Celebrate Women’s History month with stories about memorable women! We’ve got something for every taste.
Want someone who rewrites history? Try Wolf by Wolf, by Ryan Graudin. In a universe where Hitler and the Axis of Evil won WWII, a young woman works as an underground resistance spy while competing for victory in a deadly motorcycle race around the world.
Maybe you want to explore an entirely different world. Try Rae Carson’s A Girl of Fire and Thorns. It takes you on an epic journey when sixteen year old Elisa secretly marries a faraway prince and has to move around the world where friends are few and far between. Elisa must find out who she is in order to harness her powers for victory over an unrelenting and unpredictable enemy.
Looking for something a little sweeter? Try Puddin’, by Julie Murphy. In this sequel to Dumplin’, Millie Michalchuk and Callie Reyes are different in every way possible: Callie is popular and captain of the school dance team while Millie is an oft-overlooked church girl hoping to break out on her own. When circumstances throw these two together, will they discover that every person deserves a chance to be their best selves?
Feel more connected to a story when it’s more realistic or perhaps when it’s more than a little melancholy? Try Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, by Mariko Tamaki. Frederika Riley knows she’s lucky to be dating the most popular girl in school, the cool and mysterious Laura Dean. But their relationship doesn’t seem ever seem truly comfortable, with lots of break-ups and make-ups that leave Frederika feeling uneasy and disconnected from pretty much everything. Is any relationship worth this much trouble?
Friendship is an incredible force for good, and Yupechika’s graphic novel series, Satoko and Nada, showcases an endearing example of it. Satoko is a Japanese exchange student studying in America when she meets her new roommate, Nada, who’s from Saudi Arabia. The two explore cultural differences, favorite foods, and the best way to take care of each other. The third volume will be released in English this May.
Finally, let’s close out with empowerment. Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan craft a gorgeous story in Watch Us Rise. Jasmine and Chelsea create a Women’s Rights club at school and use it as a platform to discuss the sexist and racist microaggressions they experience. But when the principal shuts it down after the club becomes a target of online trolls, will they be able to still get their message across?
All these women are characters are a great read but remember: it’s only a small sampling of what DPL has to offer. Celebrate the women in your life, and let us know what books should be highlighted next time!
