W. J. Kendrick grew up in Northern London, England, surrounded by neighbors who she imagined living behind white picket fences. At a difficult time of motherhood, she started to write The Girl, which helped her reflect on the rewards of motherhood while living the sometimes painful consequences. The Girl is a series of reflections presented from a mother's viewpoint. If The Girl helps just one mother laugh a little louder as she reflects on her own memories, then the book is a triumph. If The Girl provides comfort to another mother and helps her forgive her own motherly imperfections, then its purpose has been fulfilled. Most important, The Girl is an eternal gift from a mother to her gorgeous daughter.