As we step into March, Read to Them is celebrating Women’s History Month. To help you out, we’ve recommended seven books from our catalog that are written by women! These titles feature a range of girls who are fierce, funny, strong, and bold– all of which are determined to make their voices heard and who remain unwavering in the face of adversity. Check them out:
Stella Diaz Never Gives Up! by Angela Dominguez
Stella’s summer vacation soon becomes one she’ll never forget – she has her first beach trip while visiting family in Oaxaca, Mexico and learns she’s been accepted into a program at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. Stella learns about marine life and the dangers these creatures face from humans. Soon enough, Stella rallies both new and old friends to form a conservation club, the Sea Musketeers. Despite her quiet nature, Stella becomes a leader and forges real change in her community.
At home, Pacy is very much Taiwanese-American… but at school, she’s seen as mostly Taiwanese. When Melody arrives at Pacy’s school, Pacy finds someone who is not only Taiwanese, but understands what it’s like to be split between two cultures and feel as if she doesn’t quite belong in either. Pacy has the opportunity to really, truly find herself when she applies to a nationwide book-making contest– after all, to Pacy, it seems like Chinese people are never considered important in books and media, and this is her chance to write a Real Chinese Person Book. Filled with rich opportunities to celebrate Chinese culture and traditions, join Pacy as she finds out what the Year of the Dog truly means.
Life changes dramatically for Cece when she falls ill and her illness results in profound hearing loss. She must learn to manage her deafness, including wearing her Phonic Ear, the large and cumbersome hearing aid of the time. In this rich graphic novel, readers are placed in the 1970s with Cece, providing rich opportunities to explore themes like the anxiety of feeling different, the desire to fit in, and the discovery of true friends. Through it all, Cece Bell manages to find and share the humor, even in the bittersweet.
Malala: My Story of Standing Up for Girl’s Rights by Malala Yousafzai
In this young reader’s edition, Malala guides readers through her early life in Pakistan before the Taliban take over her village. When girls are told they cannot go to school, it is Malala who bravely shares her story with international news outlets– and it is Malala who is threatened and attacked for her beliefs. Through everything, Malala does not give up. Through prose that is warm and witty, Malala demonstrates that one young person with unending persistence can have a lasting impact on the world.
The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez
When Malú and her mother temporarily move to Chicago, Malú is left to figure out who she is, who she wants to be, and (most importantly) how she wants to present herself. Malú builds confidence through creating zines and forming a band called the Co-Co’s with a couple of other outcasts at her new school. When the Co-Co’s aren’t accepted by the school’s talent show, though, Malú and her friends set up an Alterna-Fiesta, a rebellious alternative. Malú will soon learn that being punk is really a way to find strength, being yourself, and being welcoming to others – with no small amount of fun, of course!
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
Aven Green is a typical middle schooler except, of course, for the fact that she was born without arms. She’s grown up with a group of understanding classmates, but understanding becomes stares and taunts when Aven’s family moves to Arizona to fix up Stagecoach Pass, a rundown theme park. However, Aven quickly finds true friends in a fellow pair of outcasts, as they team up to solve the mystery of Stagecoach Pass. Filled with humor, heart and surprising honesty, Aven’s story is one that families and students alike will fall in love with.
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Young Jacqueline did not always dream of being a writer – first, she was a reader who struggled with words on the page. Stories, soon enough, become an intrinsic part of her and kick-off a dream that’s spanned a lifetime. This stunning memoir-in-verse explores Woodson’s childhood in Ohio, South Carolina, and (finally) Brooklyn, New York and serves as a moving look at Woodson’s relationships with her friends, family, and books.
Got your own book recommendation for Women’s History Month? Share it in the comments!
