By Katherine Handcock, A Mighty Girl Communications Specialist
When you’re looking for a gift for a book lover, the natural choice is a good book! There’s nothing more exciting for an avid reader than unwrapping a title they have been dying to read — or discovering an exciting new book they haven't heard of yet.
2015 has been a great year for Mighty Girl book releases so to help you find just the right book to wrap up this holiday, we're sharing fifty of our favorite girl-empowering titles that were released this year. From gorgeously-illustrated picture books to thought-provoking teen fiction, these titles will delight, intrigue, educate, and inspire girls and boys alike!
This post also provides a sneak peek at our upcoming 2015 Mighty Girl Year in Review series, which we’ll be releasing at the end of the year. Of course, you can also find many more reading recommendations in our entire collection of nearly 2,500 Mighty Girl books for all ages.
Interstellar Cinderella
Interstellar Cinderella
In this unique retelling of the Cinderella story, Cinderella works all day repairing simple household robots, but at night, she sneaks off to study rocket mechanics. When she gets left behind -- without her tools -- while her stepmother and stepsisters go to the Prince’s Royal Space Parade, her fairy godrobot appears to give her a helping hand in the form of new tools and a space suit. After she fixes a broken ship with her gifts, she's off to space! But when she encounters the Prince in his broken down ship, Cinderella might just discover a new calling — as the new chief royal mechanic! This fun story with its retro-style illustrations is sure to delight kids with its tinkering heroine.
Girl Power 5-Minute Stories
Girl Power 5-Minute Stories
This terrific collection of ten stories is perfect for storytime! Each fun, brightly illustrated story takes about five minutes to read, so you can sneak in a few with ease. This volume includes some of the A Mighty Girl community's favorite picture books, including Karen Beaumont's I Like Myself, as well as out-of-print favorites like Monica Brown's Chavela and the Magic Bubble. The deluxe cover makes this collection perfect for gift-giving.
Monster Trouble
Monster Trouble
Winifred Schnitzel isn't scared of the monsters in her bedroom, but she sure is frustrated — she needs her sleep! Every night they're there, making a ruckus, despite the cleverest traps that Winifred can think up. Perhaps Winifred will have to get a bit more creative to deal with her monster problem (Hint: monsters hate kisses!) This funny bedtime story will have kids giggling — and contemplating how they might deal with their own exasperating fears.
Sidewalk Flowers
Sidewalk Flowers
A little girl walks through the city with her father who is distracted by errands and pays her little attention as she finds colorful wildflowers nestled into the cracks and crevices of the pavement. Her hands are soon bursting with flowers and she starts to give her treasured blooms away -- to a man sleeping on a bench, to a friendly dog, to a dead bird on the sidewalk, and to her mother and siblings when they finally arrive home. By the time the story ends, her small acts of kindness have brought color and joy to the whole neighborhood. This gorgeous and emotionally powerful wordless picture book is sure to be shared over and over.
Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music
Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music
Long ago, a girl lived on an island filled with music... but everyone knew that girls could not be drummers. And yet the girl heart drumbeats wherever she went, until finally she couldn't help herself and began to practice in secret. And when the Drum Dream Girl finally dared to play her music for everyone, they danced, sang — and agreed that music was for everyone, boys and girls. This story, inspired by the childhood of Chinese-African-Cuban drummer Millo Castro Zaldarriaga, will delight and inspire any child whose heart holds a dream.
The Tea Party in the Woods
The Tea Party in the Woods
When Kikko realizes that her father left behind the pie he was going to take to Grandma's house, she offers to take it to him. But on her journey through the woods, she finds a mysterious house and a little lamb carrying a purse and asking if she's there for tea! Perhaps there's something quite magical going on in the woods today... With its gentle story and enchanting illustrations, this original story has the flavor of a classic fairy tale that's sure to be beloved for years to come.
I Am Lucille Ball
I Am Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball knew the power of making people laugh! As both a groundbreaking comedian and as a producer and entrepreneur, she used her knack for the ridiculous to change the way people saw the world. In this picture book biography, kids will see how her unique viewpoint — and her courage to defy convention — turned her into a TV icon. Fans of this book can also check out the rest of the series, Ordinary People Change The World.
Marilyn's Monster
Marilyn's Monster
Some of the children in Marilyn's class have monsters... in fact, more and more do every day. But Marilyn's hasn't shown up yet, and it's not like she can go looking — everyone knows that your monster has to find you, not the other way around. But when Marilyn gets tired of being patient and trying to be the kind of girl a monster just can't resist, she decides to break all the rules and go hunting for one herself! This charming story tackles two of the hardest parts of childhood — waiting and wanting to belong — in a funny and heartfelt way.
The Princess and The Pony
The Princess and The Pony
Princess Pinecone wants to be a warrior princess, but every birthday, all she gets are fuzzy sweaters. So this year, she's completely clear about what she wants: a horse. A big, strong, ferocious war horse! Instead, she gets... a roly-poly pony that's more than a little smelly. While she's disappointed, there's one thing Pinecone knows — a true warrior can take advantage of any opportunity! This silly story from the author of Hark, A Vagrant! is not only fun but also sends the important message that gentleness can often have a greater impact than force.
I Am Helen Keller
I Am Helen Keller
When Helen Keller was very young, she lost her sight and her hearing, leaving her unable to communicate. That is, until a dedicated teacher, Miss Annie Sullivan, came into her life six years later. And once Helen learned how to express herself, she had an important message to say: people with disabilities have big ideas too! Another entry from the Ordinary People Change The World series, this book captures the power of any person who is willing to advocate for others.
This Is Sadie
This Is Sadie
Sadie has a big imagination, and nothing sparks it more than the remarkable stories in her beloved books! In fact, Sadie loves stories most of all, because unlike in real life, in a story you can build anything and go anywhere — and always find your way home. In this charming picture book, kids will watch Sadie show how the power of creativity can make even the ordinary moments extraordinary. Younger kids will enjoy the vivid illustrations, while older kids can start spotting references to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Jungle Book, and many more.
Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine
Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine
Thanks to her mathematically talented mother, Anne Isabella Byron, young Ada had the opportunity to develop her remarkable intelligence. Even when a bout with measles left her temporarily blind, her mother would keep Ada occupied by quizzing her with math problems that she would calculate in her head. Years later, when she met Charles Babbage, the inventor of the first mechanical computer, he named her the Enchantress of Numbers for her astounding mathematical skills. Little did either of them know that, when she designed an algorithm for Babbage’s Analytical Engine, she would be making history -- by writing the world’s first computer program! With vivid artwork and intriguing anecdotes about Lovelace's genius, this picture book biography pays homage to a little-known but deeply influential figure in computing history.
The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party
The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party
Princess Magnolia (aka, The Princess in Black) is back in the second installment of this funny early reader series! It's Magnolia's birthday, and she's hosting a very proper princess party... which means that this is a terribly inconvenient time for the monster alarm to go off! Not only does it happen once, but again, and again. Her guests are getting suspicious and Magnolia is getting exhausted! How will she maintain her secret identity and still protect the kingdom? Fans of the first book, The Princess in Black, will be thrilled to see this daring princess back in action again!
Lillian's Right To Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Lillian's Right To Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Lillian may be 100 years old, and the walk to the polls may be a "long haul up a steep hill", but nothing will keep her from filling out her ballot! As Lillian walks, she remembers key moments in her family's — and the country's — history, from the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment and her great-grandfather voting for the first time, to a younger version of herself, marching in a protest from Selma to Montgomery. This compelling story takes one woman's determination to climb a steep hill and uses it as a metaphor for the ongoing journey of the Civil Rights Movement.
An A From Miss Keller
An A From Miss Keller
Trisha is nervous about being selected for Miss Keller's special writing class: "Killer Keller" is infamous for being demanding of her students, and rumor says she's never given out an A. Trisha tries, but it seems there's no pleasing Miss Keller. Then, when Trisha is touched by a tragedy, she pours her heart out into her writing — without worrying about her grade — and receives rare, high praise from Miss Keller: "you've given your words wings." This autobiographical story will speak to any student who is pushing to reach their full potential.
The Whisper
The Whisper
As a little girl runs home with a new book from school, all the words go tumbling out of the book! But when she stares, perplexed, at pages full of nothing but pictures, she hears a whisper that tells her to imagine her own words. Tentatively at first, but emboldened by the voice's assurance that there are no rules, the girl decides to give it a try and discovers the power of imagination and storytelling. Zagarenski, a two-time Caldecott Honor artist, makes an impressive debut as an author in this contemplative and beautifully-illustrated tale.
The Only Child
The Only Child
In this wordless picture book, a little girl, lost and alone, follows a mysterious stag deep into the woods, where she finds a strange and beautiful world. But after she enjoys the wonders and companionship that the animals of this new world have to offer her, she realizes that home and family are far away. How can she find her way back? This debut book, which is laid out in a hybrid of picture book and graphic novel, features elegant and expressive black and white pencil illustrations that will have kids returning to this story over and over.
The Girl Who Buried Her Dreams In A Can
The Girl Who Buried Her Dreams In A Can
In this true story, a little girl in Rhodesia dreamed of getting an education, even teaching herself to read and write with her brother's schoolbooks. But as far as her community was concerned, girls had one future — as a wife and a mother — so that's what she did. She never forgot her dreams, though, and wrote them down and buried them in a can to remind her not to give up on them. And many years later, she not only fulfilled her dreams, but brought education back to her birthplace so every girl could learn. This inspiring picture book biography of Dr. Tererai Trent is sure to inspire any child with a dream!
Jars of Hope: How One Woman Helped Save 2,500 Children During the Holocaust
Jars of Hope: How One Woman Helped Save 2,500 Children During the Holocaust
In Poland's Warsaw Ghetto during WWII, a young nurse and social worker went about her daily work, caring for the sick — and smuggling Jewish children out to safety. Irena Sendler knew what she was risking, but she couldn't bear to watch children suffer and do nothing. And after every child was safe, she meticulously recorded their name in hopes that, someday, they could be reunited with their families. This gripping story of a real-life World War II hero who helped to save 2,500 children from near certain death is sure to inspire young readers.
Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees
Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees
Wangari Maathai wanted an education, but she swore she would find a way to return to her home in Kenya and make her country better. When she did, she saw incredible untapped potential: the women of Kenya, whose wisdom was often ignored, and the trees of Kenya, which were often chopped down. With her Green Belt Movement, Maathai tackled women's rights and environmental issues at the same time — and in thirty years, planted thirty million trees. For more picture books about this environmental and women's rights icon, visit our Wangari Maathai Collection.
Dragons Beware!
Dragons Beware!
Claudette, Marie, and Gaston from Giants Beware! are back! In this volume, the village is in desperate need of Breaker, Claudette's father's magical sword. The only problem is that the sword was lost years ago — swallowed by the dragon Azra the Atrocious, along with her father's legs! And when Claudette gets left behind from the recovery mission, she (inevitably) recruits her little brother and her best friend to take off after them in hopes of slaying the ferocious dragon. Fans of the first volume will love watching the characters continue to find their strengths in this rollicking and funny graphic novel.
The Case of the Missing Moonstone
The Case of the Missing Moonstone
What if 11-year-old Lady Ada Byron and 14-year-old Mary Godwin -- the future real-life Ada Lovelace, inventor of the computer algorithm, and Mary Shelley, author of “Frankenstein” -- met in London in 1826 and formed a detective agency dedicated to apprehending the most clever and fiendish of criminals? The case in question involves a stolen heirloom and a false confession, and solving it will require analytical thinking, creative problem solving, and a lot of daring! This reimagining of history pays tribute to the famous relationship between Holmes and Watson in the interplay between the awkward genius Ada and the courageous romantic Mary, but it adds its own twist with their reliance on math and science. With its clever Mighty Girl protagonists and a storyline full of action, humor, and intrigue, it’s sure to be a hit.
Serafina and the Black Cloak
Serafina and the Black Cloak
It’s 1899 and 12-year-old Serafina lives with her pa in the basement of the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, where the most important rule has always been that no one can know she’s there. The rich owners don't know that she lives in the basement with her father, the estate's maintenance man. But when children start disappearing, Serafina knows the culprit: the mysterious man in a black cloak she’s seen stalking the estate’s halls. With the help of the estate owners’ nephew, Braeden, Serafina must find a way to reveal the man’s true identity before all the children are gone. In the process, Serafina will learn secrets about a legacy of magic and discover who she really is. Serafina is a believably courageous heroine of this suspenseful story and the friendship between her and Braeden is heartfelt and real.
Who Is Malala Yousafzai?
Who Is Malala Yousafzai?
Kids will be fascinated by this accessible biography of Malala Yousafzai from the popular Who Was...? biography series. Malala's career as an international education activist began with a blog for the BBC, but it was after a shocking assassination attempt by the Pakistani Taliban that the world truly stood up and took notice. Today, she is the youngest ever recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize and an inspiration to people around the world. With fun illustrations and useful sidebars full of information, this book will enlighten middle readers about the fight that many children face just to go to school. Teens and adults will also enjoy Malala's memoir I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot By the Taliban (14 and up), while the young reader's edition will appeal to pre-teens I Am Malala: Youth Edition (10 and up).
Switch
Switch
Gypsy Beaumont has been eagerly awaiting her thirteenth birthday and the appearance of her own savvy, expecting a marvelous gift like flight or dancing in the stars; instead she wakes up with blurry vision, seeing flashes of the future and past. Then her un-magical, downright mean Grandma Pat moves in — and the family's savvies reverse, leaving Gypsy accidentally freezing time. It will take all of the family's wits to bring Grandma Pat home and help Gypsy accept her savvy. An action-packed imaginative companion to the Newbery Honor-winning Savvy.
Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall
Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall
In her nearly 60 year career, Jane Goodall went from an oddity — a woman researching primates in the wild? — to one of the world's most recognizable scientists and conservationists. Along the way, she changed the way we think about our planet — and what it means to be human. In this beautiful biography of Goodall, readers will learn about her amazing achievements, born of her remarkable ability to connect with the chimpanzees she sought to study. Primary sources and full-color photographs create a vivid and inspiring depiction of this trailblazing scientist.
Genuine Sweet
Genuine Sweet
Genuine has a gift: she can grant any wish... as long as it's not her own. Which is a problem, because Genuine could use a wish or two: her father was fired for drinking on the job and the whole family has to survive on her Gram's benefits. Genuine throws herself into helping others, which does bring her new friends and then an avalanche of wish requests that she can't possibly fill, even with help. But when a tragedy strikes the family that no amount of wishing can fix, Genuine will learn that there's an important difference between wishing for a better life and building one. This heartfelt debut novel has an authentic voice that kids will find irresistible.
Nooks and Crannies
Nooks and Crannies
Tabitha Crum's parents leave her entirely to her own devices — so when she gets one of six invitations to Countess Camilla DeMoss' country estate, she's eager to meet other children. But something strange is going on, and soon the children begin disappearing. Tabitha will have to take a cue from her beloved detective novels and unravel the Countess' secret — with the help of her pet rat, Pemberley — in order to rescue her first true friends. This story, which is part Roald Dahl, part Scooby Doo, is sure to delight young mystery-loving readers.
Hamster Princess: Harriet The Invincible
Hamster Princess: Harriet The Invincible
Harriet Hamsterbone is a stunning princess for a hamster (you'll have to trust her on that!) but she's also devilishly smart and determined to seek adventure. So when Harriet's parents tell her that a rat cursed her at birth to prick her finger on a hamster wheel on her birthday and fall into a deep sleep, Harriet thinks it's wonderful news — after all, a curse like that has to play out, which means that until then, she's invincible! She enjoys years of adventure until the curse plays out in a rather unexpected way... now Harriet has to find a way to save the whole kingdom! This hilarious comic-hybrid story is sure to be a hit with adventure fans.
Nellie Bly and Investigative Journalism for Kids: Mighty Muckrakers from the Golden Age to Today
Nellie Bly and Investigative Journalism for Kids: Mighty Muckrakers from the Golden Age to Today
She was one of the most famous women in the world in her day: from a record-breaking trip around the world (that was thought to be impossible) to feigning insanity to report on the conditions within insane asylums, Nellie Bly was always audacious and daring! This book provides a comprehensive look at Bly and other social reform writers and reporters who transformed both journalism and attitudes. Twenty-one activities are included to get young readers interested in journalism, from keeping a reporter's notebook to writing letters to the editor.
Lumberjanes Volume 2: Friendship to the Max
Lumberjanes Volume 2: Friendship to the Max
Jo, April, Mal, Molly, and Ripley are back! And much as they'd like to be spending a quiet summer, there's a supernatural force threatening their camp. No matter how much they'd like to avoid insane quests and pesky critters, it looks like it's time for another race through the woods to protect their friends — and the world! — from creatures that most people consider mythology. Fans of Lumberjanes Volume 1: Beware the Kitten Holy will be excited to check out this graphic novel, which collects issues 5 to 8.
A Night Divided
A Night Divided
When the Berlin Wall went up, it split a city — and Gerta's family. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west to look for work, are on the western side; Gerta, her mother, and her other brother are on the eastern side, under Soviet control. Now Gerta is growing up with East German soldiers pointing guns at their own citizens, reminding them never to look over the wall. Then, on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform, performing a strange dance, and receives a mysterious drawing. Her conclusion? Her father wants them to tunnel under the wall and reunite the family. But do they dare the consequences in search of freedom? This intriguing historical novel, with its unique setting, will give kids a new perspective on history — and on the importance of remembering it.
Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters
Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters
Miri is eager to return to her beloved home after a year at the king's palace, but instead she finds herself ordered to a distant swamp to start a princess academy for three cousins of the royal family. Astrid, Felissa, and Sus are more interested in hunting and fishing than courtly etiquette, but if Miri is ever going to get back to Mount Eskel, she'll have to convince them to learn. As she spends time with them, though, Miri realizes that the sisters — and the king and queen's interest in them — hide a long-buried secret. It will take all her strength and intelligence to unravel the mystery, protect the sisters, and make her way home. This sequel to Princess Academy and Princess Academy: Palace of Stone will delight fans of the series.
Puffin in Bloom Illustrated Classics Collection
Puffin in Bloom Illustrated Classics Collection
Celebrate four classic works of literature with these all-new editions featuring artwork by Anna Bond! This four-book set includes editions of Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Heidi, and A Little Princess, each with Bond's detailed artwork on both the cover and throughout the book. All four books come with an elegant slipcover case. Fans of Bond's work can also check out Alice's Adventures In Wonderland - 150th Anniversary Edition, the most recent release from Puffin's Illustrated Classics line.
Breakaway: Beyond the Goal
Breakaway: Beyond the Goal
This uplifting memoir from soccer star Alex Morgan will inspire young readers to be their best -- in sports or any other activity they choose to pursue! The memoir follows Morgan from childhood and her discovery of soccer in the American Youth Soccer Organization to her journey to the 2011 Women’s World Cup, gold in the 2012 Olympics, and her emergence as one of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s top scorers. A few last touches about the lead-up to the 2015 Women’s World Cup finish off this inspiring and encouraging book. The book includes eight pages of full-color photos and the book jacket doubles as a poster.
Goodbye Stranger
Goodbye Stranger
Bridge, Emily, and Tabitha are best friends in seventh grade, all wrestling with their own challenges: Bridge is an accident survivor wondering why she's alive; Emily has a developing body attracting wanted, and unwanted, attention; and Tabitha is developing her identity as a human rights activist. The three girls are best friends with one rule: No fighting. But is that enough to get them through middle school? This captivating novel captures all the ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies, that can seem overwhelming as a young teen.
Fish In A Tree
Fish In A Tree
Ally is clever — she knows that, if she's enough of a disruption in class, no one will figure out just how little she can read. But how can she be smart if she can't even read the simplest things? But her newest teacher, Mr. Daniels, seems to see past her brash, troublemaking exterior, and even puts a name to her reading problems: dyslexia. Mullaly Hunt provides a compassionate look at life with a learning disability, with an ending that's realistic: Ally's happy ending will involve small changes and a lot of hard work! Most importantly, she reminds the reader that great minds don't always think alike.
Awkward
Awkward
Peppi Torres knows that the two cardinal rules of school are 1) don’t get noticed by the mean kids and 2) seek out groups with similar interests and join them. But on her first day, she trips into quiet Jaime, and immediately starts getting teased as the “nerder girlfriend”! Peppi doesn’t handle the moment well, and even as she finds friends in the art club, she’s ashamed about how she treated Jaime. But then she learns that the art club’s archrivals, the science club, are ready to battle it out — and that Jaime is one of them! At its core, this newly released graphic novel teaches an important lesson about the value of kindness, while chronicling some of the challenges encountered by middle school students in their world of rapidly changing social relations.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Volume 1: Squirrel Power
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Volume 1: Squirrel Power
With her mysterious squirrel powers, Doreen Green, a.k.a. Squirrel Girl, has defeated supervillains when other heroes of the Marvel universe have met their match! Now, Squirrel Girl finally has her own comic series. In this volume, which collects issues 1 to 5, Doreen is moving out of the Avengers mansion — along with her squirrel sidekick, Tippy Toe — to start a computer science degree at the university. But trouble seems to follow her and soon she’s up against Kraven the Hunter, Whiplash, and even the mighty Galactus, all while dealing with classwork, crushes, and all the other business of college! Squirrel Girl is a lighthearted superhero story, perfect for younger Marvel fans. Complete her set with the new release The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Volume 2: Squirrel You Know It's True.
Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries Who Shaped Our History...And The Future!
Rad American Women A-Z: Rebels, Trailblazers, and Visionaries Who Shaped Our History...And The Future!
In this alphabet book for older readers, A is for Angela Davis, B is for Billie Jean King, and C is for Carol Burnett! 26 biographical profiles feature American women from across several centuries, of all races and professions. But the one thing they all share in common is how they defied assumptions, broke through boundaries, and changed the way people looked at the world. The introduction discusses what it takes to be a radical woman, and the book includes an afterword with 26 suggestions on how the girls of today can be the rad women of tomorrow.
The Shepherd's Crown
The Shepherd's Crown
In the final book of this beloved series, Tiffany Aching finds herself in a difficult position: her old enemy, the Fair Folk, are getting ready to claim the Discworld as their own, and her own people are watching her with suspicious eyes, wondering if she can measure up. If Tiffany's going to protect the Chalk — her land, her people — she is going to need to draw on every ally. The final book of the Tiffany Aching series and Terry Pratchett's last novel, this epic battle of good and evil provides a fitting conclusion to the story of this remarkable and determined young witch. If you're new to this series, be sure to check out the four prior titles: The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full Of Sky, Wintersmith, and I Shall Wear Midnight.
The Hired Girl
The Hired Girl
14-year-old Joan Skraggs adores reading but on a hardscrabble farm in 1911 Pennsylvania, books are hard to come by -- especially after her father forces her to quit school to cook and clean for him and her brothers after the death of her mother. After her father burns the few precious books she owns in response to her standing up to his domineering ways, Joan decides that her only chance to escape a life of solitary drudgery is to run away and work as a hired girl in a city. She eventually finds herself in Baltimore, working as a maid for a Jewish family unlike anyone Joan has ever known: they are warm, kind, and appreciative of everything that education has to offer. But even with six dollars a week in wages will Joan be able to build the future that she’s always dreamed of and, most importantly, finally have a chance to continue her education? Laura Amy Schlitz, a Newbery Medal-winning author, creates a vivid and authentic character in Joan, who makes a few impetuous mistakes but never stops imagining big things for herself.
Women Heroes of the American Revolution: 20 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Defiance, and Rescue
Women Heroes of the American Revolution: 20 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Defiance, and Rescue
Every schoolchild knows about Paul Revere, but what about 16-year-old Sybil Ludington, who rode twice as far to help her father muster his scattered troops? And while we cheer the defiance of Patrick Henry's "Give me liberty, or give me death!", few know Martha Bratton's more daring declaration "It was I who did it!" to British soldiers after she blew up a gunpowder stash to keep it out of their hands. This lively collection of profiles highlights the little-known but remarkable women of the American Revolution, providing a fresh new perspective on this dynamic period in history.
Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science — And The World
Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science — And The World
This inspiring recent release is a gift for science lovers everywhere, especially for those eager to learn more about the oft-neglected stories of women's contributions to science. Swaby’s 52 engaging capsule biographies span centuries of courageous thinkers and illustrate how each one’s ideas developed, from their first moment of scientific engagement through the research and discovery for which they’re best known. The women featured, whose specializations range from biology to physics to engineering, include some well-known figures such as Sally Ride and Ada Lovelace but most of the women highlighted will be new to the majority of readers. While each individual's biography runs for only a few pages, Swaby has done an impressive job of conveying the essence of each scientist's life and work into the profiles. Her light tone makes for a pleasurable and accessible read, and many readers will also undoubtedly be inspired to learn more about the figures they find most intriguing.
Nimona
Nimona
Nimona is an eager young shapeshifter on the lookout for a villain — she knows she'd be the perfect sidekick. So when she meets Lord Ballister Blackheart, it seems like the perfect match: Blackheart has a vendetta against his former friend Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and is determined to prove he and his colleagues at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics are such heroes after all. But adding Nimona to the mix ups the ante on the rivalry, and soon Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are mysterious — and unpredictable. This irreverent graphic novel pokes fun at the tropes of classic fantasy; teens will love its exciting action and the clever dialogue.
Dumplin'
Dumplin'
Willowdean has always been at home in her own body, even if her former beauty-queen mom might make a tough comparison to some. But she finds her confidence unexpectedly shaken when she falls for Private School Bo, a hot former jock, and discovers he actually likes her back. Appalled at her own doubts, Will decides to take life by the horns and enter the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant — along with several other unlikely candidates — to show the world that all bodies are beautiful bodies. Teens will empathize with Will as she wrestles with confidence, body image, loss, and love — and cheer when she comes out the other side.
Jane Austen: The Complete Works
Jane Austen: The Complete Works
She is one of the most influential novelists in the English language, and one of the trailblazing women authors who presented female characters as people with significant lives of their own. Now, you can own her complete works — six full novels and one volume of early writings and juvenilia — in a beautiful box set. Each volume is bound in exquisitely patterned cloth and stamped with foil accents. Any fan of Austen's would be thrilled to unwrap this set.
Everything, Everything
Everything, Everything
Madeline's Severe Combined Immunodeficiency is a life sentence that keeps her trapped in her home, with her world reduced to two people: her physician mother and her nurse, Carla. Any contact with anyone else could be, quite literally, deadly. Then she sees a family move in next door; a family with a teen boy named Olly who is inventive enough to come up with ways to communicate with Madeline. Falling in love with Olly is sure to be a disaster, isn't it? But what might she discover if she dares to step outside the home where she feels safe? Teens will feel for Madeline as she struggles with a difficult decision: stay with the life she knows or dare to break the rules in hopes of something bigger.
Ms. Marvel Volume 4: Last Days
Ms. Marvel Volume 4: Last Days
From the moment Kamala Khan donned the identity of Ms. Marvel, she's faced all the challenges of learning to be a superhero while still being a teen. Now, she has her toughest battle yet: a very personal enemy she must confront as the whole universe collapses around her. The chaos in Manhattan is spilling over into her beloved Jersey City, and Kamala will have to make some difficult choices. What does it mean to be a hero when the whole world is on the line? Fists up, let's do this! This final collection of the original Ms. Marvel storyline leads into her new role as an Avenger in All-New, All-Different Avengers. To follow Kamala's entire storyline, check out the previous volumes: No Normal, Generation Why, and Crushed.
The Sleeper and the Spindle
The Sleeper and the Spindle
On the night of her wedding, a queen sets out to rescue a princess from an enchantment, trading wedding gowns for chain mail. Her dwarf retainers lead her deep into tunnels under the mountain to where a whole kingdom lies sleeping. For the queen, this adventure provides a chance to delay her marriage, which signals the end of choices in her life — but is the princess waiting for her what she seems? Gaiman's novella mixes Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, along with plenty of original ideas, to create a dark and funny story of identity, strength, and sacrifice; his text is beautifully accompanied by Riddell's stunning illustrations.
Under A Painted Sky
Under A Painted Sky
In 1849, Samantha's dreams of moving to New York to be a professional musician seem out of reach: how can a girl, let alone a Chinese-American girl, achieve such a thing? But after a family tragedy and an incident that leaves her on the run from the law and fearing for her life, those dreams are the last thing on her mind. With the help of Annamae, a runaway slave, Samantha head for the Oregon Trail, where the newfound friends disguise themselves as boys for protection. With the law closing in on them, but some unexpected allies in their corner, the girls will have to fight for their safety and their freedom.
Gotham Academy Volume 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy
Gotham Academy Volume 1: Welcome to Gotham Academy
Olive Silverlock is back for another year at Gotham's most prestigious — and mysterious — school. Only the best and brightest get to attend its classes, where they learn not just academics, but also secrets of the arcane. Except this year, Olive has a brand new case of amnesia and fear of bats — and an assignment shepherding Maps Mizoguchi, her ex's kid sister, around her first term at the school. Add a haunting, a secret society, and weirdo billionaire and school patron Bruce Wayne, and this is sure to be a strange year... This new comic series provides an intriguing mix of action, supernatural, and high school drama.
Illuminae
Illuminae
It's 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war — over Kady's planet. This morning she thought breaking up with Ezra would be the hardest thing in the world; now, she and Ezra have to evacuate with a hostile warship in pursuit... while they're barely speaking to one another. And that's just the beginning of their problems: to survive — and learn the truth about what's really going on — Kady will have to hack a web of data and figure out how she and Ezra can work together despite it all. Told in a unique dossier format of hacked documents, including e-mails, IMs, files, medical reports, and more, this story will have teen readers eager for the next book of the planned trilogy.
Additional Recommended Resources
- For our favorite book releases from last year, visit our 2014 Mighty Girl Books: A Year In Review.
- For our full collection of over 2,500 titles for all ages, visit our Book Collection.
- For more gift ideas for all ages, visit our 2015 Girl Empowerment Holiday Gift Guide.
