Women's History Past and Present: Books for Young Teens

Books for young teens, both fiction and nonfiction that chronicle the lives of extraordinary women, examine historical movements, and address feminist issues.

Updated February 14, 2025
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Stories of the islands
Angkasa, Clar
Paper Book
Journey into a land of magic and powerful girls in this feminist graphic novel retelling of three Indonesian folktales. "Brimming with spirit, this is a book all about connection and empowerment. Angkasa's gorgeous rendering and vivid storytelling will pull you right in."--Tillie...
Iveliz explains it all
Arango, Andrea Beatriz
Paper Book
NEWBERY HONOR AWARD WINNER * In this timely and moving novel in verse, a preteen girl navigates seventh grade while facing mental health challenges. A hopeful, poetic story about learning to advocate for the help and understanding you deserve. "Powerful." --Lisa Fipps,...
Across so many seas
Behar, Ruth
Paper Book
NEWBERY HONOR WINNER "As lyrical as it is epic, Across So Many Seas reminds us that while the past may be another country, it's also a living, breathing song of sadness and joy that helps define who we are." --Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee<...
Speak up, speak out! : the extraordinary life of "fighting Shirley Chisholm"
Bolden, Tonya
Paper Book
Before there was Barack Obama, before there was Kamala Harris, there was Fighting Shirley Chisholm. A daughter of Barbadian immigrants, Chisholm developed her political chops in Brooklyn in the 1950s and went on to become the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. This...
Plain Jane and the mermaid
Brosgol, Vera
Paper Book
A New York Times Best Children's Books of the Year An NPR Best Book of the Year On ALA's 2024 Best Graphic Novels for Children Reading List A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year From Anya's Ghost and...
Force of nature : a novel of Rachel Carson
Burg, Ann E.
Paper Book
Celebrate spring with this beautiful, hopeful story of a young, impassioned naturalist who grows up to change the world. A great gift for nature lovers and everyone who cares about our fragile planet. Perfect for fans of Wishtree and Wildoak. Jane Addams Children's...
Indigo and Ida
Capps, Heather Murphy
Paper Book
When eighth grader and aspiring journalist Indigo breaks an important story, exposing an unfair school policy, she's suddenly popular for the first time. The friends who've recently drifted away from her want to hang out again. Then Indigo notices that the school's disciplinary policies...
Finish the fight! : the brave and revolutionary women who fought for the right to vote
Chambers, Veronica
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller! In collaboration with the New York Times, Finish the Fight! reveals untold stories of diverse heroines who fought for the 19th amendment--celebrate the historic win for women's rights and voting rights that changed the fabric of America. ...
Ida B. the queen : the extraordinary life and legacy of Ida B. Wells
Duster, Michelle
Paper Book
Journalist. Suffragist. Antilynching crusader. In 1862, Ida B. Wells was born enslaved in Holly Springs, Mississippi. In 2020, she won a Pulitzer Prize. Ida B. Wells committed herself to the needs of those who did not have power. In the eyes of the FBI, this made her a "dangerous...
Rima's rebellion : courage in a time of tyranny
Engle, Margarita
Paper Book
An inspiring coming-of-age story told in prose and "spare, lyrical" verse (The Horn Book Magazine) from award-winning author Margarita Engle about a girl falling in love for the first time while finding the courage to protest for women's right to vote in 1920s Cuba. Rima...
Miss Quinces
Fajardo, Kat
Paper Book
Rising star Kat Fajardo's debut middle-grade graphic novel about a girl who would rather do anything other than celebrate her quinceañera! A funny and heartfelt coming-of-age story about navigating the expectations of family and cultural tradition. Sue just wants to spend the summer reading and...
Starfish
Fipps, Lisa
Paper Book
A PRINTZ HONOR BOOK . Ellie is tired of being fat-shamed and does something about it in this poignant novel-in-verse. "In her debut novel, Starfish, Lisa Fipps confronts diet culture and fat phobia head-on. . . . The book reads as if Ellie herself is writing these poems, which...
Dress coded
Firestone, Carrie
Paper Book
In this debut middle-grade girl-power friendship story, perfect for fans of Moxie, an eighth grader starts a podcast to protest the unfair dress code enforcement at her middle school and sparks a rebellion.   Molly Frost is FED UP... Because Olivia...
Vote! : women's fight for access to the ballot box
Frazer, Coral Celeste
Paper Book
August 18, 2020, marked the 100thanniversary of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, which prohibited states and the US government from denying citizens the right to vote on the basis of sex. See how the 70-year-long fight for women's suffrage was hard won by leaders such as Elizabeth Cady...
HerStory : 50 women and girls who shook up the world
Halligan, Katherine (Children's book editor)
Paper Book
Move aside history--it's time for herstory. Celebrate fifty inspiring and powerful women who changed the world and left their mark in this lavishly illustrated biography compilation that's perfect for fans of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and She...
Rolling warrior : the incredible, sometimes awkward, true story of a rebel girl on wheels who helped spark a revolution
Heumann, Judith E.
Paper Book
As featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary Crip Camp, and for readers of I Am Malala, one of the most influential disability rights activists in US history tells her story of fighting to belong. "If I didn't fight, who would?" Judy Heumann...
Leading the way : women in power
Howell, Janet
Paper Book
In this engaging and highly accessible compendium for young readers and aspiring power brokers, Virginia Senator Janet Howell and her daughter-in-law Theresa Howell spotlight the careers of fifty American women in politics -- and inspire readers to make a difference. With foreword by Hillary...
Celebrate your body. the ultimate puberty book for preteen and teen girls2
Klein, Lisa, (Doctor)
Paper Book
Discover your body's awesomeness with a puberty guide for tween and teen girls ages 10 to 18 Puberty is one of the first signs that you're growing up-and that's something to be celebrated. If you're looking for body-positive puberty books for girls but aren't sure where to start-Celebrate Your...
Mani Semilla finds her Quetzal voice
Lapera, Anna
Paper Book
Most Anticipated Middle Grade Reads of 2024: Teen Librarian Toolbox, School Library Journal For fans of Donna Barba Higuera''s Lupe Wong Won''t Dance and Aida Salazar''s The Moon Within comes Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice - a contemporary...
The Princess Protection Program
London, Alex
Paper Book
Where can a princess hide if her Ever After isn't all that Happy Bestselling author Alex London turns classic fairy tales on their heads in this fast-paced, funny fantasy about embracing change and taking control of your own story. For fans of The School for Good and Evil and the...
Code red
McCullough, Joy
Paper Book
In the spirit of Judy Blume, this "character-driven, thought-provoking, often funny, and, above all, timely" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) middle grade novel celebrates finding yourself, making new friends, and standing up for what's right as a girl becomes involved in menstrual...
The woman who split the atom : Lise Meitner
Moss, Marissa
Paper Book
As a female Jewish physicist in Berlin during the early 20th century, Lise Meitner had to fight for an education, a job, and equal treatment in her field, like having her name listed on her own research papers. Meitner made groundbreaking strides in the study of radiation, but when...
The Girl Who Sang : A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival
Nadel, Estelle/ Strout, Bethany/ Savos, Sammy (ILT)
Paper Book
A heartrending graphic memoir about a young Jewish girl's fight for survival in Nazi occupied Poland, The Girl Who Sang illustrates the power of a brother's love, the kindness of strangers, and finding hope when facing the unimaginable. Born to a Jewish family in a...
Turning twelve
Ormsbee, Kathryn
Paper Book
Turning twelve means big changes--first bra, first time babysitting, and a first crush not everyone will approve of . . . a pitch-perfect coming-of-age graphic novel from the creators of Growing Pangs. A BOOKPAGE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR "Twelve cheers for...
Frizzy
Ortega, Claribel A.
Paper Book
Winner of the Pura Belpré Award for Children's Text Winner of the Eisner for Best Publication for Kids Indie Bestseller New York Times-bestselling author Claribel A. Ortega and star debut artist Rose Bousamra's Frizzy is about Marlene, a...
Find her
Reno, Ginger
Paper Book
Five years, three months, and twelve days. That's how long Wren's mother has been missing. An Edgar Award Nominee In dreams, Wren can see her again: her eyes, her hair, her smile. She can even hear her laugh. Her mother, one of hundreds of Native Americans...
Any way you look
Siddiqui, Maleeha
Paper Book
What do you do with the wrong kind of attention? Dress Coded meets Amina's Voice in this must-read middle grade novel by Maleeha Siddiqui. Ainy is excited for summer! She plans on working at her mom's clothing store, having adventures with her best friend...
You know, sex : bodies, gender, puberty, and other things!
Silverberg, Cory
Paper Book
2023 ALA RAINBOW BOOK LIST WINNER 2023 DOUG WRIGHT AWARD A completely new approach to learning about puberty, sex, and gender for kids 10+. Here is the much-anticipated third book in the trilogy that started with the award-winning What Makes a Baby and Sex Is a Funny...
The last mapmaker
Soontornvat, Christina
Paper Book
A Newbery Honor Book A Walter Dean Myers Honor Book  From Christina Soontornvat, the visionary and versatile author of three Newbery Honor Books, comes a high-seas adventure set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world. In a fantasy adventure every bit as...
Sir Callie and the champions of Helston
Symes-Smith, Esme
Paper Book
In a magical medieval world filled with dragons, shape-shifters, and witches, a twelve-year-old nonbinary hopeful knight battles for the heart of their kingdom. This USA Today bestselling series explores identity and gender amid sword fights and magic, and proves anyone can be a hero.
Free period
Terese, Ali
Paper Book
This middle-grade Moxie centering period equity is Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret for the next generation! Longlisted for the National Book Award "Absolute fire." -- Book Riot Helen and Gracie are pranking their...
The rebellious life of Mrs. Rosa Parks
Theoharis, Jeanne
Paper Book
"Jeanne's book not only inspired the documentary but has been a catalyst in changing our national understanding of Rosa Parks. Highly recommend!"-Soledad O'Brien, executive producer of the Peabody Award-winning documentary The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks "A must...
May the best player win
Zhao, Kyla
Paper Book
The game is on in this fun-filled middle grade debut about chess, girl power, and performance anxiety in sports, perfect for fans of Kelly Yang and Celia C. Pérez! The clock is ticking for May Li, whose middle-school chess team just earned a victory at the state championship--and...
Star child : a biographical constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler
Zoboi, Ibi Aanu
Paper Book
A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book A Walter Dean Myers Honor Book From the New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, a biography in verse and prose of science fiction visionary Octavia Butler, author of Parable of the Sower and...

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