←Recommendations of form of a girl unknown

For all the little girls who are weird, and anxious, smart and curious. “Sometimes it feels like there are aliens in me that are not babies but me.”

Simpson has crafted a thrilling and engrossing coming of age story.

Simpson's world sucks you in immediately and completely. I haven't come across a more realistic group of fictional middle schoolers. So much nuance and care are given to every aspect of this piece. Simpson is not afraid to explore the full breadth and depth of complicated young minds and their relationships. Truly magical while still staying wholly grounded.

Terrific insight into coming of age and the struggle of the journey when we have enormous questions to answer. Excellent.

This is the second play of Charly Evon Simpson's that I've read (in 24 hours... I got a little excited), and I love how much respect she gives her young teen/tween characters, a demographic that so often feels ignored, brushed off, or not written/depicted as real people onstage. Amali is daring, deep, and determined, a fabulously nuanced character that an actor would be so lucky to play.

What an exquisitely written coming of age story. Charly Evon Simpson captures the confusing and overwhelming developmental moment that is the cusp of teenagerhood by rendering all of her young characters like the multi-dimensional human beings that they are. She also explores the intersection of identity formation, growing up, and mental health in a way that is so delicately portrayed while also honest and real. To top it all off, the poignant moments punctuate some incredible hilarity that propels the piece forward, the humor always coming from circumstance and truth. I'd love to see this onstage!

Oh my gosh. This piece. It took me back to my middle school years. Simpson's protagonist was so incredibly real and will remind every woman of her younger years. I had planned on reading half in one night, and the other half in the morning. I couldn't put it down until I finished it. You'll be rooting for Amali the entire time.

If you enjoyed the film "Eighth Grade," you MUST read this play. Even if you didn't- Simpson has created a visceral, ethereal piece that captures the oddness of middle schoolers and drew me in, even as someone far from that time of life. This is a very real not-quite-coming-of-age story and should be read and produced many times over!

It is so rare to see a play that's so genuine, heartfelt, and hilarious. Beautiful moments between mothers and daughters. A 12 year old's rejection of the rules and restrictions put upon her body by society, so she takes to the woods. Amali was such a delightful, funny, and REAL character. I could've lived in her world for a long time. I'm excited to reread this.

I've never read a play that so perfectly captured the voice of a girl this age so perfectly. As I read this magnificent play, I remembered what it was like to be this age in all of its raw glory. Simpson is a marvel and one of my favorite playwrights period. She writes with such grace and intelligence, with such powerful emotion that is so incredibly understated. Everything in this play is so painfully real. This is not your average coming of age story, but being a young woman is anything but average anyways.