“It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.”-Oscar Wilde
No matter how you feel about this election, it raised a lot of attention for the empowering of women. Beliefs are cultivated from childhood, so the kinds of media that young people are exposed to can have a major impact on how they see the world. For me, reading helped to give me an unshakable confidence in my abilities. Here is a list of empowering books for tween and teen girls who want to take over the world. Some are well known, others, not so much, but all have my stamp of approval.
1. The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfield
In this dystopian society, at age 16 everyone undergoes major plastic surgery to become a "Pretty" an person designed to look objectively as attractive as humanly possible. The Pretties live a life partying and mindlessly enjoying themselves. As the series progresses, the main characters begin to question this life, eventually leading a revolution to change. It is great to see female character Tally Youngblood start to shift her value in her body from what it looks like to what it can do. She goes from confused and petty to a stone cold bad*ss.
2. "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
This classic story of four sisters is powerful, especially for the time is was published (1870s). These sisters live without there father and have to work outside the home to support themselves. This was unusual for the time. It is a beautiful testament to the power of sisterhood. Jo is especially powerful. She has a strong will and a deep commitment to her career as a writer.. This doesn't stop her from being a loving are caring person, though.They way she attacks life an strives for success stuck with me.
3. The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale
In the world of Bayern, magic is real, and it's wielded by some seriously killer heroines. In Goose Girl, Isi is a princess who by circumstance became a goose herder. She is weak and scared at first, but as she comes into herself and her powers, she takes control of her life and eventually rules. Enna, in Enna Burning, has the power to control fire. She becomes the most powerful weapon in the a war. She made me want to set the world on fire (but not in the literal way she did it)! The books have repeating characters but are stand alone novels on their own.
4. "The Book of a Thousand Days" by Shannon Hale
Okay, so this is a repeat author, but really anything by Shannon Hale is empowering to girls. This story is one set in ancient Asia. It takes the format of a diary written by the handmaiden of a princess. The princess is sentenced by her father to be locked in a tower for 1000 days. The author of the diary is there to care for her during her incarceration. The servant uses work to keep busy and to stay sane and cheerful. When more serious challenges, like war and torture show up, she doesn't back down. It is beautiful how she works to overcome challenges not only for herself but to care for and build up the princess as well. In the end, they are both powerful and developed characters.
5. "The Alchemist" by Paolo Coelho
This is the first one in the list without a female protagonist, but it's message of working hard to fulfill your own duties and dreams in life is an important and empowering one for all genders. It is a simple and short quest story, but it carries powerful messages. One of my favorites is that if true love stops you from succeeding in your dreams, it is not true love.
6. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
Okay, so everyone knows this one, but has there ever been a stronger heroine than Katniss Everdeen? If she doesn't inspire young girls to be bad*asses, no one will.
7. "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
Elizabeth Bennett is a heroine that defied gender expectation of her time. Women were expected to try and marry for money and status. When the richest man she knew proposed to her, she turned him down because her morals objected to him. Later she realized she was wrong about him, but her strength and spark are inspiring.
8. "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer
I know, I know, Stephenie Meyer. While her most famous series, "Twilight", is a horrible example to girls (don't even get me started on Bella Swan), her stand alone novel is different. An alien takes hold of a girls consciousness. This packs two very different heroines into one body. Their individual strengths combat at first, but eventual give way to selflessness and sisterhood. This bizarre story-line is captivating and memorable.
9. The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth
The fact that this dystopian society is neither a matriarchy or a patriarchy is something that makes it unique. Complex leaders and villains are both genders. The main character, Tris, has to overcome many personal challenges, but her gender is not one. She is described as powerful, explosive, selfless, and strong, and her gender isn't even considered. That's the way it should be. This story shows how one girl can challenge anything.
10. The American Girl Books (various authors)
These are obviously for younger girls, but that doesn't make them bad. These take place all throughout history and cover a surprising amount of serious topics for books aimed at young girls. They teach girls about different cultures and the struggles women overcame all throughout history. They're of surprisingly good quality for something so mass produced.
11. The Graceling Series by Kristin Cashore
A warrior, a monster, and a ruler. Those are the three heroines in these three books. In the Graceling book, the main character has to battle typically masculine character flaws like rage and violence, This isn't exactly a good example, but it is refreshing. The books also address the controversy of women deciding not to marry or have a family, which can be heavy, but is an important thing for girls to understand.
12. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Roweling
Two words. Hermione. Granger.
13. The Beka Cooper series by Tamora Pierce.
Really anything by Tamora Piece, but this particular series is about a girl who become a medieval cop turned detective, Kicking *ss and taking names,
