Women's History Month
A Celebration of Books About Women Who Made History
We’ve collected essential historical documents, engaging nonfiction accounts of trailblazing women, and novels about girls and women taking part in social and political change. Pair your reading with our curated vocabulary lists to get the most out of these educational, inspiring, and thought-provoking books.
Hidden FiguresThe American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space RaceA group of extraordinarily talented African-American women help NASA achieve some of its greatest successes, even as they face discrimination and oppression.
Votes for Women!This book traces the long and difficult fight for women's voting rights in the United States.
I Am MalalaYoung Readers EditionAn ordinary Pakistani girl is shot by the Taliban while fighting for her right to an education. Co-written with Patricia McCormick, in this memoir, Malala Yousafzai, the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, tells her story.
AstronautsWomen on the Final FrontierUsing a graphic novel format, the authors tell the stories of the first women in space, focusing on astronaut Mary Cleave.
Amelia LostThe Life and Disappearance of Amelia EarhartThis biography explores the life and mysterious disappearance of aviator Amelia Earhart.
Lifting as We ClimbBlack Women's Battle for the Ballot BoxThis book explores the achievements of black women in the American suffrage movement.
PersepolisThe Story of a ChildhoodIn this memoir, presented in graphic form, Marjane Satrapi describes growing up during the Iranian revolution.
Harriet TubmanConductor on the Underground RailroadHarriet Tubman was born into slavery, escaped to freedom, and worked to liberate countless other enslaved people. Learn more about Tubman's life by reviewing these words from Ann Petry's acclaimed biography.
A Vindication of the Rights of WomanFirst published in 1792, this essay argues that women should have access to the same educational opportunities afforded to men. Read the full text here.
The Story of My LifeThis account of Helen Keller's life is divided into three parts: Part I is Keller's autobiography, which she published in 1903; Part II is a selection of Keller's letters; and Part III consists of supplementary materials by Keller's teacher and lifelong friend, Anne Sullivan.
The Girl Who Drew ButterfliesHow Maria Merian's Art Changed ScienceThis biography, which won the Robert F. Sibert Medal, recounts the life of Maria Merian, a naturalist who studied insects.
The Beloved World of Sonia SotomayorIn this memoir, Sonia Sotomayor recounts her childhood in the South Bronx, her education and early work as a lawyer, and her eventual appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States.
PrimatesThe Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté GaldikasUsing a graphic novel format, this book explores the lives and work of primatologists Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Biruté Galdikas.
My Life with the ChimpanzeesIn this memoir, primatologist Jane Goodall recounts her childhood love of animals and her work with chimpanzees in Africa.
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward JusticeCourageous and determined, teenager Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus and became a plaintiff in a landmark civil rights case. This nonfiction account celebrates an often unacknowledged American heroine.
Courage to SoarA Body in Motion, A Life in BalanceIn this autobiography, cowritten with Michelle Burford, decorated gymnast Simone Biles recounts her path to becoming an Olympic gold medalist.
ProudFencer Ibtihaj Muhammad was the first Muslim American woman to win an Olympic medal. In this memoir, she chronicles her unlikely and often difficult rise to the top in her sport.
Warriors Don't CryA Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central HighIn 1957, Melba Pattillo was one of a group of teenagers who integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. In this memoir, she describes her fight to survive and thrive in the sometimes violent aftermath of the Supreme Court decision that declared segregation unconstitutional.
March Forward, GirlIn 1957, Melba Pattillo Beals was one of nine African-American students who integrated Little Rock Central High School, an experience she discusses in her celebrated memoir Warriors Don't Cry. In this follow-up, she recounts growing up in the South under oppressive Jim Crow laws.
The Woman WarriorKingston integrates mythology into this memoir about growing up as a Chinese immigrant in California.
The Diary of a Young GirlWhile in hiding with her family in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, 13-year-old Anne Frank kept a diary of her experiences. Published after Anne's death in a Nazi concentration camp, the diary remains a powerful testament to the everyday horrors of the Holocaust.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksThis biography immortalizes a woman whose cancerous cells contributed to medical breakthroughs around the world.
Silent SpringThis groundbreaking book, published in the early 1960s, investigated the devastating effects of chemical pesticides on the environment. Carson's work is credited with helping to create the Environmental Protection Agency.
Zlata’s DiaryA Child's Life in Wartime SarajevoIn this diary, eleven-year-old Zlata Filipović describes her life in Sarajevo during the Bosnian War.
Brown Girl DreamingIn a series of autobiographical poems, Jacqueline Woodson vividly brings her childhood and adolescence to life. This memoir in verse won the National Book Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, and the Newbery Honor Award.
In the Time of the ButterfliesBased on the historical Mirabal sisters, this is a fictionalized account of why and how they decide to fight dictator Rafael Trujillo's oppressive regime in the Dominican Republic.
FrankensteinIn this groundbreaking novel, Dr. Victor Frankenstein works feverishly to bring an inanimate creature to life — but when he finally succeeds, he is horrified by what he has unleashed.
Blood Water PaintGrowing up in Renaissance Italy, Artemisia becomes a talented painter — but her father gets credit for her work. This novel in verse tells the story of how Artemisia finds her voice, both as an artist and as a young woman.
Little WomenMeg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March are sisters whose personalities couldn't be more different. They share joy and heartbreak growing up in the shadow of the Civil War.
Inside Out & Back AgainFleeing to America to escape the Vietnam War, Hà and her family end up in Alabama, where they must adapt to a new culture. This novel in verse was inspired by author Thanhha Lai's own experiences.
Lucky Broken GirlRecent immigrants from Cuba, Ruthie and her family are just learning to adjust to life in New York City when Ruthie is severely injured in a car accident. This novel, based in part on the author's childhood experiences, won the 2018 Pura Belpré Award.
Catherine, Called BirdyIn medieval England, an unconventional teenage girl records events in her daily life, including her attempts to thwart her father's plans to marry her off.
How the García Girls Lost Their AccentsAfter they move from the Dominican Republic to New York City, the four García sisters are caught between the expectations of their traditional parents and their own desire to assimilate to American culture.
Piecing Me TogetherA talented artist and student, Jade looks for ways that she can give back to her community — but she feels like her teachers view her only as an "at risk" teenager rather than seeing her for who she truly is.
Amina's VoiceAmina, a Pakistani-American girl, struggles to balance her commitment to her culture with her desire to fit in. When her mosque is vandalized, Amina must finally find her voice.
Betty Before XThis novel is a fictionalized account of the childhood of Dr. Betty Shabazz, the civil rights activist and wife of Malcolm X.
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster BoyIn this historical novel, Turner Buckminster confronts racism when town elders expel an African American community, including Turner's friend Lizzie, from their island home.
The Joy Luck ClubIn this international bestseller, four Chinese mothers and their American-born daughters try to understand each other.
A Doll's HouseNora Helmer appears to be a happy wife and mother — but when someone from her past threatens to reveal a devastating secret, Nora must reevaluate the assumptions she made about her marriage.
One Crazy SummerIn the summer of 1968, three sisters travel to California to visit their estranged mother. While there, they learn about the fight for equality and civil rights.
Like VanessaInspired by the first black woman to be crowned Miss America, thirteen-year-old Vanessa enters a local beauty pageant in the hopes of transforming her life.
The Red PencilIn this powerful novel-in-verse, a twelve-year-old Sudanese girl must make her way to a refugee camp after her village is attacked.
Esperanza RisingWhen tragedy strikes, Esperanza's family has to leave their ranch in Mexico and move to a farmworkers' camp during the Great Depression.
Sarah, Plain and TallIn this award-winning book set in the late 1800s, a young woman answers an ad placed by a Midwestern man seeking a wife.
Number the StarsDuring World War II, ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her family take part in a courageous effort to protect the Jewish citizens of Denmark from the Nazis.
The Birchbark HouseThis award-winning novel follows a year in the life of a young Ojibwa girl named Omakayas.
Reading Lolita in TehranA Memoir in BooksIn this memoir, Azar Nafisi details her experiences running a secret reading group for women in Iran.
A Mighty Long WayMy Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High SchoolIn this memoir, Carlotta Walls LaNier recounts being one of the first black students to integrate Little Rock Central High School.
Little Rock Girl 1957How a Photograph Changed the Fight for IntegrationJournalist Shelley Tougas considers the fight to integrate Little Rock Central High School through the lens of a single photograph taken on September 4, 1957.
Almost American GirlIn this memoir, told in graphic form, Robin Ha recounts her experiences as a young immigrant from South Korea.
SachikoA Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's StoryBased on extensive interviews and research, this nonfiction narrative tells the story of Sachiko Yusai, a survivor of the Nagasaki bombing of 1945.
Girl, InterruptedIn this memoir, Susanna Kaysen details the two years she spent in a psychiatric hospital.
When My Name Was KeokoThis historical novel follows Sun-hee and her brother Tae-yul as their family grapples with political change, prejudice, and war during the Japanese occupation of Korea.
The Downstairs GirlIn 19th-century Atlanta, Jo Kuan works as a lady's maid while secretly penning a controversial advice column and attempting to learn the truth about her past.
Prairie LotusIn this historical novel, Hanna, a girl with Chinese heritage, moves to the Dakota Territory in 1880 and struggles to overcome the prejudices of her new community.
Our Only May AmeliaMay Amelia Jackson grows up on the American frontier at the end of the 19th century.
The Portrait of a LadyAn heiress attempts to maintain her independence but is preyed upon by fortune-hunters.
Butterfly YellowEighteen-year-old Hằng makes a difficult journey to America to find the brother from whom she was separated during the Vietnam War.
The Weight of Our SkySixteen-year-old Melati must brave a riot and grapple with her obsessive-compulsive disorder as she attempts to reunite with her mother in 1969 Malaysia.
Letters from RifkaA young Jewish girl immigrates to America from Russia in the aftermath of World War I.
CirceThis acclaimed novel retells the myth of Circe, a witch banished to a remote island.
Little Fires EverywhereA NovelShaker Heights seems like an idyllic suburb, but tensions between the conventional Richardson family and their mysterious new tenant come to a head during a custody dispute that divides the town.
EducatedIn this acclaimed memoir, Tara Westover recounts growing up in the remote mountains of Idaho with her survivalist parents.
BecomingIn this best-selling memoir, the former First Lady chronicles her early life and her time in the White House.
The Radium GirlsThe Scary but True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the DarkAdapted especially for young readers, this book tells the true story of women who worked painting watch dials with radium paint — and became ill as a consequence.
Women in Space23 Stories of First Flights, Scientific Missions, and Gravity-Breaking AdventuresThis collection profiles astronauts from around the world, including Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.
Nectar in a SieveIn this classic novel, a young Indian woman attempts to forge a stable, happy life as she contends with personal and social change.
Mara, Daughter of the NileAn enslaved woman in ancient Egypt works as a spy in order to gain her freedom.
Last Night at the Telegraph ClubIn the 1950s, a Chinese-American teenager falls in love while members of her San Francisco community face threats of deportation.
HomegoingThis powerful book examines the legacy of the slave trade as it follows the divergent paths of two sisters and their descendants from Africa to the United States.
Harriet TubmanThe Moses of Her PeopleThis biography, published in the late 19th century, recounts the life of the famous conductor on the Underground Railroad. Read the full text here.
We Are DisplacedMy Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the WorldIn this book, Nobel Peace Prize-winner Malala Yousafzai collects the true stories of girls who have been displaced from their homelands.
Black Girl UnlimitedThe Remarkable Story of a Teenage WizardAs Echo moves between the gritty neighborhood she calls home and the privileged neighborhood in which she attends school, she is affected by both the magic and the danger that surrounds her.
Through My EyesIn this memoir, Ruby Bridges recalls her experiences as the first African-American student at a newly desegregated elementary school in New Orleans.
StarfishEllie, an eleven-year-old girl from Texas, learns to stand up for herself and confront bullies who tease her about her weight.
StarfishKiko is devastated when she is not accepted to art school. Longing for an escape from her stifling community and self-absorbed mother, she accepts an unexpected invitation to travel to California with an old friend.
Why We FlyHigh school cheerleaders Eleanor and Chanel face a tumultuous senior year after their decision to kneel during the national anthem at the first football game of the season.
Fannie Never FlinchedOne Woman’s Courage in the Struggle for American Labor Union RightsThis nonfiction book chronicles the life Fannie Sellins, a garment worker and labor organizer who was tragically murdered on August 26, 1919.
This Promise of ChangeOne Girl’s Story in the Fight for School EqualityIn this autobiographical work, Jo Ann Allen Boyce recounts her experience of being one of the first Black children to integrate a public high school in Clinton, Tennessee, following desegregation in the late 1950s.
The Woman All Spies FearCode Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden LifeIn this biography, Amy Butler Greenfield tells the story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, a Shakespeare enthusiast who became one of the most famous cryptologists in the world.
Dress CodedEighth-grader Molly is fed up with her school's unfair dress code policy, so she starts a podcast to protest it, sparking a rebellion.
Lotus Bloom and the Afro RevolutionLotus Bloom, a seventh-grade girl who loves the vintage style of the 1970s, learns to speak up and fight for the freedom of expression after facing a dress code violation at school.
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