Alte FriedmanWe Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This product was recommended by Fraser Barker from Wilderness Redefined
“We Should All Be Feminists” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is an inspirational modern take on feminism for young people. Drawing from a range of personal experiences around the world, Adichie offers a truly global view of feminism in the 21st Century and the challenges women face in the modern world. Like a lot of people, I found Adichie after watching her Ted Talk. I really connected with her emphasis on the need for modern feminism to focus on inclusion and awareness, as she explained how outdated gender stereotypes hurt everyone – men and women. Her book is a measured and compassionate take on the current challenges feminism must face. “We Should All Be Feminists” is a great book for the young feminist in your life – and you can use the Ted Talk to get book-averse young people excited!
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
This product was recommended by Mahnoor Khurram from Note To The World
Most books highlight feminism such that the protagonist gets up and takes immediate and, at times, logically impossible actions to overthrow an oppressive government. Though I do enjoy such books, they do not paint a realistic picture of how feminists should be, making young girls think they can only be feminists if they are strong enough to take physical action. Clockwork Angel, on the other hand, shows that strong women can be soft-spoken and feminine and can make a change in that way, too. The book made me realize that less is more and that everyone has their own way of tackling injustices.
Feminist Cross Stitch by Stephanie Rohr
This product was recommended by Blanca Oliviery from Sterling Publishing
Crafty activists will love this snarky book with its 40 irreverent, vintage-inspired cross-stitch patterns. Whether you want to proudly announce to the world that you’re a nasty woman or remind others that a woman’s place is in the revolution, you’ll find edgy slogans, sharp one-liners, and cheeky images that make fabulous wall art or wonderful handmade gifts.
Feminist Felties by Missy Covington
This product was recommended by Blanca Oliviery from Sterling Publishing
Enjoy a perfect afternoon celebrating their favorite female trailblazers, past and present feminist movements, and subversive crafting. Feminist craftivists will embrace these easy-to-make and empowering projects, accompanied by cheeky descriptions and fun facts. Sew badges honoring women’s suffrage icons, express your outrage by fashioning a Stick It to the Man pincushion, and show your solidarity with a Rosie the Riveter-inspired coin purse.
Quotes for Nasty Women by Linda Picone
This product was recommended by Blanca Oliviery from Sterling Publishing
When Hillary Clinton was referred to as such a nasty woman during the last presidential debate in 2016, women everywhere felt a jolt of recognition. In response, they promptly turned his insult into an empowering slogan. This book celebrates the now-ironic phrase with a collection of quotations by and about strong women, both critical and positive. The words come from figures in ancient history like Cleopatra; founding mothers like Mary Wollstonecraft and Elizabeth Cady Stanton; feminist icons such as Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan; politicians and government leaders; groundbreakers in arts and culture; celebrities; and the mothers, daughters, and sisters at home.
Fifty and Other F-Words by Margot Potter
This product was recommended by Blanca Oliviery from Sterling Publishing
If you’re a woman over 50, you probably feel invisible, or shackled by rules that say what you can and can’t do now that you’ve gotten older. But Margot Potter is here to say-in the most hilarious way-that, no matter what your age, you can still be a kick-ass warrior woman! With a cool nasty woman attitude, and loads of humor, Margot tells it like it is, smashing stereotypes in her witty essays, poems, listicles, and observations about aging in our youth-obsessed society. With neither bitterness nor sugar-coated reality, Fifty and Other F-Words will hit home with powerful, persistent women who grew up in the post-punk era; subscribed to magazines like Jane, Bust, and Bitch; put on their pink hats to march on DC; and never, ever conform.
Geek Girls Don’t Cry by Andrea Towers
This product was recommended by Blanca Oliviery from Sterling Publishing
Geek Girls Don’t Cry explores the subject what it means for a woman to be strong, offering tailor-made advice for fans of any age and outlines some of the primary traits heroic women can call upon, like resilience, self-acceptance, and bravery, pulling in stories from real-life women as well as figures from the pop-culture pantheon.
She Believed She Could, So She Did by Flora Waycott
This product was recommended by Blanca Oliviery from Sterling Publishing
Every girl needs a little inspiration-especially when the going gets tough or someone tries to convince her she can’t reach her dreams. This journal full of quotes from successful women who battled adversity and won (including Gloria Steinem, Maya Angelou, and Helen Keller) will prove to girls that everything is possible . . . as long as they PERSIST. Every page of this journal will encourage reflection and provide motivation for youngsters as they navigate the sometimes difficult path to growing up. On one side of each spread, they can jot down their innermost thoughts and feelings, while on the other they’ll find quotations to encourage them every single day.
Gloria’s Voice by Aura Lewis
This product was recommended by Blanca Oliviery from Sterling Publishing
Every young person-but especially girls-will find inspiration in Gloria’s journey and this timely biography. Using gorgeous watercolor illustrations, this biography of Gloria Steinem introduces young readers to the leader of the women’s liberation movement. Following her from childhood through her political awakening and beyond, Gloria’s Voice explains Steinem’s motivations and beliefs, as well as the obstacles she faced in fighting for women’s rights. Throughout, debut author and artist Aura Lewis highlights Gloria’s message of equality and the importance of believing in oneself.
Frida Kahlo by Isabel Munoz
This product was recommended by Blanca Oliviery from Sterling Publishing
Known for her self-portraits, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo became a feminist icon whose work now sells for millions of dollars. This lively biography looks at Frida’s childhood-including her bout with polio-as well as her devotion to Mexican culture and political causes; the bus accident that left her in chronic pain but also sparked her career; and her marriage to Diego Rivera. Information on her breakthroughs and successes, and an index of major events reveal how Frida left her mark on humanity. A timeline and simple quiz help kids test their understanding and knowledge.
Like A Girl by Lori Degman
This product was recommended by Blanca Oliviery from Sterling Publishing
Once upon a time, like a girl was considered an insult. Not anymore! In art, aviation, politics, sports, every walk of life, girls are demonstrating their creativity, perseverance, and strength. From civil rights activist Rosa Parks, who stood up for her beliefs by staying seated, to astronaut Sally Ride, who soared to the skies, the 24 women profiled here took risks, acted up, broke barriers, and transformed the world. With its simple yet powerful text, this book will inspire young women everywhere.
Breaking Borders by Kate Isler
This product was recommended by Kathryn Pasche from KateIsler
Kate Isler’s incredible story of blazing global business trails in the early days of Microsoft demonstrates how women can stop self-selecting out of opportunities and make the leap of faith to pursue their dreams. Kate navigated the male-dominated culture of the technology industry, breaking new global markets for Microsoft in their fast-paced, hyper-growth startup years in some of the most challenging regions in the world – all without a college degree or resources that many believe are necessary for success. Kate’s story is a guide for women who want to stop self-selecting out of opportunities because they assume they don’t have the right education, connections, or skills to take a chance—including those that believe that having a family disqualifies them from pursuing a dream. Breaking Borders offers women a rare glimpse into both the successes and failures of a working mother who dared to take nontraditional avenues to unique heights.
Feminism Is for Everybody by bell hooks
This product was recommended by Flora G from WellPCB
Hooks explains what feminism is, how it can impact the life of everybody, and how a feminist can make a difference in the world with comprehensible statements. This book is a perfect start guide for those who aren’t sure what feminism is about.
Leah Goes to Washington by Leah Kathryn Roddenberry
This product was recommended by Jessica Kantor from Bell + Ivy
Leah Roddenberry published “Leah Goes to Washington” in July 2020 in the hopes to inspire elementary-age children, especially young girls, to learn about civics in a fun and interactive way. As a spin-off of the Flat Stanley project, kids are encouraged to take the Leah character cut out and take her with them as they complete acts of service. They can take pictures doing community service or being an engaged citizen with little Leah and share with family or post on social media platforms using the hashtag #LeahsLeadHers. Leah believes that young women deserve to be taught the foundations of leadership and our political system at a young age and should find passion in the political process. It will help inspire them to run for office and be a more active part of their community as they get older. Her goal is to lead by example and ignite the spark within every young woman, providing them with the opportunity to dream bigger and pursue goals they never thought possible.
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
This product was recommended by Michelle Abunaja from Open Book Sessions
Hood Feminism reviews how feminism must make considerations of race, class, sexual orientation in demands for equity. Mikki Kendall outlines the problems of white feminism, the intersectional nature of nearly all issues faced by women and anger as a tool for action. This book is necessary reading for people who call themselves feminists, and in my opinion, best read with a group!
Code Breaker, Spy Hunter by Laurie Wallmark
This product was recommended by Mary Marolla from ABRAMS The Art of Books
Tells the story of Elizebeth Friedman, a brilliant code breaker who took down Nazi spy rings and created the CIA’s first cryptology unit. Her story came to light when her secret papers were finally declassified in 2015. Kirkus calls it: an “engaging biographical selection of an original thinker.”
Beyoncé by Isdahl Nansubuga
This product was recommended by Mary Marolla from ABRAMS The Art of Books
Introduction to Beyonce: the woman who changed music forever and showed that girls can run the world. It covers her start with Destiny’s Child, solo career, and her impact in music and pop culture. The book also details her life beyond music as a successful businesswoman and activist who helps bring issues of race and gender into the global conversation.
Tell No Tales by Sam Maggs
This product was recommended by Mary Marolla from ABRAMS The Art of Books
Full of sass, solidarity, and swordplay, TELL NO TALES is based on the real-life pirate duo Anne Bonny and Mary Read. It features a strong, diverse cast of female and non-binary lead characters for a fun historical romp into the lives of female pirates! Author Sam Maggs is an authority on women in pop culture, video games and comics, and bestselling author of The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy and Girl Squads.
Athena by Imogen Greenberg
This product was recommended by Mary Marolla from ABRAMS The Art of Books
This is a spunky, feminist take on the myth of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, and courage. It’s the first book in a new middle-grade series about goddesses. The second book is about Gaia, the Greek goddess of Earth – hitting shelves Spring 2022. Illustrator Isabel Greenberg is the artist on the acclaimed novel Glass Town, which received two starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal.
