YA Women's History Month

Celebrate Women's History Month by reading books about some amazing women from our world's history!


Compiled by:
Fern S. & Claire S.
All-American Muslim Girl

Nadine Jolie Courtney
(Young Adult Fiction - Y Courtne)

Allie, aged seven when she knew her family was different and feared, struggles to claim her Muslim and Arabic heritage while finding her place as an American teenager.


Blood Water Paint

Joy McCullough
(Young Adult Fiction - Y Mccullo)

Rome, 1605: After her mother's death, Artemisia Gentileschi had a stark choice: a life as a nun in a convent or a life grinding pigment for her father's paint. Artemisia became one of Rome's most talented painters—and her father took all the credit.


Every Body Looking

Candice Iloh
(Young Adult Fiction - Y Iloh)

"Ada" means "first daughter." Consequentially, it also means "oldest girl" and "most pressure." When Ada leaves home for her freshman year at a historical Black college, it's the first time she's been able to make her own choices. As she stumbles deeper into the world of dance and explores her sexuality, she also begins to wrestle with her past.


Flygirl

Sherri L. Smith
(Young Adult Fiction - Y Smith)

During World War II, a light-skinned African American girl "passes" for White in order to join the Women Airforce Service Pilots.


Furia

Yamile Saied Méndez
(Young Adult Fiction - Y Mendez)

 Camila Hassan, a rising soccer star in Rosario, Argentina, dreams of playing professionally—in defiance of her father's wishes and at the risk of her budding romance with Diego.


The Good Luck Girls

Charlotte Nicole Davis
(Young Adult Fiction - Y Davis)

In an alternate wild West, five girls escape from the welcome house that owns them and embark on a dangerous journey to find freedom, justice, and revenge.


Loveboat, Taipei

Abigail Hing Wen
(Young Adult Fiction - Y Wen)

When Ever Wong's parents sent her away for the summer, she's expecting Chien Tan: a strict, educational immersion program in Taiwan. Instead, she finds the infamous "Loveboat." But eventually, summer will end and Ever will be back with her parents and the future they've planned for her. Will she let this glimpse of freedom go, or will Loveboat give her the courage to pursue the future she's only imagined?


Moxie

Jennifer Mathieu
(Young Adult Fiction - Y Mathieu)

Vivian Carter is fed up. Viv's mom was a tough-as-nails, punk rock Riot Grrrl in the '90s, and now Viv takes a page from her mother's past and creates a feminist zine that she distributes anonymously to her classmates. She realizes that what she has started is nothing short of a girl revolution.


The Radical Element: 12 Stories of Daredevils, Debutantes, and Other Dauntless Girls

Jessica Spotswood
(Young Adult Fiction - Y Radical)

An anthology of historical short stories that features a diverse array of girls standing up for themselves and their beliefs, and forging their own paths while resisting society's expectations.


Six Angry Girls

Adrienne Kisner
(Young Adult Fiction - Y Kisner)

An advice columnist unexpectedly helps Raina find new purpose in a pair of knitting needles and a politically active local yarn store. This leads to an unlikely meeting in the girls' bathroom, where Raina inspires Millie to start a rival team. The two join together and recruit four other angry girls to not only take on Mock Trial, but to smash the patriarchy in the process.


Graphic Novels
Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World

Pénélope Bagieu
(Graphic Novel - GN 920 Bag)

With her characteristic wit and dazzling drawings, Penelope Bagieu profiles the lives of these feisty female role models—some world famous, some little known. The stories in this comic biography are sure to inspire the next generation of rebel ladies.


Nonfiction
Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World

Ann Shen
(Adult Nonfiction - 920 She)

The 100 revolutionary women featured in this illustrated book were bad in the best sense of the word—they challenged the status quo and changed the rules for those who followed. These courageous women achieved unprecedented feats and left a permanent mark on human history.


Bygone Badass Broads: 52 Forgotten Women Who Changed the World

Mackenzi Lee
(Adult Nonfiction - 920 Lee)

Based on Mackenzi Lee's popular weekly Twitter series of the same name, Bygone Badass Broads features 52 remarkable and forgotten trail-blazing women from all over the world.


Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood

Brittney C. Cooper
(Adult Nonfiction - 305.42 Coo)

Loud and rowdy girls, quiet and nerdy girls, girls who rock naturals, girls who wear weave, outspoken and opinionated girls, girls still finding their voice, queer girls, trans girls, and gender nonbinary young people who want to make the world better. Feminist AF uses the insights of feminism to address issues relevant to today's young women.


Forgotten Women: The Leaders

Zing Tsjeng
(Adult Nonfiction - 920 Tsj)

Forgotten Women weaves together 48 unforgettable portraits of the true pioneers and leaders who made huge—yet unacknowledged—contributions to history.


Galaxy Girls: 50 Amazing Stories of Women in Space

Libby Jackson
(Adult Nonfiction - 920 Jac)

Filled with beautiful full-color illustrations, this groundbreaking compendium honors the amazing true stories of 50 inspirational women who helped fuel some of the greatest achievements in space exploration from the 19th century to today.


Gamer Girls: 25 Women Who Built the Video Game Industry

Mary Kenney
(Adult Nonfiction - 920 Ken)

Discover the women behind the video games we love—from the iconic games they created, the genres they invented, the studios and companies they built—and how they changed the industry forever.


History Vs Women: The Defiant Lives That They Don't Want You to Know

Anita Sarkeesian, Ebony Adams
(Adult Nonfiction - 305.42 Sar)

Sarkeesian and Aster introduce readers to a range of dynamic women across many different races, countries, time periods, and classes. The authors know that it is easier to learn about White, Western people—especially males—than of People of Color, queer and trans folks, and people with disabilities. They hope to reframe the history you thought you knew.


I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot By the Taliban

Malala Yousafzai
(Adult Nonfiction - 921 Yousafzai You)

When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.


The Little Book of Feminist Saints

Julia Pierpont
(Adult Nonfiction - 920 Pie)

This inspiring collection honors 100 exceptional women throughout history and around the world.


Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

Vashti Harrison
(Juvenile Nonfiction - J 920 Har)

Based on her popular Instagram posts, debut author and illustrator Vashti Harrison shares the stories of 40 bold African American women who shaped history.


Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History

Blair Imani
(Adult Nonfiction - 920 Imal)

An illustrated and informative primer on the progressive social change movements of the last 60 years as told through the stories of 60 diverse female and non-binary leaders in those movements, from the Civil Rights Movement and Stonewall riots through today.


Our House is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis

Greta Thunberg
(Adult Nonfiction - 363.73874 Thu)

When she was 15 years old, Greta Thunberg’s teacher explained to her class that our climate is changing—the earth is getting warmer, the polar ice caps are melting, and life on earth is threatened. Greta was devastated. What could she do? If the grown-ups weren’t doing enough to save the planet, she would have to demand change herself. See how Greta decided to go on strike from school, igniting a worldwide rebellion.


Our Stories, Our Voices: 21 YA Authors Get Real About Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in America

Amy Reed
- Editor
(Adult Nonfiction - 305.4209 Our)

Your favorite YA authors have come together to create an anthology of essays that explore the diverse experiences of injustice, empowerment, and growing up female in America.


Pre-Raphaelite Girl Gang: Fifty Makers, Shakers and Heartbreakers From the Victorian Era

Kirsty Stonell Walker
(Adult Nonfiction - 709.7209 Wal)

Tapping into the Rebel Girl and Bad Girl publishing trend, this is the first book to cover the female role within art. This is a fabulous introduction to the Pre-Raphaelite movement through the muses and artists that helped shape the era.


The Radium Girls: The Scary but True Story of the Poison That Made People Glow in the Dark

Kate Moore
(Teen Nonfiction - 363.1799 Moo)

Now adapted for young readers! The incredible true story of the young women exposed to the "wonder drug" radium and their struggle for justice.


Warriors, Witches, Women: Mythology's Fiercest Females

Kate Hodges
(Adult Nonfiction - 202.114 Hod)

Meet mythology’s 50 fiercest females in this modern retelling of the world’s greatest legends.


Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World

Rachel Ignotofsky
(Adult Nonfiction - 704.042 Ign)

These illustrated profiles highlight 50 pioneering female artists—from the 1st century to today.


Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World

Rachel Ignotofsky
(Juvenile Nonfiction - J 920 Ign)

These illustrated profiles highlight 50 famous women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—from the ancient world to the present.


Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win

Rachel Ignotofsky
(Juvenile Nonfiction - J 796.092 Ign)

These illustrated profiles highlight 50 notable women athletes. This fascinating collection also contains infographics about women's teams throughout history, pay and media statistics for female athletes, and muscle anatomy.