Girls Life Application Study Bible Review: Helping Tween Girls Grow in Faith

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Do you have a tween girl who is beginning to read the Bible on her own? My 9-year-old daughter made a profession of faith at seven. More recently, I’m so proud to see her taking an interest in reading Scripture for herself—beyond church and our homeschool Bible time. As she transitions to more independent Bible study, I want to equip her to thrive in this journey.

However, I know it can feel overwhelming to sit down with the Bible without direction—it’s something I sometimes struggle with (as an adult!). The tween years are also a season of big changes—mood swings, physical growth, deepening friendships, new hygiene routines, and so much more. It’s a time of habit formation, making it the perfect opportunity to cultivate the habit of daily Bible study. At the same time, this stage of life—and all the changes that come with it—can feel overwhelming. I don’t want reading Scripture to feel overwhelming for my daughter; I want it to be a source of guidance and assurance.

That’s why I was so excited to review the Girls Life Application Study Bible from Tyndale House Publishers. This edition features the clear and accessible NLT translation along with interactive study tools designed specifically for tween and teen girls. And on a lighter but still valuable note, it’s a gorgeous, feminine-looking Bible that I knew my daughter would be excited to receive and explore.

In this review, I’ll break down the translation, study features, and how tweens can use them to help you decide if this Bible would be a helpful resource to help your tween or teen grow in her faith!

Bible Overview:

The Girls Life Application Study Bible is based on the #1 best-selling Life Application Study Bible. However, it has been specially adapted with interactive features designed just for tween girls. According to the publisher, this Bible and its interactive features are intended for ages 11-14.

This edition uses the New Living Translation (NLT). This particular translation was chosen for its clarity and readability, with the goal being to help young readers understand and apply Scripture to their daily lives. A note at the beginning clarifies that this is actually the second-generation New Living Translation (NLT). After the original NLT was published in 1996, scholars spent eight more years refining the translation for better accuracy while keeping it highly readable.

Aesthetic-wise, it is a visually striking, vibrant, beautiful Bible. The exterior is made of soft imitation leather in bright pink and teal colors, with designs of flowers and swirls. The paper edges are gilded in pink, with a swirling, cloud-like pattern in white. There is a pink, silk ribbon that may be used as a bookmark.

Our First Impressions

Visual Appeal

I know that the discussion on the appearance of the Bible may seem frivolous to some, but believe me when I say that this Bible makes an exciting impression for a tween girl! Upon receiving the Girls Life Application Bible, I told my daughter her new Bible came in. When I pulled this Bible out of the box to show my daughter, she squealed in surprise and joy to see just how pretty it was.

The bright colors and pretty designs allow any tween girl receiving this Bible to immediately feel unique ownership over it. In other words, this is a Bible for girls, and that’s clear immediately! I genuinely believe that a feeling of ownership can encourage a habit of exploration and daily use, and that’s another reason the visual appeal matters.

At about 9 inches tall and 6 inches wide, the Bible is large, but not too heavy. Your tween won’t be able to fit it inside a purse for church on Sunday, but it is a reasonable size to carry around with one arm.

Translation and Features

Now let’s talk about first impressions of the New Living Translation and more practical features. I’m typically an ESV reader, and my daughter’s other Bible (owned previously to this one) is an ESV translation.

My daughter was immediately impressed by how much easier the NLT is for her to read and understand than her previous Bible. I was very happy with this, but I also wanted to learn more about the translation itself and how it was developed. I was impressed and interested by what I learned.

Unlike some other easy-to-read Biblical translations, the NLT is not a paraphrase of another English translation. Instead, it is a scholarly translation that directly approaches the Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts. The difference is that the NLT takes a “thought-by-thought” approach to translation instead of a “word-for-word” approach. This means that it takes into account the full meaning of each statement, in its original language, and translates that meaning into English.

To me, this is important because of the many nuances of meaning there can be in Hebrew and Greek words. Basically, if you’re going to produce a translation that is easier to understand for modern-day readers, while still keeping the original meaning intact, the NLT approach makes sense.

Ultimately, I am happy to learn this general information about the New Living Translation. I think it’s the perfect choice of translation for this Bible for young girls because it captures the heart of Scripture in a way that is more readable for them. Personally, I am enjoying this translation as well!

An initial flip-through of the Bible revealed a huge variety of built-in notes, interactive elements, and other features. I’ll go through those next in greater detail.

Special Features: Interactive Sections for Tween Girls

One of the standout aspects of the Girls Life Application Study Bible is the application part! This edition of the Bible has several features designed to help young girls think more critically and personally about what they’re reading. Here are 10 different application features you will find throughout this Bible.

1. “I Survived” – Real Stories from Real Teens

These sections include personal testimonies from teens, sharing real-life experiences that are relevant to young girls. Each story is placed near related passages in Scripture and includes connections to other Bible verses. This helps readers see how God’s Word applies to real-life challenges, and how God is consistent throughout Scripture, too.

2. Life Application Notes – Bringing the Bible to Life

Scattered throughout the Bible, Life Application Notes provide deeper explanations of key passages in the Bible. These sections break down difficult concepts into simple, modern terminology and offer practical ways for tweens to apply biblical principles to their daily lives.

3. “What Now?” – Handling Difficult Situations

This feature presents challenging, real-life scenarios that tweens and teens might face, along with Bible verses that provide guidance for how to navigate them. The “What Now?” sections encourage young readers to turn to Scripture when they encounter tough moments in their own lives.

My daughter liked these sections because they were stories that invited her to think about what she would do in a difficult situation.

4. “Is It Okay?” – Answering Big Questions

The “Is It Okay?” sections address honest, real-life faith and life questions that tweens might hesitate to ask out loud. Questions like “Is it okay to take a break?” or “What if I’m not happy with my life?” are explored with biblical insights, helping girls seek answers in Scripture.

I particularly like this feature because tweens are at an age where they may be embarrassed to ask some of these questions. These sections can help them see the Bible as a resource for any kind of issue.

5. “Spotlight On” – Women of the Bible

This section highlights important figures in Scripture, particularly women. Tween girls get to learn about female role models and how God used them in His plan. Each feature includes:

A brief biography of the biblical figure
An application question to encourage reflection
A blank response box for personal journaling

6. Book Introductions – A Big-Picture Overview

Before each book of the Bible, a colorful, full-page introduction provides:

A key verse from the book to think about and/or memorize
An overview of some of the main themes of the book to think about or discuss while reading.
A breakdown of the who, where, when, and why of that book.
A colorful, engaging design that makes learning more visually appealing.

Even as an adult, I appreciate this kind of overview when starting a new book of the Bible. It could also be useful if you plan to read through a particular book together.

7. Life Lessons – Key Takeaways for Each Book

Each book of the Bible includes a “Life Lessons” section that highlights a big-picture theme for girls to reflect on as they read. These lessons help young readers see the overarching message of each book and how it connects to their faith journey.

8. Memory Verses – Encouraging Scripture Memorization

Throughout the Bible, certain verses are highlighted in pink, with an exclamation point. This indicates that this is a good verse to commit to memory. As a homeschooling family, we do a lot of memory work, so I love this feature—it’s an easy way to encourage Scripture memorization.

9. Maps & Charts – Visual Aids for Deeper Understanding

Scattered throughout the Bible, maps and charts help bring Scripture to life and provide additional context for young readers. For example, one chart compares the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament to Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament. Another (shown below) connects the Beatitudes alongside Scripture that can help cultivate each one.

Features like this can help young girls see how the big story of the Bible connects across different books. These visual aids make complex biblical concepts easier to grasp, and I love how they reinforce key lessons in an engaging way!

10. “Foundations for Your Faith” – Deeper Study & Big-Picture Thinking

In addition to the many interactive elements throughout the Bible, there are also eight larger, full-color application sections called Foundations for Your Faith. These multi-page sections help girls dive deeper into the big story of the Bible, making connections across Scripture and inviting them to reflect on their faith. Specifically, these sections include:

Big picture, interactive summaries of the Old Testament and New Testament to help young readers understand the overarching narrative of Scripture.
A section exploring Jesus’ identity by: His own words, what He taught, what He did, and how that applies personally.
A section all about discipling others, offering practical guidance on what it means to follow Jesus and how to live out faith in daily life.
A section focused on faith skills such as: practicing the spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship, and Bible study.
A section on Biblical life skills, offering practical wisdom for navigating relationships, decision-making, and challenges from a biblical perspective.

These larger application sections encourage deeper thinking and real-world application of biblical truths. There are plenty of spaces in these sections for young girls to write personal responses as well.

Overall, the Girls Life Application Study Bible is filled with engaging, interactive elements designed specifically for tween girls, making it a fantastic resource for self-guided study. I especially appreciate how the extra resource elements balance big-picture concepts—like the “Foundations for Your Faith” sections, book overview, and charts—with personal, real-life applications through sections like “I Survived,” “What Now?” and “Is It Okay?”

My daughter was most excited about the sections that relate biblical events to situations and stories of tween and teen girls. These connections made Scripture feel more immediate and relevant to her and made her think about what she would do in certain situations and what she should do according to Scripture. She also really liked that there were places in the application sections for her to respond by writing or drawing.

Using this Bible to Grow Faith in Your Homeschool

Personally, I was excited about the features of this Bible for my daughter’s independent study. However, there are also elements that make it a great resource for homeschool Bible study, family devotions, or simply guiding your daughter as she begins exploring Scripture on her own.

One of the benefits of the NLT translation is that it lends itself well to reading aloud, making it an excellent choice for simple daily devotions at home. The clear and natural language helps bring Scripture to life so that kids of all ages can understand, which is great for family Bible time.

If you’re wondering how you could incorporate this Bible into your homeschool, here are a few ideas:

Weekly Scripture Reading & Memory Verses – Use the highlighted memory verses as a guide for weekly Scripture memorization, practicing them daily in your home. Try making up some songs with them!
Book-by-Book Exploration – Study a book of the Bible in-depth by reading the book overviews at the beginning of each section, discussing key themes, and taking notes.
Character Studies – Focus on women of the Bible using the character spotlights as a starting point. Read about their lives, discuss their faith journeys, and reflect on how their stories apply today.
Personal Reflection Notebook – Encourage your daughter to keep a journal where she can write responses to the “What Now?” and “I Survived!” sections, helping her connect biblical truths to real-life situations. Are there situations in her own life she can connect to these biblical truths?
Creative Bible Study Binder – Use a binder for artwork, journaling, collages, and charts, inspired by daily readings and insights from the “Foundations for Your Faith” sections.

This Bible offers a variety of ways to engage with Scripture! If you want to create a structure for some family devotionals, or even parent-daughter Bible study, there are many ways you can use the special features of this edition to create that in your home and homeschool.

Final Thoughts

Since receiving her Girls Life Application Study Bible, my daughter has been faithfully reading it. Having this beautiful edition of Scripture, with its easy-to-understand translation and engaging, immersive features, has given her both motivation and direction. This Bible truly feels like a gift to her, and as a mom, I’m so excited to see her investing in the independent reading of God’s Word.

Although the Tyndale website suggests an age range of 11–14, I believe this Bible works well for girls as young as nine, and even older teen girls could enjoy it. My daughter loves it, and I know I would have treasured this Bible as a tween and teen!

If you’re looking for something specifically designed for older teens, Tyndale also offers the Teen Life Application Study Bible. Additionally, The Student Life Application Bible is designed for teens, college students, or even adults who want to approach the Bible as a student—it recently won a Bible of the Year award for 2024! Their website offers a variety of Life Application Bibles tailored to different life stages and study needs.

The Girls Life Application Study Bible is more than just a book—it’s a tool that nurtures faith, independence, and spiritual confidence. Whether for a baptism, birthday, Easter, or just because, this beautifully designed, engaging study Bible makes a meaningful and lasting gift for any tween girl’s faith journey.