Reading Recommendations: Women’s History Month Reads

Hello everyone! In celebration of Women’s History Month I decided to compile yet another list of reading recommendations. You can see the previous post here. This list is a compilation of historical fiction 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!

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Synopsis: An intimate portrait of the close friendship and powerful creative partnership between two of Hollywood’s earliest female superstars: Frances Marion and Mary Pickford. An enchanting new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue and The Aviator’s Wife.

I learned a lot about old Hollywood through reading this book, and even though this book doesn’t cover all of the aspects of Frances’ and Mary’s life, I learned a lot about them as I was unfamiliar with their careers prior to reading the book. It was interesting to see how changes in the industry films (ex. transition from silent to “talkie” films) impacted their careers and those around them as well as what it was like for women in the industry. (Review)

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Synopsis: Womentality: Thirteen Empowering Stories by Everyday Women Who Said Goodbye to the Workplace and Hello to Their Lives is a collection of powerful, personal essays from enterprising women around the world who came to the same realization: work shouldn’t have to be painful and demeaning. Armed with an internet connection and plenty of creativity and ingenuity, they prove that it is possible to redefine the nine-to-five work paradigm and create a flourishing career that is flexible and fulfilling outside the corporate structure

What I appreciated the most about this book is that the women come from different backgrounds and are diverse (profiles from a global perspective). This book also offers some motivational and helpful career tips on finding what you want to do in life. It was eye-opening to learn about women in the workforce in different parts of the world. (Review)

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Synopsis: In So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know, Parks and Recreation star Retta takes us on her not-so-meteoric rise from roaches to riches (well, rich enough that she can buy $15,000 designer handbags yet scared enough to know she’s always a heartbeat away from ramen with American cheese).

Throwing her hard-working Liberian parents for a loop, Retta abandons her plan to attend med school after graduating Duke University to move to Hollywood to star in her own sitcom―like her comedy heroes Lucille Ball and Roseanne.

Reading Rhetta’s intimate stories made me feel as if I was talking to a close friend. She’s real, very down-to-earth, and tells it like it is with no BS. After learning more about her career path I had even more of an admiration for her dedication to her work and following her dreams. I liked that she shared her personal journey with her reading audience and you truly get a feel for how her life modeled her into the woman she is today. (Review)

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Synopsis: Up until her fifteenth birthday, the most important thing in the world to Beatriz Mendez had been her dream of becoming a professional dancer and getting herself and her family far from the gang life that defined their days–that and meeting her dance idol Debbie Allen on the set of her favorite TV show, Fame. But after the latest battle in a constant turf war leaves her gang leader brother, Junito, dead and her mother grieving, Beatriz has a new set of priorities. How is she supposed to feel the rhythm when her gang needs running, when her mami can’t brush her own teeth, and when the last thing she can remember of her old self is dancing with her brother, followed by running and gunshots? When the class brainiac reminds Beatriz of her love of the dance floor, her banished dreams sneak back in. Now the only question is: will the gang let her go?

I liked that this story is focused on the legendary dancers of Fame. It’s iconic and I remember the strong emotions and talents that the cast did when they performed dance routines and songs. This novel was deep, heartbreaking, filled with triumph, and was very real. She has a lyrical writing style which flows throughout the narrative and keeps her readers constantly engaged with the story. Beatriz is such a powerful character! (Review)

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Synopsis: Growing up under Fascist censorship in Nazi Germany, Ruth Rappaport absorbed a forbidden community of ideas in banned books. After fleeing her home in Leipzig at fifteen and losing both parents to the Holocaust, Ruth drifted between vocations, relationships, and countries, searching for belonging and purpose. When she found her calling in librarianship, Ruth became not only a witness to history but an agent for change as well.

This book is a long, detailed narrative about the life of Ruth Rapport who found her life’s calling in librarianship. The book gives a inside account her life compiled of information gathered from diary entries, newspaper articles, photographs, etc.The books begins at her childhood in Germany and living under Nazi occupation until she retired from working at the library in her latter years.She was admirable in her efforts for demanding equal rights in the workplace, going up and beyond for the while working for the government and within the libraries. (Review)

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Synopsis: Opal is a young girl living in Dewdrop, a bustling suburb southeast of New York. Life is a constant struggle for her, until she befriends newcomer, Hope Adaire. With the girls’ friendship slowly beginning to grow, Opal’s life begins to change in mysterious ways, as the secrets of Hope’s enigmatic life begins to unfold.

In the process of taking new paths and unveiling truths, a new world is discovered and with it, the discovery of a Gift a power that can make Opal stronger than she ever imagined. Yet with every truth, lies must be shattered. Now, when Dewdrop and the new world is threatened, this temperamental teen with too much emotional baggage, must learn how to control her Gift, and protect everyone living in her world and the new one—or face the consequences of unmasked truths.

The characters seemed relatable and authentic, there is a lot of diversity, and the plot flows smoothly. I enjoyed seeing the characters develop over the course of the novel as well as their personalities. Opal develops as she is tested through various obstacles in these series. What I enjoy about her character is that she is very strong, but shows vulnerability.

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