Top 10 Books to Read During Women’s History Month

Hey there! For the next ‘Top 10,’ I have collaborated with Rayah and Hasset (plus my sister) to come up with a list of books that we found inspiring and empowering, and what better time to share our favorite feminism books than Women’s History Month? There’s nothing more to say, except that you know a good book when you are able to relate to it, learn from it, shed a few tears, or feel empowered to do something.

1. Anne of Green Gables, M. L. Montgomery (Rayah)

Anne of Green Gables takes place in the early 1870s following the main character Anne, a female orphan with ginger hair usually worn into two low braids, many know it from the Netflix adaptation “Anne with an E.” but before anything, it was a book. When young Anne is placed out of an orphanage and sent away from her family she encounters many new things she hasn’t before, such as going to school and building friendships with other female peers. But when Anne is faced with discriminatory remarks because of her gender and biased behavior, she’s never afraid to stand up for herself and make a change. 100% Recommend!

         2. Black Girl Unlimited: The Remarkable Story of a Teenage Wizard, by Echo Brown (Hasset)

This book contains sensitive topics, such as rape and drug use.

This is a coming of age story that is truly remarkable (hence the name). This book is also loosely based on the author’s real life experiences, minus the magic parts. Echo, the main character, navigates the struggles of growing up. She tries to recover from the trauma of rape and has to handle the bills because her mom is battling drug addiction while trying to get a good education.

         3. I am Malala, Malala Yousafzai (Harsheela)

I am Malala, written by Malala Yousafzai herself, is an inspiring autobiography about Malala and her story of how she stood up against the Taliban, and how she worked hard to get an education for herself and other girls. The story takes place in Swat, Pakistan, where Malala goes to school. When the Taliban attacks Swat, the peaceful valley turns into a war zone. The terrorists declare that girls may not go to school, but Malala’s dream to be a doctor may not be crushed. Backed up with support and encouragement, Malala fights for equality between the sexes. This book tells Malala’s journey against the Taliban. I recommend this book because, as I said earlier, it is inspiring and will influence others to take action like Malala.

-Harsheela Vishnum, 6th grade (Sanvi’s sister)

         4. Moxie, Jennifer Mathieu (Sanvi)

Note: Contains triggering/sexual content

This book follows a teenage girl and her life at a sexist, racist, and homophobic high school. It opens you into her life full of sexist comments, racial slurs, and assault that are part of her and her friends’ everyday life. She is able to make a difference and bring the pushed-down stories of the victims at her school through a magazine she starts, titled ‘Moxie.’ This really was a great read that is very different than other books I have read. It opened my eyes to a completely new perspective on the world, and that we, being part of the newer generation, can actually make a difference. I hope that many people will read this book, no matter your sex or gender, just because it was SUCH an impacting and good book. This book was the one that got me really interested in feminism and equality.

         5. Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know, Samira Ahmed (Sanvi)

Note: Has some talk about some sensitive and inappropriate topics

This realistic-fiction novel follows a 17-year-old girl and her adventure in Paris, trying to figure out a centuries-old mystery. Khayyam’s mother is from India, and her dad is from France, so as a bi-racial teenager in Paris, people always assume her to be a tourist. After flunking a college entrance essay, she plans on revamping and redoing it, figuring out more about the famous artist and writer her essay is based on. Meeting a hot and flirtatious boy, they both befriend one another and realize they have similar ambitions and interests. But what neither of them know are the secrets they are hiding from each other, and the hidden and mysterious story behind the woman they are searching for; her story pushed away behind libraries full of novels about all the light-skinned, powerful men that took over history.

         6. You Should See Me in a Crown (Sanvi)

You should see me in a crown tells the story of a black teen girl who wants to break the racist system in her city, where Prom is as big as football is in other places. Liz Lighty is a senior in high school and comes from a poor family, living with her younger brother and grandparents. This is a story on her way to bringing equality and justice within her community; to minority groups, lgbtq+ people, the poor, and young girls. This is one is a pretty good sweet book to read and I LOVED IT. It’s pretty wholesome, empowering, and cute haha.

         7. Rules for Being a Girl, Katie Cotugno and Candance Bushwell (Sanvi)

Note: has some sexual and triggering content/topics

This one tells the story of a 17-year-old girl and her crush on a teacher leading to something else, which changes her forever. Marin Lospato, like many other students at her school, has a profound fondness for her English teacher, Mr. Beckett, whom they all call Bex. She and her classmates love his charming personality and looks, but he and her share an exceptional teacher-student friendship. Bex comes onto Marin in an uncomfortable and inappropriate manner, especially for a man in his 30s who knows she already has a boyfriend. The story tells about the way she tries to sort out her life as she deals with an obnoxious principal, a sexist school system, college plans, romantic drama, and problems with her best friend.

I think this book points out many important aspects of grooming and sexual abuse, such as when Marin believed her future being ruined was her own fault. It also shed light on how what you do can affect others.

         8. Bad Feminist, Roxane Gay (Sanvi)

This book isn’t exactly like an autobiography but almost a diary in which the author describes her realizations about feminism and how she views the world, the way her views and perspectives changed as she got into feminism. It’s definitely more on the boring side and is better for people with a high reading level. I didn’t read the entire thing, but I just read the parts that interested me and I wanted to learn about. This book is more of an informational type.

         9. The Island of the Blue Dolphin, Scott O’Dell (Sanvi)

Note: has a few graphic and triggering scenes

A 13-year-old girl gets deserted on an island with her brother when her tribe sails to a foreign land when she gets off to get her younger brother, who didn’t get on the ship. She learns to stay safe from the wolves and other dangers. I read this a long time ago in 2nd grade, so I do not remember much, except that it was a good book about staying strong and working with your problems.

         10. The Pants Project, Cat Clarke (Sanvi)

A 6th grader, assigned female at birth, navigates middle school, sexism, and homophobism as he transitions to a boy and gets made fun of for having 2 moms. He wants to bring change to the schools’ homophobic, sexist dress uniform/dress code, and finds friends in people he never expected would support him.

Thank you to Katie Becker from the Art Department for the cover photo!!