, and it doesn't need to be that way. First, there's no awareness that the reader may be neurodivergent and need accommodations. There are no differently abled or disabled kids; nobody is wearing an insulin pump or using a wheelchair, and there's no acknowledgement that a reader might need to be organizing resources and supplies related to a disability.
The illustrations are not all of white kids; but when you eliminate the "personal story" double-pages between sections, there are relatively few Black (or brown) girls represented. There are no girls wearing hijabs, and the section on donations references churches, only, rather than (for example,) "houses of worship" or mentioning any other faith tradition.
Socioeconomically, there's a focus on middle-class (or wealthier) kids, with the narrative assuming they own a variety of resources for solutions that may not be the case. The only acknowledgement otherwise is at the end of a two-page spread about organizing a stress-free desk, there's one paragraph that starts, "No desk? Create a to-go tote..." that covers things like writing implements or scratch paper, but provides no solutions equal to those described in the rest of the chapter. A desk-less child would be left without any solution for dealing with returned academic papers, tests, or any documentation. A few sentences suggesting accordion files or inexpensive file crates would go a long way toward making a child feel less abandoned by the process or embarrassed by their lack of what author shows as "typical" in a girl's household.
In terms of neurotypicality, a child with ADHD, autism, or executive function disorders or delays would not be particularly well-served by this book. There are pronouncements of what should be kept in a backpack or at school vs. what should not be that my clients (whether kids or adults with ADHD) wouldn't be able to parse; many pages later, in a flow-chart, there's a suggestion that if you don't know where something should be kept, to ask your teacher. Both children and parents with ADHD would be overwhelmed by the various ways (some logical to neurotypicals, many not), and a page explaining WHY something should be kept (as I'd explain it) in active work areas vs. near storage vs. archive storage would be really helpful to readers.
Additionally, the various quizzes designed to clue readers in to whether they are visual, sequential, or practical are not wrong, per se, but they leave out so much that goes on in the cognitive processing of both neurotypical and neurodivergent kids and teens that without some note that there are OTHER ways to perceive and group things, readers may be upset to be left out.
There are also just some pronouncements that are WRONG, because they fail to take into account the huge differences between people who live different lifestyles. Owning three pairs of flip-flops in different hues of purple, lavender, and magenta may seem excessive to someone living in Idaho, but to a girl growing up on the beach in Hawaii or Florida, owning three pair (or more) would be the norm. Pronouncing certain practical choices as clutter fails to see the larger situation.
Falligant's writing is engaging and never bossy, and the tone is that of a "fun aunt" rather than an authority figure.
Again, the book is a solid and entertaining book for the "average" American girl, assuming she leads a narrowly-defined typical life: neurotypical, able-bodied, middle-class, etc. The advice is smart and practical, couched with gentle humor and warm guidance for maintaining emotional/nostalgic ties and the understanding of the importance for sleep, avoiding overstimulation and overwork, and taking responsibility for communicating for parents, teachers, and coaches.
If your children is fits the rubric, you can feel comfortable with them; if not, you may want to read it together to add the elements the author has missed, and to provide both comfort and structure so that their needs have missed.
February 18, 2019
This book is one of the few that I've read about time management for kids (although I'm sure there are plenty out there that I haven't read yet). Like American Girl's other books, this one is geared towards elementary/middle school readers, although I think anyone can benefit from some of these basic tips. This book focuses on organizing areas that a reader has, such as their bedroom, and the things they have. Once those areas are taken care of, the book moves to organizing the reader's time and schedule. This is a great way to introduce the important concept of time management to kids.
January 16, 2018
I got this for my daughter and wound up reading it for myself. A great refresher on the basics of organizing. I am definitely using some of the ideas for organizing my room and home. Using a shower caddy on the mirror for my oversized brush is ingenious. I am also using the idea of a different basket for clean clothes instead of dumping them in the kids' rooms where they get mixed in with the dirty clothes.
January 24, 2023
This book was so well written. It’s age appropriate and has such great charts and images to help reiterate the message. This is the best Juvenile Self Help book I’ve found so far for helping kids learn to get organized. My only complaint is that it was written specifically to girls (I get that’s the whole series backing “a smart GIRLS guide to…” so I didn’t mark it down any stars for that) because I feel like my son needs the organization help too.
January 1, 2026
Awww, yeah... Finished this just in time to make my reading goal for the year! One of my New years resolutions is to get it together. By that, I mostly mean eating right, managing time better, and building solid morning and evening routines. I'm here to chase my dreams without driving myself crazy. I want to live in a clean and orderly environment all the time. I probably won't do most of what's in here. If I'm honest. It's a good book. I love American Girl, and I miss taking quizzes. I think next time I read something like this, I'm going to stick with minimalism. This book has a lot of tips on how to declutter and how to decide what to keep vs. donate/give away. But it also suggests using more tools than I want to use. If only I could find a minimalism book for 8-year-olds. I need something for my reading level, lol 😆
January 2, 2025
Once an American Girl, always an American Girl -- so yes, I am 35 years old, but I needed someone to explain to me how to get my stuff together as if I were 12. Just like other American Girl books I read 25+ years ago, this book was fun to read and helpful, offering simple and easy solutions to organizational problems while also explaining why the reader might be dealing with them. Now I'm on my way to getting it together -- finally!
April 23, 2019
Marie Kondo for the 10-16 set. Is it wrong to ask children this young to organize? Or is it worse to deprive them of this life skill? If you answered the latter, then this is the book you'll want for your tween girl.
July 21, 2020
This book gives many helpful tips aimed towards school aged children. Throughout the book are many illustrations reminiscent of American Girl magazines. While many of the tips are basic, they are aimed at an age group where they would be beneficial.
June 11, 2017
Will have to add this to my classroom library to support students! Not sure boys will be willing to access this because of the American Girl logo, but would certainly benefit any student!
August 1, 2017
This was basically a watered down version of Marie Kondo's book, but dang if I didn't love this. I might be 20 years too old for this, but I loved the lessons it provided.
January 2, 2018
This book may seem a little odd for some of you, but I really benefited from it it motivated me to get up and organise my life. It’s super quick and I recommend to all.
September 18, 2018
Americn Girl
December 8, 2018
My daughter loved it
This book teaches the basics on how to stay organized in this world of do more, see more. The format kept the interest of my busy young lady.
This book teaches the basics on how to stay organized in this world of do more, see more. The format kept the interest of my busy young lady.
December 30, 2019
Like the others in this series, this is a fantastic book with useful advice.
Read
September 21, 2020This book will really help girls of all ages get themselves and their schedule together.
January 26, 2021
An awesome how to guide for girls who need some help getting organized. Wish I had this kind of guidance when I was mich younger.
April 3, 2022
It's a great book for those who want a fun and easy way to get organized!
January 3, 2023
This was full of really good tips! Not at all what I was expecting though. 😂😅
August 24, 2023
A clear, concise guide on organization and time management for the tween set but it could really be useful for anyone.
January 6, 2023
okay so this was surprisingly good? I don't know why I'm surprised, I used to love these books when I was younger and just picked up a few from the library recently. The tips are actually helpful if you're really trying to get organised. However, I'm lazy and just wanted to read a book so I didn't end up following any of the tips. The book was entertaining and I'm honestly impressed by the inclusivity. They had a section for if you share a room and one for if you have two homes. I don't know if it's just me but I thought that was really cool and so many more girls will be able to use this book.
Bottom line: I liked it :)))
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currently reading thoughts :
i don't know why i'm reading this.
Bottom line: I liked it :)))
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currently reading thoughts :
i don't know why i'm reading this.
January 16, 2023
This is great for young girls. It's laid out simply and plainly but packed full of useful information. The way it's parceled out seems like it would hit all types of brains and personalities - I LOVE that.
June 1, 2021
This is a good book to reference to when organizing or cleaning or for time management tips. I would give this book 4.8 Stars. I think this book is for all ages.
December 20, 2023
really did help me definatly reccomend
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews