Rookie Yearbook One is a treasure chest book full of badass intelligent writing, DIY and art that makes you want to create things and go out and be awesome. It celebrates girlhood and life and everything in between, and even if you're not a teenage girl a lot of the writing will inspire you and remind you of Very Imporant Life Lessons in the midst of the Messiness of Life. Rookie's mantra basically comes down to: you are awesome just the way you are so continue being yourself, but it is never condescending or corny, and never talks down to it's readers. It is feminist in an extremely relateable way and is thoughtful and thought-provoking at times.While many pieces are online on Rookie's website, the Yearbook is beautifully designed and fits right up the 'Rookie aesthetic' alley. If you're wondering what to get your teenage daughter/granddaughter/sister/niece/cousin/friend, look no further. Much smarter and hipper than anything else, magazine-wise, for teenage girls. Definitely fills a void. However, it was not my void. I don't believe I have ever been or desired to be this cool, this sort of fashionable and idealistic and ambitious (the kind with a lot of self-aware pink florals in it) and frankly... now that I have recently turned thirty, I wonder if, in fact, I was ever this young. Rookie is fantastic, don't get me wrong, I just wish there were even more choices and voices out there that have the legitimacy and promotion that is afforded Rookie. So yeah, it's not really all that different from all the other stuff that has legitimacy and promotion when you get down to it. I just have to breathe in and out and say to myself "It is a fashion magazine specifically for young white girls who dream about moving to New York City, accept its limitations, Rookie is okay!" I just have to wait for that magazine for youngish half-Filipinas who want to travel to comfortable places and live close to family and friends. "Joanna, you can write that magazine!" Baby, I live it.
What do You think about Rookie Yearbook One (2012)?
I wish I had this book when I was a teenager. On to Volume 2!
—ramraj
Perfect. Required reading for every teenage girl
—Nick
Best best best best..seriously it's the best!!!
—lana
