She Will Rise: Becoming a Warrior in the Battle for True Equality

Former Democratic congresswoman Hill interweaves the story of her own political rise and fall with a call for young women to “dismantle misogynistic institutions” and seek “positions of power” in her forthright and inspirational debut. In 2018, 31-year-old Hill flipped her California district from red to blue and became the first openly bisexual person from California, and one of the youngest women ever, to serve in Congress. In October 2019, a right-wing blog began publishing private photos and text messages in a series of articles alleging that Hill was having inappropriate sexual relationships with staff members. (Hill believes her ex-husband leaked the material; he claims he was hacked.) Hill details the abusive dynamics of her marriage, the thought process behind her resignation, the emotional distress she experienced as the scandal unfolded, and her current campaign against cyber-exploitation. She situates her experience in the context of “systemic roadblocks” faced by women, including income inequality, workplace harassment, and sexual violence, and calls on voters to battle misogyny by putting women “in charge.” A self-admitted “millennial lady nerd,” Hill lightens the mood with humor but doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of her story, or to admitting fault. This unvarnished account turns a devastating setback into a powerful argument for change. (Aug.)