60 Mighty Girl Books About Standing Up for Others

Global Baby Girls

Even the youngest children love seeing faces from around the world! This charming book features photographs of baby girls from many different countries — and celebrates their potential to become women who change the world. This delightful book, which was developed by the Global Fund for Children, also provides charitable outreach: part of the proceeds of each book sold are donated to community organizations that are dedicated to helping girls thrive and succeed.

Mommy, Mama, and Me

Written by the same author as the groundbreaking Heather Has Two Mommies, this book reminds the reader that a day with a toddler and caring parents is much the same for every family! Whether at play with hide-and-seek and dress-up, splashing in the bath, or getting a kiss at bedtime, these books show the deep, loving bond between a lesbian couple and their treasured child. The same author/illustrator pair has written Daddy, Papa, and Me, also for age 1 - 3, which depicts a gay couple and their toddler in the same gentle, loving way.

Yoko

Yoko has her favorite lunch today: sushi! But her classmates reactions are enough to make her lose her appetite. Her thoughtful teacher arranges an International Food Day and tells all the students to try everything, but even that doesn't convince her classmates to give Yoko's sushi a try... except for one. It turns out, having one accepting friend makes all the difference in the world! Author Rosemary Wells realistically depicts just how painful it can be when peers don't respect differences, as well as the power of one kind act to make someone feel included.

I Walk With Vanessa

A Story About A Simple Act of Kindness

Vanessa's first day at a new school is a little lonely, but on the way home, things get worse. A boy shouts at her, and she runs home upset — and one of her classmates sees the whole thing. Both girls are heartbroken, but the bystander realizes there are ways she can help... and the next morning, she invites Vanessa to walk to school alongside her. This wordless picture book's expressive images capture the helplessness that kids can feel when they see someone being bullied, as well as the power of simple acts of kindness and the strength that comes from standing together.

Elena's Serenade

In Mexico, a little girl named Elena watches her father blow glass and dreams of becoming a glassblower herself. But girl's can't be glassblowers — or so he says. Refusing to accept this arbitrary limitation, Elena disguises herself as a boy and travels to Monterrey, where she can learn her craft and prove that a girl can do anything a boy can do. Full of dreamy magical realism and a spirit of determination and justice, this special book is a unique way to tackle sex and gender prejudice in a gentle, thoughtful way.

The Colors of Us

Lena is painting a picture of herself and tells her mother that she needs brown for her skin — but her artist mother isn't going to let her get off that easily! She insists that there are many shades of brown, and to prove it, she takes Lena for a walk through the neighborhood, where she sees skin colors that look like honey, peanut butter, pizza crust, ginger, peaches, chocolate, and more. By the end of her walk, Lena has learned to see "brown" in a whole new way. This positive look at skin color will get kids finding and celebrating the unique color of their own skin tones.

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match / Marisol McDonald no combina

Marisol doesn't look — or act — like anyone she knows: she has flaming red hair and nut-brown skin, enjoys peanut butter and jelly burritos, and loves being a soccer playing pirate princess! And for some reason, this confuses other people around her, who'd rather that she stop being herself so that she would fit into one of their boxes. But this Peruvian-Scottish-American girl doesn't mind, and she wouldn't give up her "mis-matched" life for anything. This English/Spanish bilingual picture book celebrate individuality and the power of being proud of your uniqueness.

Stella Brings The Family

Everyone in class is excited about the big Mother's Day party... except Stella. She has two daddies, who help her with homework, tuck her in at night, and make her feel more loved than anyone else could. She also has lots of other people who love her: a large extended family who support her and encourage her in everything she does. But she doesn't have a mom to bring to the party. In the end, though, thanks to that same supportive crowd — and a little inspiration from a classmate — Stella finds the perfect solution to celebrate her very special family. This book provides a starting point for talking about the subtle ways that our assumptions about families can exclude people.

The Other Side

In Clover’s 1950s town, a fence runs down the middle: one side is for young Clover's African American community, while the other side is where the white people live. But one day, Clover meets a little girl named Annie who lives on the other side of the fence. Cautiously, the two girls approach each other, wondering how they can play together without breaking the rules. Finally, the solution occurs to them — and they spend the day sitting on the fence together. Elegant watercolor illustrations by E.B. Lewis pair perfectly with Woodson’s thoughtful text to effectively communicate the deep truth behind Annie’s comment: “Someday somebody's going to come along and knock this old fence down.”

In Our Mothers' House

Marmee and Meema and their three children love each other, and they act just like any other family. So why do some of the other families where they live not want to speak to them? What’s so strange about a family that has two moms and no dad? Patricia Polacco tackles the difficult topic of discrimination against same-sex families with understanding and confidence, showing that different doesn’t mean wrong — and that love is what makes a family strong. This story is also a good choice for discussing adoption and multi-racial families with children, creating a broader view of what it means to be a family.

The Junkyard Wonders

Tricia, who has dyslexia, is horrified to discover that the special education classroom at her new school is called "the Junkyard" — the kids, including a student with Tourette's Syndrome, a mute girl, and a boy with a visual impairment, are the misfits of the school. But their teacher, Mrs. Peterson, teaches them to adopt the name with pride, taking them to an actual junkyard and showing them the potential that lies within it — and them. And when one of their classmates dies, the Junkyard Wonders pay special tribute to him with something that most people would write off as trash. This heartfelt book will teach readers to seek the unique talents in every person.

The Hundred Dresses

Maddie's classmates sneer at Wanda, a Polish immigrant, for her strange surname, for her unusual ways, and especially for wearing the same faded dress every day — and while Maddie never joins in, she never steps in to stop it, either. Wanda’s obvious lie that she has a hundred beautiful dresses at home only provokes more mockery from her peers. But one day, her father sends a letter to her teacher that they’re leaving town because of the discrimination the whole family has suffered. In that moment, Maddie realizes that she can never apologize for what people said to Wanda and resolves that she is “never going to stand by and say nothing again.”

Her Right Foot

After a quirky telling of the history of the Statue of Liberty, author Dave Eggers makes an observation: her right foot is coming off the podium as if she is in mid-stride. Why? Because, he suggests, Liberty is stepping out into the harbor to welcome immigrants to her shores — after all, Liberty is an immigrant too! Her right foot reminds us that “Liberty and freedom from oppression are not things you get or grant by standing around. These are things that require action. Courage. An unwillingness to rest." This profound and timely examination of the symbolism of Lady Liberty celebrates the diversity that makes American great.

Rain Reign

Rose Howard's Asperger's syndrome manifests in a love of homonyms and anxiety about changes to routine. When her struggling single father brings home a dog, though, it's a change Rose adores, and she quickly chooses the name Rain — which, since it has two homonyms (reign, rein) is one of the most special names of all. But when Rain goes missing in a storm, Rose has to break all of her familiar patterns to find her beloved pet... and when she learns that Rain may already have a home, Rose will face a very difficult decision. This heartfelt novel about justice, courage, and love is sure to touch your Mighty Girl's heart.

Ruby Lee and Me

There's plenty of talk about the new sixth-grade teacher at Shady Creek. Mrs. Smyre is the first African American teacher in the town; it's 1969, and while black folks and white folks are cordial, having a black teacher at an all-white school is a strange new happening. For 12-year-old Sarah Beth, there are so many unanswered questions. What is all this talk about Freedom Riders and school integration? Why can't she and Ruby become best friends? And who says school isn't for anybody who wants to learn — or teach? This story exploring racial tensions at a key point during the Civil Rights Movement highlights the new possibilities that emerge when we work together.

Making Friends With Billy Wong

It's 1952, and Azalea is dreading a summer helping her Grandmother Clark — she struggles to make friends at the best of times, and now she'll spend months in an unfamiliar town. When Billy Wong, a local Chinese-American boy, shows up to help in her grandmother's garden, Azalea is startled that her grandmother encourages her to talk to him. Billy is easy to befriend despite their different backgrounds and experiences, and introduces Azalea to perspectives she'd never considered — including what it's like to be the only Chinese student at the local school, especially when not everyone is welcoming. This novel, which is told with Billy and Azalea's voices side by side, is inspired by true accounts of Chinese Americans living in the South during the civil rights era, and explores the power of befriending someone different than you.

Revolution

In Greenwood, Mississippi in 1964, the adults all say they're "being invaded" — by people from up north coming to help voter registrations in something called the Freedom Summer. At first, Sunny doesn't even worry about that; she's caught up in her own invasion, a new stepmother and siblings pushing their way into her life. But a moment at a public pool opens her eyes to the racism that pervades her hometown, and soon Sunny is trying to figure out how she too can fight for what's right and fair. Real source materials — including an actual KKK pamphlet from the time period — drive home the viciousness that civil rights campaigners faced during the time period. Deborah Wiles, award-winning author of Countdown, tells a riveting story of kids who, in a world where everyone is choosing sides, must figure out how to stand up for themselves and fight for what's right.

It Ain't So Awful, Falafel

Zomorod Yousefzadeh is the new kid — again. Her family's most recent home is California's Newport Beach, where she's going to start fresh; she's even picked a perfect new, and very American, name, Cindy. But in the late 1970s, with Iran making headlines in the U.S. with protests, revolution, and finally the taking of American hostages, even mood rings and puka shell necklaces can't protect Cindy from anti-Iran sentiments that are way too close to home. The first middle grade novel by the author of the best-selling adult memoir Funny in Farsi, this story shows middle grade leaders what it's like to bridge the gap between beloved traditions and new customs.

Minnie McClary Speaks Her Mind

Minnie McClary is struggling: her family had to move after her father "blew the whistle" and lost his job, her uncle lost his leg in the Iraq War, and she doesn't know who she is any more. Her only friend is Amira, a Muslim girl whose headscarf isolates her as much as Minnie. Then a new teacher, Miss Marks, arrives. Minnie and Amira love her for her thought-provoking assignments that challenge prejudice and the status quo, while the rest of the community spreads rumors about her unconventional looks and methods. When Miss Marks' job is at stake, though, Minnie finds the courage to speak up: for Miss Marks and against prejudice of all kinds. Inspiring and powerful, Minnie's story will encourage middle grade readers to find their own voices.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Kit Tyler is heartbroken when she has to leave her beloved Barbados to join an aunt and uncle she's never met in 1687 Connecticut. And from the moment she arrives, she is the topic of disapproval and suspicion: in their Puritan community, a girl like Kit who swims and dares to talk back to her elders might get labeled a witch. And when Kit finds a kindred spirit in Hannah Tupper, a Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, she suddenly finds herself facing witch hysteria and a mob mentality with nothing but a sense of truth and justice. This Newbery Medal-winning novel provides a stirring exploration of witch hysteria in early colonial America and the power of courageous individuals to stand up to mob mentality.

Witness

It's 1924, and there's a new organization placing pressure on this small Vermont town: the Ku Klux Klan. At first, the Klan's "all-American" mindset seems to fit the Prohibition-era conscience of the community — and if important men like Constable Parcelle Johnson and retailer Harvey Pettibone are joining, then surely it can't be so bad. But when someone shoots at a 6-year-old Jewish girl and her father in broad daylight, the town is faced with the true bigotry and hate that the Klan represents. Now they have to figure out who would commit such a horrible crime — and whether or not they can purge the Klan's influence from their community. Told in free verse in 11 different voices, this intriguing story is part mystery and part social commentary.

Stella by Starlight

In Bumblebee, North Carolina, Stella is used to segregation: some stores she can go into, some she can't, and that's just the way it is. But she's never thought as racism as dangerous before. Until one day, Stella and her brother see something they aren't supposed to: a Ku Klux Klan meeting, practically right in their backyard. It's the beginning of many frightening and unpleasant changes to come. But Stella's community decides to draw together and stand up against the injustices around them, and as they do, Stella will not only learn that hope can come from strange places — even ashes — but also discover an unexpected talent and purpose. This historical novel featuring a warm, lively main character is inspiring and touching.

The Lions of Little Rock

It's 1958, and twelve-year-old Marlee is struggling: the Governor of Arkansas has shut all high schools to avoid the federal order to integrate schools, so her sister has been sent away so she doesn't miss a year. Always shy, Marlee responds to the chaos by retreating even more... until she meets Liz, the new girl at her middle school. Fearless and determined, Liz knows just what to say to encourage Marlee to find her voice. Then, one day, Liz is gone; rumor has it that she was actually black, and pretending to be white. Liz's friendship helps Marlee understand the damage that segregation does — and the value of fighting it. As racial tensions rise, danger looms for both the girls and their families as they stand up for integration, but their friendship helps them stand strong. Heartfelt and satisfying, this story of friendship and the fight for justice will make young readers cheer.

Wolf Hollow

Even Annabelle's small Pennsylvania town has been touched by the two world wars that ravaged the world, but day to day life there has been quiet until the day a new student, Betty Glengarry, comes to her school. Betty is cruel and delights in bullying the vulnerable people around her — including reclusive World War I veteran Toby. Annabelle knows that Toby is kind, but the other people in town see nothing but his odd behavior. As Betty agitates the town against Toby, Annabelle will have to find the courage to be a voice of justice... even if she's standing alone. This poignant novel asks questions about right and wrong, as well as how the dark parts of history mark us all. Annabelle's story continues in the sequel, My Own Lightning.

Weedflower

Sumiko was used to being teased as the only Japanese girl in her class, but after Pearl Harbor, things go from taunts to outright suspicion. Suddenly, she and her family have to leave her beloved home and flower farm for an internment camp in the middle of a hot, barren desert. But Sumiko and her family aren't the only ones facing discrimination: the camp is on a Mohave reservation. At first, the Mohave residents and the Japanese detainees are at odds, but as the get to know one another, they realize that they have much in common — including being viewed as second-class citizens. Through a friendship with Frank, a Mohave boy, and her own garden, Sumiko starts to see hope for a better future. Complex and emotional, this novel will get young adult readers thinking about the divisions we don't always see.

I Shall Wear Midnight

Tiffany Aching of the Chalk and her fellow Discworld witches might be a little... eccentric, and their magic isn't sparkly or impressive, but they help the people that others don't see: the needy, the sick, and the forgotten. So when dark rumors and angry words about witches start spreading — and the persecution and witch hunts begin — Tiffany knows she has to find a way to stop whatever's behind it. If she fails, she'll lose her life — and her beloved Chalk will fall with her. In this book four of the exceptional Tiffany Aching series, readers young and old alike will enjoy author Terry Pratchett's mix of humor and clever wordplay as he explores weightier topics of religious persecution and overcoming hatred.

Voices

Before the invasion, Ansul was a peaceful town that celebrated knowledge and books — but the conquerors have made reading and writing punishable by death. For Memer, though, Oracle House — a supposedly demon-infested building that houses the last books — is a safe haven. Then an Uplands poet named Orrec and his wife, Gry, arrive, and Memer's life is turned upside down. Perhaps there is a reason the conquerors consider words to be so dangerous.... This novel, with parallels to both ancient and modern history, will provoke intriguing discussions about oppression, religious fervor, the power of words, and the importance of the freedom to read.

The Skin I'm In

Maleeka is used to the taunts she gets daily from her classmates; if they're not teasing her about her homemade clothes or her good grades, they're mocking her dark black skin. Maleeka would trade anything to be part of the in-group, rather than on the outside. But when a new teacher comes to the school — whose face bears a giant blotch of white — Maleeka is shocked but intrigued to realize that Miss Saunders doesn't really care what people say; she loves the skin she's in. Perhaps Maleeka can learn to love her own, too. Teens will appreciate Flake's realistic depiction of the pain this kind of criticism can cause and empathize with Maleeka's struggle to find her confidence and self-assurance.

The Black Witch

Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last Black Witch, but unlike her ancestor, she has no mystical power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else. When she has the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary at Verpax University, which admits all manner of people, including many of sworn enemies of the Gardnerians, she quickly learns how difficult it is to escape her family's legacy. As Elloren seeks out other outcasts for company, which forces her to confront the stereotypes and xenophobia she's been taught, she begins to realize that there may be good reasons for their opposition to her government. This complex, rich fantasy conveys powerful messages about prejudice and extremism; Elloren and her friends return in the further books of The Black Witch Chronicles.

Girls Like Us

Quincy and Biddy are "speddies," graduates of high school special education programs, and now they're taking on a new challenge: life in a supervised apartment space. Quincy is suspicious of everyone — no one has ever been kind to her before, so why would they start now? — while Biddy is terrified of everything beyond their front door. After being paired as roommates, though, what seems to be a poor fit turns into a deep friendship — particularly when Quincy goes through a traumatic experience that Biddy understands all too well. This novel opens young adult readers' eyes to the challenges facing people with intellectual disabilities — including high risk of sexual assault — and highlight the importance of support and understanding to their success in life.