A few years ago, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie received a letter from a dear childhood friend, asking her how to raise her baby girl as a feminist. Dear Ijeawele is Adichie’s letter of response.

In her new work, Adichie outlines 15 compelling, direct and wryly funny suggestions for how to empower a daughter to become a strong, independent woman.

From encouraging her to choose a helicopter, and not only a doll as a toy if she so desires; having open conversations with her about clothes, makeup and sexuality; debunking the myth that women are somehow biologically arranged to be in the kitchen and that men can ‘allow’ women to have full careers, Dear Ijeawele goes right to the heart of sexual politics in the 21st century, to start a new and urgently needed conversation.