Analysis of Girls Like Us by Gail Giles in Contrast to Echo by Ellen Von Wiegand

Girls Like Us (2014), a novel by Gail Giles, takes the reader through the lives of Biddy and Quincy, two special education graduates. The structure of this book alternates between the two girls point of view, knowing their thoughts only makes Giles message stronger. Girls Like Us highlights the importance of not judging someone based on how they look or even act.

The Artist of Echo, Ellen Von Wiegand, notes, “I am drawn to the nude as a symbol of vulnerability, and I am inspired by how the posture or stance of a body can offer information into the psyche of the person in the frame. In this three block lino print, a female nude stares back at her own reflection in confrontation of her full self.” Wiegand and Giles use their preferred medium of art to celebrate women. What is unique about Girls Like Us is that it’s about the relationship between two girls who have gone through a lot. It doesn’t deal with romance or superiority, it’s just two girls making their way in the world. Throughout the book, the girls slowly grow into their skin. They become more comfortable with themselves and with each other. The whole story is merely two young girls relating to each other. On the surface, Echo touches less on relationships and more on natural, raw physical beauty. One may just see a reflection of a naked woman. However, the longer one looks at it, the more one realizes the woman pictured isn’t a skinny model with lots of makeup. She is just a person. She is very vulnerable, with an emotionless face. It appears she has gone through a lot, however, in this image, she has come to terms with her past. She looks confident in being the best version of herself, despite all the hardships and obstacles she has encountered. Wiegand’s decision in showcasing a nude woman looking straight into her eyes is powerful and effective. Both Echo and Girls Like Us acknowledge the struggles of living in this world as a woman. However, both find the beauty of it.

The simplicity of this piece by Ellen Von Wiegand is similar to the writing style Gilauses uses in her book. The story is told from two points of view, Biddy and Quincy, and alternates its perspective by chapter. By doing this, Giles creates authenticity in the delicate subject matters she touches on. Wiegand piece has the same feeling of authenticity. Not only is the figure nude, she is looking straight at herself. It gives this feeling of drive and confidence, just like how Giles approaches the plot lines in her book. Similar to Giles novel, Wiegand’s art piece shows two perspectives. However, Wiegand piece shows points of view internally and externally of the same girl. The internal one being how the girl sees herself and the external one being how others see her, or the viewers. In contrast, Giles approaches her book from two different individuals points of view.

The art piece pictures a girl looking straight at herself, examining her body and reflecting on her experiences and self-worth. It clearly highlights the idea that everyone has their own struggles and how those struggles cause them to act a certain way. The two girls in the novel are perfect examples of this. Quincy approaches the world with a chip on her shoulder. She got a head wound from her mother's abusive boyfriend when she was six. Since then, she moved from foster home to foster home. These tragic experiences shaped her into the person she is now. Contrastingly, Biddy tries to make the best out of everything, she is open to new experiences, despite her hardships and trauma. Biddy was abandoned by her mother due to her disability. She was then raised by her mean grandmother. Instead of hating the world, she uses her experiences to create a better, different life for herself. She approaches everyone with kindness, however, she is very scared. The events that have occurred in her life serve as the source of this fear. Miss Lizzy, Biddy’s employer, helps them better understand how to relate to each other, ultimately, creating a close bond between the two. In contrast, viewers of Echo have the freedom to create their own story of the woman in the painting. Although Wiegand’s piece does not explicitly picture these struggles, it still showcases the examination of self and how experiences shape a person. Both, Girls Like Us and Echo teach us about acceptance and love.