Rise: A Feminist Book Project List |
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Plain Jane and the mermaid
by Vera Brosgol
"When her last shot at happiness is kidnapped by a mermaid, Jane, who is incredibly plain according to everyone around her, ventures underwater to rescue her maybe-fiancé, summoning her courage, confidence and inner beauty to crusade for the only thing that matters?—?her independence. Simultaneous. Illustrations. "
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Find her
by Ginger Reno
"Twelve-year-old Wren fights to find her missing Cherokee mother, while also navigating a chilling town mystery, a new friendship, and a family in need of healing"
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The beautiful game
by Yamile Saied Mâendez
When she gets her first period while wearing white shorts during the State Cup semifinal, which unexpectedly eliminates her team, 13-year-old Valeria is relegated to a girls' team for the first time, and with the next tournament fast approaching, she must learn to play like a girl. Simultaneous eBook.
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The race to be myself
by Caster Semenya
A two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion in track from South Africa reflects on her groundbreaking career and her fight for identity and the right to compete in professional sports after she was forced to take devastating hormone-altering drugs due to her naturally high testosterone levels. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations.
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Ida B. Wells marches for the vote
by Dinah Johnson
"Painting a vivid portrait of one of the most influential civil rights leaders and her critical role in the Women's March of 1913, this picture book recounts how she worked tirelessly to fight for an America that was fair to everyone, regardless of race and gender. Illustrations. "
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Flower girl
by Amy Bloom
"Nicki's favorite aunt is getting married, and Nicki is excited to be the Flower Girl: she is all in for love and pretty petals. But when the family goes shopping to find outfits for the wedding, Nicki doesn't feel like herself in any of the dresses her mom and aunt pick out for her, and all her happiness and excitement for the wedding evaporates. Nicki must find her voice--and her own style of expression to match it--to make Aunt Carmela's big day absolutely perfect"
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Big by Vashti HarrisonThis emotional exploration of being big in a world that prizes small follows a young child's journey to self-love, showing the power of words to both hurt and heal.
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Autumn Peltier, water warrior
by Carole Lindstrom
"Indigenous women have always worked tirelessly to protect our water-keeping it pure and clean for the generations to come. Yet there was a time when their voices and teachings were nearly drowned out, leaving entire communities and environments in danger and without clean water. But then came Grandma Josephine and her great-niece, Autumn Peltier"
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My powerful hair
by Carole Lindstrom
After generations of short hair in her family, a little girl celebrates growing her hair long to connect to her culture and honor the strength and resilience of those who came before her
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Barely floating by Lilliam RiveraChanneling her rage into synchronized swimming dreams, 12-year-old Nat, who doesn't care what people think, fights for what she wants as she builds a community of those who lift her up and help her stay afloat when waters get rough.
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Loujain dreams of sunflowers
by Lina AlHathloul
"Loujain watches her beloved baba attach his feather wings and fly each morning, but her own dreams of flying face a big obstacle: only boys, not girls, are allowed to fly in her country. Yet despite the taunts of her classmates, she is determined to do it--especially because Loujain loves colors, and only by flying can she see the color-filled field of sunflowers her baba has told her about. Eventually, he agrees to teach her, and Loujain's impossible dream becomes reality--and soon other girls dare to learn to fly"
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Smile, Sophia
by Skylaar Amann
"Sophia loves finding fossils and digging up dinosaur bones. But she doesn't love the way all the grownups just want her to smile. What does smiling have to do with the very serious business of being a scientist? She'll smile when she has something to smile about"
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I love my body because by Shelly AnandThis empowering book encourages young readers to celebrate their body as well as all the different, wonderful bodies that make up our world, while learning how to take care of themselves mentally and physically.
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The Turquoise Room/ El Cuarto Turquesa by Monica Brown"A bilingual story based on the lives, dreams, and accomplishments of three generations of creative, imaginative, artistic girls as they grew up in the author's family. Un cuento bilingüe basada en la vida, los sueños y los logros de tres generaciones de niñas artísticas, creativas e imaginativas a medida que crecían en la familia de la autora"
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The katha chest by Radhiah ChowdhuryPiecing together themes of love, culture and memory, this multigenerational story follows Asiya as she visits Nanus house, where she learns about the bold and brave women in her family through the quilts Nanu has collected.
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Everything in its place : a story of books and belonging by Pauline David-SaxWhen her safe space-the school library-closes for a week, Nicky must face her social anxiety, but when she meets a group of unique, diverse, inspiring women at her mother's diner, she realizes being different doesn't mean being alone.
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Maya and the Beast
by Maya Gabeira
Young Maya always hears of everyone in her fishing village being scared of "The Beast," the giant wave that crashes into the shoreline every day, and after seeing boys surfing it she is determined to surf it herself, showing everyone the beauty it has tooffer
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Berry song
by Michaela Goade
As a young Tlingit girl collects wild berries over the seasons, she sings with her Grandmother as she learns to speak to the land and listen when the land speaks back
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This book is not for you! by Shannon HaleStanding up to the bookmobile man who refuses him the story he wants, all because it features a girl, Stanley inspires the people and animals around him to broaden their horizons and enjoy a good book of their choosing.
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'Twas the night before Pride
by McClintick Joanna
"This joyful picture-book homage to a day of community and inclusion--and to the joys of anticipation--is also a comprehensive history. With bright, buoyant illustrations and lyrical, age-appropriate rhyme modeled on "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," it tackles difficult content such as the Stonewall Riots and the AIDS marches. On the night before Pride, families everywhere are preparing to partake. As one family packs snacks and makes signs, an older sibling shares the importance of the march with thenewest member of the family. Reflecting on the day, the siblings agree that the best thing about Pride is getting to be yourself"
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A sky-blue bench
by Bahram Rahman
"A young Afghani amputee matter-of-factly removes her own barrier to education, building a bench from discarded wood so that she and her "helper-leg" can sit through school in comfort"
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What I am by Divya SrinivasanIn this celebration of individuality, a young girl is a walking contradiction, which is what makes her unique and an essential piece of the greater world around her.
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The me I choose to be by Natasha TarpleyThis joyful ode to the power of potential is an immersive call for self-love and highlights the inherent beauty of all Black and Brown children.
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The only Black girl in a classroom full of white students learns what really matters is what she sees when she looks at herself--a reflection of the courage, strength, intelligence and creativity passed down from her ancestors. |
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I love you because I love you by Muon VanThis heartfelt book details all the big and small reasons why we love the people we do within an affirming call-and-response format featuring families across the spectrum.
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Herizon
by Daniel W. Vandever
“Herizon” by Diné/Navajo Daniel W. Vandever, and Illustrated by Diné/Navajo artist Corey Begay, follows the journey of a young, Diné girl as she is asked by her grandmother to help retrieve a flock of sheep. Join the girl in her adventure across land and water aided by a magical scarf that will expand your imagination and transform what you think is possible.
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I love my beautiful hair by Elissa WenttThis lively celebration of family tradition and natural hair follows little EJ as she takes her first-ever trip to the hair salon where she is presented with many options and needs readers' help to make the perfect choice.
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Phoenix gets greater
by Marty Wilson-Trudeau
"A delightful and gentle story about a young Two-Spirit Indigenous child celebrating his identity, overcoming bullying, and bonding with his family"
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Three little Vikings by Bethan WoollvinIn this romping, stomping fractured fairy tale, a trio of fearless and fiesty Viking girls set out to find out what-or who-has been CRASHING and BASHING in the woods.
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Mama's home by Shay YoungbloodWhile her mother works, a young girl is taken care of by all the Big Mamas in her community, who shower her with love and affection, in this heartwarming story that celebrates the wider meaning of family.
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The astronomer who questioned everything : the story of Maria Mitchell by Laura AlaryTells the remarkable story of a pioneering 19th-century scientist and women's rights activist who became the first professional female astronomer in the U.S., first female member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and one of the first female college professors.
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Splash! : Ethelda Bleibtrey makes waves of change
by Elisa Boxer
"As a child with polio in the early 1900s, swimming set Ethelda Bleibtrey free. The water released her from her pain and helped her build strong muscle--and a powerful spirit. From then on, from the New York beaches to the 1920 Olympics, Ethelda made a splash wherever she went"
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Not done yet : Shirley Chisholm's fight for change by Tameka Fryer BrownPaints a vibrant picture of a natural-born fighter who became the first Black woman elected to Congress, showing how the work she did for equal rights, the environment, children and health care still continues today by those she inspired.
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Yes! No! : a first conversation about consent by Megan Madison"Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven board book offers clear, concrete language and imagery to introduce the concept of consent. This book serves to normalize and celebrate the experience of asking for and being asked for permission to do something involving one's body. It centers on respect for bodily autonomy, and reviews the many ways that one can say or indicate 'no.' The backmatter offers additional resources and ideas for extending this discussion"
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Taking off : airborne with Mary Wilkins Ellis by Emily Arnold McCullyPaints a vibrant portrait of a little-known figure and her can-do spirit who became the youngest licensed pilot in her English county, which led to an exciting career in the air, including delivering hundreds of aircraft to support the war effort during World War II. By the Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator of Mirette on the High Wire.
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Breaking through the clouds : the sometimes turbulent life of meteorologist Joanne Simpson
by Sandra Nickel
"Joanne Simpson made groundbreaking-or should we say cloudbreaking-discoveries about weather and how it worked. Born in Massachusetts in 1923, she became interested in clouds while sailing in Cape Cod. As a young adult, she went to the University of Chicago and began studying and then teaching meteorology. After the war, women were expected to go back to being homemakers, but Joanne instead received her Masters Degree and began a PhD program. She decided to focus on tropical cumulous clouds, even though at the time no one thought that clouds affected the weather-they thought they were just a byproduct. Though the scientific establishment--mostly men--tried to stop her at every turn, her stubborn determination prevailed. She was the first woman in the United States to receive her PhD in meteorology, and her discoveries still affect how we think about clouds and the weather today!"
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Mae makes a way : the true story of Mae Reeves, hat & history maker by Olugbemisola Rhuday-PerkovichPublished in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, this inspiring book traces the life of the fashion designer and civil rights icon who became the first Black woman to own a business on South Street in Philadelphia.
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A storm of horses : the story of artist Rosa Bonheur by Ruth Sanderson"An inspiring picture book about Rosa Bonheur, the most famous and best-selling painter of her century. In a stunning ode to underrepresented women everywhere, award-winning illustrator Ruth Sanderson tells the untold story of French artist Rosa Bonheur in this picture book biography.
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A life of service : the story of Senator Tammy Duckworth by Christina SoontornvatIn this narrative biography of Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Army veteran and the first woman with a disability to serve in the House and Senate, children will be riveted by her tireless determination to keep going against staggering odds.
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Finding my dance by Ria ThundercloudA professional Indigenous dancer, the author shares her dance journey, from dreaming of her future to performing as a professional, in this debut picture book filled with eye-catching illustrations that bring her graceful movements to life.
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Mama in Congress : Rashida Tlaib's journey to Washington
by Rashida Tlaib
"When Yousif Tlaib asks about his mom's new job in Congress, his older brother, Adam, fills him in--with some help from Rashida Tlaib herself. As he tells his mom's story, Adam reveals information about how elections and our government work, what it means to break barriers, what motivates their mama to work for justice for all, and how love and family have guided them through this historic time in our country"
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Thirst
by Varsha Bajaj
In the poorest part of Mumbai, where access to water is severely limited, twelve-year-old Minni discovers her employer's husband is stealing water from her community, and decides she must do her part to fight for equality
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Shine on, Luz Véliz! by Rebecca BalcárcelSidelined by an injury, soccer star Luz discovers she has a knack for coding and works hard to impress everyone, including her dad who has been treating her differently, but life throws her a curveball when an unexpected guest arrives.
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Caprice by Coe BoothOffered a place at the school of her dreams, Caprice, plagued by internal doubt and family drama, is pulled back towards the past and to an abuse she's never told anyone about.
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Dream, Annie, dream by Waka T. BrownWhen she lands a big role in the production of The King and I, Japanese American seventh grader Annie, belittled by her mostly white classmates, must rise above racism while chasing her dreams.
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Swim team by Johnnie ChristmasWhen she has to take Swim 101, middle schooler Bree must face one of her greatest fears, but with a little help from an elderly neighbor and former swim team captain, she becomes her school's best hope to beat their rival.
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Across a field of starlight
by Blue Delliquanti
Lu and Fassen are from different worlds and separate solar systems, so when the war of Fassen's world invades Lu's peaceful home, they find themselves at the forefront of a battle they hoped would never happen
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Alice Austen lived here by Alex GinoEntering his town's contest for a new statue, nonbinary Sam delves into the history of his subject, photographer Alice Austen, and discovers a rich queer history that they are part of--one they must stand up for.
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Shirley & Jamila's big fall by Gillian GoerzWhen bully Chuck blackmails innocent kids in school, Shirley and Jamila break into his house to recover all his blackmail notes and encounter an intruder who can help them put a stop to Chuck's crimes once and for all.
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The secret diary of Mona Hasan
by Salma Hussain
"Mona Hasan is a young Muslim girl growing up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, when the first Gulf War breaks out in 1991. The war isn't what she expects--especially when the ground offensive is over so quickly...Over the course of one year, Mona falls inlove, speaks up to protect her younger sister, loses her best friend to the new girl at school, has summer adventures with her cousins in Pakistan, immigrates to Canada, and pursues her ambition to be a feminist and a poet"
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A kind of spark
by Elle McNicoll
When she discovers that her small Scottish town used to burn witches simply because they were different, a neurodivergent girl who sees and hears things others cannot refuses to let them be forgotten
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Candidly Cline by Kathryn OrmsbeeSigning up for a young musicians' workshop as she learns to make music of her own, Cline Alden realizes how much of herself she's been holding back when she falls for talented singer Sylvie.
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Frizzy by Claribel A. OrtegaTired of going to the salon to have her curls straightened every weekend, Marlene slowly learns to embrace her natural curly hair with the help of her best friend and favorite aunt.
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Tumble by Celia C. PérezWhile trying to make a life-changing decision, 12-year-old Adela Ramirez searches for her birth father, which leads her to the legendary Bravos, professional wrestlers who teach her what it really means to be part of a family.
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A seed in the sun by Aida SalazarWhile working under dangerous conditions, taking care of her younger siblings and her mother, and avoiding her father's volatile temper, farm-working Lula Viramontes joins the 1965 protest for migrant workers' rights along with activist Dolores Huerta.
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The kaya girl by Mamle WoloWhen Faiza, a Muslim migrant girl from northern Ghana, meets Abena, a wealthy doctor's daughter from the south, they form an unlikely and powerful friendship despite their different social statuses, opening up new worlds to them both.
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You know, sex : bodies, gender, puberty, and other things! by Cory SilverbergIn a bright graphic format featuring four dynamic middle schoolers, You Know, Sex grounds sex education in social justice, covering not only the big three of puberty-hormones, reproduction, and development-but also power, pleasure, and how to be a decent human being.
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