Reading Recommendations: Women’s History Month 2019

Hello everyone! In celebration of Women’s History Month I decided to compile yet another list of reading recommendations. You can see the previous year here. This list is a compilation of novels from Children to Adult books that feature diverse, strong, admirable female protagonists in order to celebrate this month and women’s accomplishments from the past to the present. Here are some recommendations of female empowered books to add to your reading list!

Synopsis: Amina has never been comfortable in the spotlight. She is happy just hanging out with her best friend, Soojin. Except now that she’s in middle school everything feels different. Soojin is suddenly hanging out with Emily, one of the “cool” girls in the class, and even talking about changing her name to something more “American.” Does Amina need to start changing too? Or hiding who she is to fit in? While Amina grapples with these questions, she is devastated when her local mosque is vandalized.

This is a gorgeous story inside and out and it’s filled with themes of themes of finding yourself, and dealing with change. I love that Soojin stands up and is passionate for what she believes in even when she feels the need to change because of peer pressure. I admire her spirit! See review here.

Synopsis: An inspiring collection of essays by black women writers, curated by the founder of the popular book club Well-Read Black Girl, on the importance of recognizing ourselves in literature.

This is a powerful book of essay featuring some of my favorite writers. I love how personal each essay is and how books that I’ve read in the past has affected their life and made them reflect on their reading experiences. I think that we have all read a book or series that we’ve been able to connect with and these essays shows just how important having diverse narratives are in books. See review here.

Synopsis: In this semi-autobiographical debut novel set in 1983, Vanessa Martin’s real-life reality of living with family in public housing in Newark, New Jersey is a far cry from the glamorous Miss America stage. She struggles with an incarcerated mother she barely remembers, a grandfather dealing with addiction and her own battle with self-confidence. But when a new teacher at school coordinates a beauty pageant and convinces Vanessa to enter, Vanessa’s view of her own world begins to change. 

Not only is this book important because it celebrates Vanessa Williams, the first black woman to win Miss America, but it also shares a message of self-love that we all need to here. I love Vanessa’s tenacity to rise to the top despite all of the haters who say she will never win a beauty pageant. See review here.

Synopsis: Meet the youngest known child to be arrested for a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963, in this moving picture book that proves you’re never too little to make a difference. Audrey Faye Hendricks was confident and bold and brave as can be, and hers is the remarkable and inspiring story of one child’s role in the Civil Rights Movement.

I loved this picture book. I learned about an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement that everyone should know about. Audrey is determined and fierce in her fight to end desegregation. The book also gives insight about the Children’s Crusade in 1963, an important event in the Civil Rights Movement.

Synopsis: In this poignant, hilarious and deeply intimate call to arms, Hollywood’s most powerful woman, the mega-talented creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder and Catch, reveals how saying YES changed her life – and how it can change yours too.

Though this book is little, its message is very powerful. By saying “yes” to more things in life, we can grow and have more experiences. It’s not always easy to do, but the sometimes the outcome is worth it. I love Shonda Rhimes’ shows and this book made me have even more respect for her hard work!

That concludes this year’s reading recommendations for Women’s History Month! What books do you recommend or what are your favorites? Comment below!