The following is a listing of adult, YA, and children's fiction and nonfiction titles on the history, achievements, and empowerment of women, young women, and girls.
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ADULTS:
ABRAMS
Diamonds and Deadlines: A Tale of Greed, Deceit, and a Female Tycoon in the Gilded Age
Betsy Prioleau, Mar.
Drawn from correspondence, genealogies, court dockets, and published works,an intimate look at the life of Miriam Leslie, the sandalous “empress of journalism” who for 20 years ran Frank Leslie Publishing House, the country’s largest publishing company, which chronicled the postbellum United States in dozens of weeklies and monthlies.
How to Be a Boss B*tch
Christine Quinn, May
The star of Netflix’s hit Selling Sunset shows women how to unapologetically own their power in business and relationships to live the life they want.
Black Girls Sew
Hekima Hapa and Lesley Ware, June
Black Girls Sew is a nonprofit organization empowering girls to take ownership of and have pride in their clothing; their first book teaches basic sewing skills and design principles so that readers can create one-of-a-kind looks, and learn to take risks and explore creative play in clothing design.
My Greatest Save: The Brave, Barrier-Breaking Journey of a World Champion Goalkeeper
Briana Scurry, June
A deeply moving and painfully honest memoir from the trailblazing, Black and openly gay World Cup–winning, Olympic gold medalist, and US Women’s soccer goalie who triumphed after her storybook career ended in 2010 when a knee to the head left her with severe head trauma.
ALLY
Wild at Heart
Stacy Gold, Apr.
A man with no backpacking experience, and a woman with plenty, hit the trail separately; when Mother Nature keeps shoving them in each other’s paths, with one of them usually naked, sparks fly.
AMAZON / MONTLAKE
The Astronaut and the Star
Jen Comfort, Mar.
Ambitious astronaut Regina (“Reggie”) Hayes is gearing up to the first woman to walk on the moon, but when a recent PR disaster threatens her chances, to rehabilitate her image she takes on the fluff assignment of training a clumsy (but gorgeous) Hollywood actor for his upcoming space flick.
AMISTAD
Love Me as I Am
Garcelle Beauvais, Apr.
The Black pop culture icon, entrepreneur, Hollywood actress and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star bares her life in a fearless memoir about life, love and the pursuit of true happiness.
ASTRA
The Sex Lives of African Women
Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Mar.
A celebration of the liberation, individuality, and joy of African women's multifaceted sexuality, featuring stories from the author’s blog, “Adventures from the Bedrooms of African Women.”
BENBELLA
Decolonizing Wellness: A QTBIPOC-Centered Guide to Escape the Diet Trap, Heal Your Self-Image, and Achieve Body Liberation
Dalia Kinsey, Feb.
The author, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, offers a guide to throwing out food rules in exchange for internal cues and adopting a self-love-based approach to eating.
BERKLEY
Curfew
Jayne Cowie, Mar.
In a near-future England, as women suffered increasing levels of violence at the hands of men, the courts legalized a society in which men would be traced and their movements restricted at night. The curfew was created to protect women from men. And it has – until now.
Sisters of Night and Fog
Erika Robuck, Mar.
An historical novel based on the true stories of an American socialite and a British secret agent whose stunning acts of courage collide in the darkest hours of WWII.
The Mad Girls of New York
Maya Rodale, Apr.
Based on a true story, follows daring female journalist Nellie Bly on one of her first stunt assignments in 1887 when she went undercover as a madwoman at Blackwell’s, a deplorable New York insane asylum; Rodale relied upon Bly’s book, Ten Days in a Madhouse, a compilation of Bly’s articles and her first-hand narratives about her experiences.
Take My Hand
Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Apr.
Reckons with the forced sterilization of Black women, inspired by true events in the 1970s American South.
BLACK SPOT
Under Her Skin
Edited by Lindy Ryan and Toni Miller, Apr.
Features work from Bram-Stoker Award® winning and nominated authors, as well as dozens of poems from women (cis and trans) and non-binary femmes, to celebrate women in horror.
BLACKSTAFF
Stand Up, Speak Out: My Life Working for Women's Rights, Peace and Equality in Northern Ireland and Beyond
Monica McWilliams, Feb.
A memoir from a Northern Irish peace activist, human rights defender, and former politician who has broken the mold in her work on domestic violence; in her co-founding of the Northern Ireland Women’s Coalition; and in her fight for peace and human rights both at home and globally.
BRAIN TRUST INK
I Love Me More: How to Find Happiness and Success through Self-Love
Jenna Banks, Mar.
A guide to why we should first love ourselves, and how to go about it.
BROADLEAF
Unbossed: How Black Girls Are Leading the Way
Khristi Lauren Adams, Mar.
Profiles of eight young Black women who are agitating for change and imagining a better world: Jaychele Nicole Schenck, Ssanyu Lukoma, Tyah-Amoy Roberts, Grace Callwood, Hannah Lucas, Amara Ifeji, Stephanie Younger, and Kynnedy Smith.
COLLECTIVE BOOK STUDIO
Embrace the Work, Love Your Career
Fran Hauser, Mar.
Combines accessible advice, time-tested strategies, creative prompts, and thoughtful exercises into one holistic resource workbook for women who want to get more out of their careers.
PAMELA DORMAN
Jobs For Girls with Artistic Flair
June Gervais, June
A feminist coming-of-age love story about an introverted young woman who dreams of becoming a tattoo artist, and living life on her own terms.
FAST COMPANY
Boldly You: A Story About Discovering What You're Capable of When You Show Up for Yourself
Janet Phan, May
The author shares the key takeaways from the hardships, life lessons, and experiences that led to her success as the founder and executive director of Thriving Elements, a nonprofit dedicated to providing access and opportunities for underserved, underrepresented girls through STEM mentorship.
GALLERY
Carolina Built
Kianna Alexander, Feb.
A novel based on the life of real estate magnate Josephine N. Leary, who built a legacy after emancipation in North Carolina.
My Moment: 106 Women on Fighting for Themselves
Compiled by Kristin Chenoweth, Kathy Najimy, Linda Perry, Chely Wright and Lauren Blitzer, Apr.
A collection of essays accompanied by black-and-white photography from a diverse group of women on the moment they realized they were ready to fight for themselves, including Gloria Steinem, Lena Waithe, Joanna Gaines, Brandi Carlile, Beanie Feldstein, Cynthia Erivo, and Billie Jean King.
Tears of My Mother: The Legacy of My Nigerian Upbringing
Wendy Osefo, May
The star of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Potomac shares the story of her complicated relationship with her mother, and how her Nigerian upbringing has affected her life, her success, and her role as a mother.
GLOBAL COLLECTIVE
The Female Gaze: Essays on Gender, Society and Media
Shoma A. Chatterji, Mar.
Chatterji in this collection of essays voices those who have been muted but not silenced, and scrutinizes the intertwined fabric of social and financial milieu that determines a woman’s place in society.
Women Detectives: The Untold History of Female Sleuths & Spies
Moumita Bhattacharyya and Subhankar Bhattacharyya, Apr.
The history of real-life women detectives who risked their lives to solve mysteries, catch miscreants, and unearth conspiracies to make both the home and the world a safer place.
GRAND CENTRAL
Atomic Anna
Rachel Barenbaum, Apr.
Three generations of women work together and travel through time to prevent the Chernobyl disaster and right the wrongs of their past.
Sisters in Resistance: How a German Spy, a Banker’s Wife, and Mussolini’s Daughter Outwitted the Nazis
Tilar J. Mazzeo, June
How three women were drawn together to deliver critical evidence of Axis war crimes to Allied forces during World War II, drawn from in‑depth research and first-person interviews with people who witnessed parts of this true story.
HANOVER SQUARE
Sister Stardust: A Novel
Jane Green, Apr.
In her first novel inspired by a true story, Green re-imagines the glamorous and tragic life of fashion icon and socialite Talitha Getty.
HARPER BUSINESS
The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America
Deepa Purushothaman, Mar.
A call to action for women of color to find power from within and join together in community, advocating for a new corporate environment where we all belong—and are accepted—on our own terms.
HARPER DESIGN
Let Me Be Frank: A Book About Women Who Dressed Like Men to Do Shit They Weren't Supposed to Do
Tracy Dawson, May
Showcases trailblazers throughout history who disguised themselves as men and continuously broke the rules to gain access and opportunities denied them because they were women.
HQN
A Caribbean Heiress in Paris: A Novel
Adriana Herrera, May
At the 1889 Exposition Universelle, a financially ruined rum heiress from the Dominican Republic agrees to a marriage of convenience with a not-so-secret Scottish duke.
INTERLINK
The Book of Queens
Joumanna Haddad, Mar.
A family saga that spans four generations of women caught up in the tragic whirlwind of turf wars and suffering in the Middle East—from the Armenian genocide and the Israeli occupation of Palestine to modern-day civil wars and the struggles between Christians and Muslims in Lebanon and Syria.
Ammu: Indian Home Cooking to Nourish Your Soul
Asma Khan, Apr.
The star of Netflix's Chef's Table shares a collection of recipes from her Indian family kitchen, honoring her ammu (mother).
IVP ACADEMIC
The Samaritan Woman's Story: Reconsidering John 4 After #ChurchToo
Caryn A. Reeder, Feb.
Offers a bold challenge to teach the Bible in a way that truly honors the value and voices of women.
Buried Talents: Overcoming Gendered Socialization to Answer God's Call
Susan Harris Howell, Apr.
Using social science research and interviews, Howell examines how gendered messages inside and outside the church pull men toward leadership and women away from it.
MEDINA
Unbounded
Huda Al-Ghoson, Apr.
A real-life tale of bravery and upward mobility in the face of the unique cultural, social, and occupational challenges encountered by women in Saudi Arabia.
MIRA
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell: A Novel
Taj McCoy, Mar.
A plus-size heroine gets a full-life makeover after a brutal breakup with the help of friends and family, a kitchen reno, and a handsome contractor.
MOUNTAINEERS
Valley of Giants: Stories from Women at the Heart of Yosemite Climbing
Edited by Lauren DeLaunay Miller, Apr.
Journal excerpts, original essays, interviews, archival materials, and memorable firsts that span the past century of climbing in the Yosemite Valley.
THE NEW PRESS
37 Words: Title IX and Fifty Years of Fighting Sex Discrimination
Sherry Boeschert, Mar.
Intersecting narratives of women seeking an education, playing sports, and wanting protection from sexual harassment and assault map gains and setbacks for feminism in the last fifty years and show how some women benefit more than others.
NORTH ATLANTIC
Mirrors in the Earth
Asia Suler, June
Through twelve nature essays, the author reveals that our self-compassion and empathy are our most potent vehicles for planetary transformation.
THE O’BRIEN PRESS
Ash + Salt: From Survival to Empowerment after Sexual Assault
Sarah Grace, May
The author’s raw and powerful account of healing and thriving after sexual assault.
OLIVE BRANCH
Skirting History: Holocaust Refugee to Dissenting Citizen
Eva S. Mosley, Feb.
How the author and her secular Jewish family managed to evade the Holocaust and lesser public disasters, but not some private ones; in New York and several other places and cultures, she evolved from a shy, often fearful child and adolescent to an increasingly self-confident feminist and outspoken peace activist.
OPEN BOOKS
Power, Passion, and Faith: Emmy Evald Carlsson, Suffragist and Social Activist
Sharon M. Wyman, Mar.
The author, Evald’s great-granddaughter, utilized Evald’s personal papers, scrapbooks, and photographs to recreate her journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most influential and remarkable Swedish-American women of her day, challenging male-dominated church and social mores, establishing the Lutheran Woman’s Missionary Society in 1892, and leading the charge on behalf of women’s suffrage, in 1902 marching the U.S. Congress with Susan B. Anthony.
PARK ROW
Smile and Look Pretty: A Novel
Amanda Pellegrino, Mar.
Four assistants working in media band together to take on their toxic office environments in the ultimate comeuppance.
Liking Myself Back: An Influencer's Journey from Self-Doubt to Self-Acceptance
Jacey Duprie, May
The author takes readers behind the scenes into the seductive world of fashion and influencing and reveals how she overcame great challenges to achieve her dreams.
Dinner for One: How Cooking in Paris Saved Me
Sutanya Dacres, June
The Jamaican-born, Bronx-raised podcast host discusses how she rebuilt her life after her American-in-Paris fairytale shattered, starting with cooking dinner for herself in her Montmartre kitchen.
Good Husbands: A Novel
Cate Ray, June
A psychological drama about three strangers drawn together by a shocking revelation about their husbands, and to embark on a hunt for the truth… but they are hardly prepared for what they will discover. Who is the real victim, and will justice ultimately be served?
PEN AND SWORD
Medieval Women
Michelle Rosenberg, Feb.
A treasure trove of medieval dramatis personae, from the more mainstream figures such as Lady Godiva and Joan of Arc to the lesser known Crusader Queens and mystics.
The Violinist of Auschwitz
Jean-Jacques Felstein, Feb.
Utilizes first-hand accounts from survivors to recreate the story of the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz, of which the author’s mother was a member but kept the story a lifelong secret.
Georgian Harlots and Whores: Fame, Fashion & Fortune
Mike Rendell, Apr.
Describes the lives of notable women in Georgian Britain who thrived in a man's world, looking at female education, the role of women, attitudes towards sex and sexuality, and male hypocrisy.
The Great Miss Lydia Becker: Suffragist, Scientist and Trailblazer
Joanna M. Williams, Apr.
Fifty years before women were enfranchised, a legal loophole allowed a thousand women to vote in the general election of 1868, an event that occurred due to the feisty and single-minded dedication of Lydia Becker, the acknowledged, though unofficial, leader of the women's suffrage movement in the later 19th century.
Female Innovators Who Changed Our World: How Women Shaped STEM
Emma Green, May
A concise overview of the lives of 46 trailblazing women in STEM, introducing women from a diverse range of cultural and economic backgrounds as well as some lesser known.
Carmen Pomiés: Football Legend and Heroine of the French Resistance
Chris Rowe, June
Profiles Pomiès, of the first generation of women’s sport in France, winning medals throwing the javelin in international competitions, and playing football for Fémina Sports and France from 1920, and her important influence in promoting the game and fighting for equality.
Women in the Medieval Court: Consorts and Concubines
Rebecca Holdorph, June
Offers a look at some of medieval Europe’s most influential women, exploring their role as rulers, wives, patrons, mothers, and more.
PRINCETON ARCHITECTURAL
Love and Justice: A Journey of Empowerment, Activism, and Embracing Black Beauty
Laetitia Ky, Apr.
The personal story of the artist, activist, and influencer known for sculpting her own hair to create playful and powerful artwork that embraces the beauty of Black hair and style, the fight for social justice, and the journey toward self-love.
RIVER GROVE
Unstoppable: Forging the Path to Motherhood in the Early Days of IVF
Ellen Casey, Mar.
How the author became the mother of one of the world's first "test tube babies," illustrating the deeply human side of the science behind early IVF practice, and detailing the relentless drive required to overcome early stigma and experimental science to become a mom.
ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD
Dare to Lead Like a Girl: How to Survive and Thrive in the Corporate Jungle
Dalia Feldheim, June
A holistic look at how to turn the world of work into a place where empathy, intuition, passion, and resilience take their rightful place, where women can lead like women and men can tap into their more feminine leadership traits and dare to lead (more) like a girl.
Fighting for Survival: My Journey through Boxing Fame, Abuse, Murder, and Resurrection
Christy Martin, June
Boxing legend Martin recounts how she overcame abuse, violence, addiction, and 40 years of living in the closet, and turned her pain into victory and debasement into triumph.
Who Let Them In? Pathbreaking Women in Sports Journalism
Joanne Lannin, June
Offers insight into how female sports journalists broke into this male-dominated field and managed to stay there, despite the many obstacles in their way.
RYLAND PETERS & SMALL
The Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style
Bethan Holt, Apr.l
A photographic celebration of the fashion evolution of the Queen Elizabeth over seven decades, published to coincide with her forthcoming Platinum Jubilee.
SOHO CRIME
Jane and the Year Without a Summer (Being a Jane Austen Mystery)
Stephanie Barron, Feb.
A new installment of Barron’s bestselling series that imagines Austen’s life as a sleuth in between novel-writing, with a storyline based on real history about how women of the time would use fasting as a way of asserting control over their own bodies and destinies in a patriarchal society.
SOURCEBOOKS
Secrets of the Sprakkar: Iceland’s Extraordinary Women and How They Are Changing the World
Eliza Reid, Feb.
Reid, the First Lady of Iceland, examines her adopted homeland's attitude toward women―the deep-seated cultural sense of fairness, the influence of current and historical role models, and the areas where Iceland still has room for improvement.
SOURCEBOOKS LANDMARK
The Book Woman’s Daughter
Kim Michele Richardson, May
To prove that she doesn't need anyone telling her how to survive, Honey Lovett picks up her mother's old packhorse library route and delivers books to the remote hollers of Appalachia.
TOR
The Bone Orchard
Sara A. Mueller, Mar.
In a lush, gothic world of secrets and magic, a dying emperor charges his favorite concubine with solving his own murder, and preventing the culprit–one of his three terrible sons–from taking control of an empire.
Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments
T.L. Huchu, Apr.
A resourceful young woman must face ghosts, magic, and secret societies in the mysterious streets of Edinburgh.
Book of Night
Holly Black, May
When a terrible figure from her past returns, Charlie descends back into a maelstrom of murder and lies. Determined to survive, she’s up against a cast of doppelgängers, mercurial billionaires, gloamists, and the people she loves best in the world, all trying to steal a secret that will allow them control of the shadow world and more.
Daughter of Redwinter
Ed McDonald, June
Raine can see—and more importantly, speak—to the dead, which proves to be a wretched gift with a death sentence that has her doing many dubious things to save her skin.
TORDOTCOM
Sisters of the Forsaken Stars
Lina Rather, Feb.
The Order of Saint Rita—whose mission is to provide aid and mercy to those in need—bore witness to and defied Central Governance’s atrocities on a remote planet; now, the sisters have been running ever since, staying under the radar while still trying to honor their calling.
Comeuppance Served Cold
Marion Deeds, Mar.
In 1929 Seattle, a respected magus and city leader intent on criminalizing Seattle’s most vulnerable magickers hires a young woman as a lady’s companion to curb his rebellious daughter’s outrageous behavior.
Until the Last of Me
Sylvain Neuvel, Mar.
It’s 1968 and Mia is poised to launch the first humans into space–but her adversary is at her heels, the future of the planet at stake, and for the first time in one-hundred generations, Mia’s family will have to choose to stand their ground, risking not only their bloodline, but the future of the human race.
Spear
Nicola Griffith, Apr.
A spellbinding and subversive queer recasting of Arthurian myth.
The Legacy of Molly Southbourne
Tade Thompson, May
Whenever Molly Southbourne bled, a murderer was born. Deadly copies, drawn to destroy their creator, bound by a legacy of death. With the original Molly Southbourne gone, her remnants drew together, seeking safety and a chance for peace, believing they could escape the murder that marked their past. But secrets squirm in Molly Southbourne's blood—secrets born in a Soviet lab and carried back across the Iron Curtain to infiltrate the West.
Second Spear
Keirsten Hall, May
When an old enemy returns wielding an unstoppable, realm-crushing weapon and the warrior Tyn is swept up in the path of destruction, she must make a choice about who she is and who she wants to be.
Siren Queen
Nghi Vo, May
An exploration of an outsider achieving stardom on her own terms, in a fantastical Hollywood where the monsters are real and the magic of the silver screen illuminates every page.
A Mirror Mended
Alix E. Harrow, June
Snow White's Evil Queen has found out how her story ends and she's desperate for a better ending, with the help of Zinnia Gray, professional fairy-tale fixer, to help her before it’s too late for everyone. Will Zinnia accept the Queen's poisonous request, or will she try another path?
TOR NIGHTFIRE
Manhunt
Gretchen Felker-Martin, Feb.
Beth and Fran travel the ravaged New England coast, hunting feral men and harvesting their organs in a gruesome effort to ensure they'll never face the same fate.
Sundial
Catriona Ward, Mar.
Rob is terrified for her oldest daughter, Callie, who collects tiny bones and whispers to imaginary friends, and has a darkness that reminds her too much of the family she left behind.
Just Like Mother
Anne Hetzel, May
Maeve’s cousin Andrea has made her fortune in the fertility industry—and the cousins’ increasing attachment triggers memories Maeve has fought hard to bury.
TRUTH TO POWER
I Can Take It from Here: A Memoir of Trauma, Prison and Self-Empowerment
Lisa Forbes, June
Recounts the author’s harrowing journey into darkness — including a fourteen-year-long stint in a maximum-security prison — and her fierce resolve to understand the effects of the trauma she endured, to take personal responsibility for her actions, and to ensure that her history does not dictate her destiny.
VIKING
Burn The Page: A True Story of Torching Doubts, Blazing Trails, and Igniting Change
Danica Roem, Apr.
How Roem, a transgender former frontwoman for a metal band and a political newcomer, unseated Virginia's most notoriously anti-LGBTQ 26-year incumbent Bob Marshall as state delegate.
Sisters of Mokama: The Pioneering Women Who Brought Hope and Healing to India
Jyoti Thottam, Apr.
The author brings to life the hopes, struggles, and accomplishments of ordinary women—both American and Indian—who succeeded against the odds during the tumult and trauma of the years after World War II and Partition.
WESTMINSTER JOHN KNOX
Voices Long Silenced: Women Biblical Interpreters through the Centuries
Joy A. Schroeder and Marion Ann Taylor, Feb.
Calls on scholars and religious communities to recognize the contributions of women, past and present, who interpreted Scripture, preached, taught, and exercised a wide variety of ministries in churches and synagogues.
WILEY
Choosing to Prosper: Triumphing Over Adversity, Breaking Out of Comfort Zones, and Achieving Dreams
Bola Sokunbi, May
The author describes finding her voice, building up the confidence to navigate challenges as a woman of color attempting to build a business, raise capital and create social impact through Clever Girl Finance, a platform that empowers and educates women to achieve financial independence in order to live life on their own terms.
WONDERWELL
Cinderella, You Bitch: Rescue Your Relationships from the Fairy-Tale Fantasy
Shannon Heth and Beau Nelson, Feb.
A sassy, smart, and soulful guide that shows how to smash your glass slipper and take control of your romantic life.
Power to the Purse: A Woman’s Guide to Financial Freedom
Kimberlee Davis, May
The wealth manager and host of The Fiscal Feminist podcast taps her 25 years’ experience to teach women how to take charge of their money and control their financial destiny.
WORKMAN
Overthinking About You: Navigating Romantic Relationships When You Have Anxiety, OCD, and/or Depression
Allison Raskin, Apr.
How to pursue love and relationships when living with mental illness, from the author’s firsthand experience, to help readers be better prepared to tackle dating and relationships with more confidence and less worry.
CHILDREN’S:
A listing of new and forthcoming Girl-Power Titles.
ABRAMS BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
Greta Thunberg (The First Names Series)
Tracey Turner, illus. by Tom Knight, Apr.
Part of an illustrated nonfiction series, this entry profiles the young Swedish girl who fights for climate change—and continues to prove that you’re never too young to make a difference. Ages 8-12.
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS
You-ology: A Puberty Guide for Every Body
Trish Hutchison, Kathryn Lowe, and Melisa Holmes, Apr.
Two pediatricians and a gynecologist offer an inclusive approach that normalizes puberty so that all people who menstruate will see themselves reflected. Ages 9-12.
AMULET
Close-Up On War: The Story of Pioneering Photojournalist Catherine Leroy in Vietnam
Mary Cronk Farrell, Feb.
Introduces French-born Catherine Leroy, one of the few woman photographers during the Vietnam War, who documented some of the fiercest fighting in the 20-year conflict. Ages 12-up.
ASTRA BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS
Born Hungry: Julia Child Becomes "The French Chef"
Alex Prud’homme, illus. by Sarah Green, Feb.
This nonfiction picture book tells how Julia Child became one of America's most celebrated chefs, written by her great-nephew. Ages 7-10.
Loujain Dreams of Sunflowers: A Story Inspired by Loujain AlHathloul
Lina AlHathloul and Uma Mishra-Newbery, illus. by Rebecca Green, Feb.
A courageous girl pursues her dream of learning to fly in a book inspired by the Nobel Peace Prize nominee who fought for women’s right to drive in Saudi Arabia. Co-written by her sister Lina AlHathloul and human rights activist Uma Mishra-Newbery. Ages 4-8.
Nellie vs. Elizabeth: Two Daredevil Journalists’ Breakneck Race around the World
Kate Hannigan, illus. by Rebecca Gibbon, Feb.
Two groundbreaking women journalists race against each other—and the clock—to circle the globe by ship, train, and foot. Ages 7-10.
Revolutionary Prudence Wright: Leading the Minute Women in the Fight for Independence
Beth Anderson, illus. by Susan Reagan, Feb.
Introduces female Revolutionary War activist Prudence Wright, who rallied the first and only group of “Minute Women” to fight the British, changing history in the process. Ages 7-10.
To the Front! Clara Barton Braves the Battle of Antietam
Claudia Friddell, illus. by Christopher Cyr, Mar.
A tribute to Civil War nurse Clara Barton and her heroic efforts during the Battle of Antietam, revealing the beginnings of her journey as one of our country’s greatest humanitarians and the founder of the American Red Cross. Ages 7-10.
Blast Off! How Mary Sherman Fueled America into Space
Suzanne Slade, illus. by Sally W. Comport, Apr.
The inspirational story of Mary Sherman, the world’s first female rocket scientist, who overcame gender barriers and many failures to succeed. Ages 7-10.
BEAMING BOOKS
Black Girls Unbossed: Young World Changers Leading the Way
Khristi Lauren Adams, Mar.
Introduces readers to eight young Black women changing the world, including the founder of a child literacy nonprofit; political activists; and a school shooting survivor who launched a political action committee to prevent gun violence. Ages 8-12.
Sarah Rising
Ty Chapman, May
Inspired by the protests that happened during the Minneapolis uprising after the police killing of George Floyd, the book provides a child’s-eye view of a protest and offers an opportunity for children to talk about why people take to the streets to protest racial injustice. Ages 5-8.
CAROLRHODA
Call Me Miss Hamilton: One Woman’s Case for Equality and Respect
Carole Boston Weatherford, illus. by Jeffery Boston Weatherford, Feb.
As a Freedom Rider during the Civil Rights Movement, Mary Hamilton was arrested again and again; in an Alabama court, when a white prosecutor called her by her first name, she refused to answer unless he called her “Miss Hamilton.” The judge charged her with contempt of court, but she fought the contempt charge all the way to the Supreme Court—and won. Ages 7 – 11.
CAROLRHODA LAB
The Deep Blue Between
Ayesha Harruna Attah, Mar.
After a raid on their rural West African village in 1892, twin sisters Hassana and Husseina are separated; far from their home, each sister finds freedom and a new start, remaining connected only through their shared dreams. But will they ever manage to find each other again? Ages 12-up.
CLARION
Girls Solve Everything: Stories of Women Entrepreneurs Building a Better World
Catherine Thimmesh, illus. by Melissa Sweet, Mar.
Brave women from diverse backgrounds make the world a better place through their businesses in this companion to the bestselling Girls Think of Everything. Ages 10-up.
Turn the Tide
Elaine Dimopoulos, Mar.
Twelve-year-old Mimi is inspired by the Wijsen sisters of Bali to turn her focus from classical piano to a new obsession: forming a grassroots, kid-led movement to ban plastic bags in her new island home in Florida. Ages 8-12.
CROCODILE
A Storm of Horses: The Story of Artist Rosa Bonheur
Ruth Sanderson, Feb.
Born in 1822 in France at a time when young women had limited options beyond being a wife and mother, Rosa Bonheur wanted to be a famous painter like her father, and was determined to capture the unbridled wild beauty of horses. She went on to become the most celebrated artist of her time with paintings purchased by art collectors, museums, and galleries around the world. Ages 6-12.
GRAPHIC UNIVERSE
Amazona
Canizales, May
In this socially conscious thriller, graphic novelist Canizales examines the injustices of his home country through 19-year-old Andrea, a young Indigenous Colombian woman, who has returned to the land she calls home—and with a hidden camera, will try to capture evidence of the illegal mining that displaced her family.
HARPERCOLLINS
Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas
Jeanne Walker Harvey, illus. by Loveis Wise, Feb
Celebrate the life-changing power of artwork in this picture book biography of American artist Alma Thomas, the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum and to have her work chosen for the White House collection. Ages 4-8.
Alias Anna: A True Story of Outwitting the Nazis
Susan Hood, Mar.
A nonfiction novel-in-verse about Zhanna Arshanskaya, a Ukrainian Jewish girl using the alias Anna, whose phenomenal piano-playing skills saved her life and the life of her sister Frina during the Holocaust. Written with Zhanna’s son Greg Dawson. Ages 10-up.
Just a Girl: A True Story of World War II
Lia Levi, Mar.
An award-winning memoir of a girl’s childhood in Italy during World War II, now translated with black-and-white illustrations and a letter from the 89-year-old author. Ages 8-12.
IMAGE COMICS / SKYBOUND COMET
Clementine Book One
Tillie Walden, June
It’s a new beginning for Clementine, the star of the video game franchise Telltale’s The Walking Dead, as she’s back on the road, looking to put her traumatic past behind her and forge a new path of her own. Ages 13-up.
INKYARD
You Truly Assumed
Laila Sabreen, Feb.
After a terrorist attack rocks the country and anti-Islamic sentiment stirs, three Black Muslim girls create a space where they can shatter assumptions and share truths. Ages 13-up.
KAR-BEN
Rena Glickman, Queen of Judo
Eve Nadel Catarevas, illus. by Martina Peluso, May
Rena Glickman, known professionally as Rusty Kanokogi, was a Jewish girl who grew up to become the female judo master of her time, overcoming many odds at a time when judo was a sport strictly for boys and men. Ages 5-9.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS
No Boundaries: 25 Women Explorers and Scientists Share Adventures, Inspiration, and Advice
Gabby Salazar and Claire Fieseler, Feb.
Meet 25 female explorers and scientists of diverse background, nationalities, and fields of study who are just beginning to make a name for themselves; each profile is based on first-person interviews and paired with useful tips and relatable advice for budding explorers and scientists. Ages 10-up.
NORTH ATLANTIC
The Tantrum That Saved the World
Megan Herbert and Michael E. Mann, Mar.
When a number of climate refugees (tigers, polar bears, farmers, and families) come knocking on her door, Sophia is confused at first, but soon her new friends inspire her to speak up. When at first no one at city hall will listen, she throws an epic tantrum that the world can’t afford to ignore, one that inspires her and others to join together in using their voices. Ages 5-9.
PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman
Kristen R. Lee, Feb.
Freshman Savannah Howard grapples with the challenges of attending an elite university with a disturbing racist past, which may not be as distant as it seems. Ages 14-up.
Mae Makes a Way
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, illus. by Andrea Pippins, May
Published in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, this book celebrates the life of fashion entrepreneur and civic organizer Mae Reeves. Ages 7-10.
In the Serpent's Wake
Rachel Hartman, Feb.
At the bottom of the world lies a Serpent, the last of its kind; finding the Serpent will change lives, but the only people who will truly find the Serpent are those who have awakened to the world around them—with eyes open to the wondrous, the terrible, and the just. Ages 12-up.
Maizy Chen's Last Chance
Lisa Yee, Feb.
As Maizy spends more time in Last Chance (where she and her family are the only Asian Americans) and at the Golden Palace—the restaurant that’s been in her family for generations—she discovers there’s more to her family than she thought. Packed with surprises, heart, and stories within stories, this irresistible novel from an award-winning author celebrates food, fortune, and family.
Harley Quinn: Reckoning
Rachael Allen, Apr.
Traces Harleen’s journey from precocious, revenge-obsessed teenage girl to a hardcore justice-seeker on her way to becoming the most captivating Super Villain of all time. Ages 12-up.
Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend
Katie Zhao, Apr.
The first book in a fantasy series inspired by Chinese mythology. When a girl awakens the stuff of legends from an old family recipe, she must embrace her extraordinary heritage to save the world. Ages 8-12.
Diana and the Journey to the Unknown
Aisha Saeed, May
Diana is tired of adults underestimating her because she’s only a girl—so when the opportunity strikes for her to save a group of children kidnapped by an evil entity, she takes the chance, knowing that she'll have to undergo the journey alone. Ages 8-12.
Honest June: The Show Must Go On
Tina Wells, May
When June’s blog full of all her inner secrets is released to the whole school, will her friends and family forgive her for the lies? Or is her carefully constructed life going to come crashing down? Ages 8-12.
Most Perfect You
Jazmyn Simon, illus. by Tamisha Anthony, May
Inspired by a conversation between the author and her daughter, actor and activist Simon’s picture book emphasizes the unique beauty and strength of all children, encouraging them to love their most perfect selves. Ages 4-8.
Why Not You?
Ciara and Russell Wilson, illus. by Jessica Gibson, Mar.
In this picture book debut, the Wilsons encourage readers to see themselves achieving their dreams, no matter how outrageous they may seem. Ages 4-8.
Castles in Their Bones
Laura Sebastian, Feb.
From the bestselling author of the Ash Princess series comes the first in a new series about three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. Ages 14-up.
Dear Student
Elly Swartz, Feb.
When Autumn becomes the secret voice of the advice column in her middle school newspaper she is faced with a dilemma: can she give fair advice to everyone, including her friends, while keeping her identity a secret? Ages 10-up.
Crimson Reign
Amélie Wen Zhao, Mar.
In this epic fantasy retelling of the Anastasia story and conclusion to the Blood Heir trilogy, a princess with a dark secret must ally with a con man to liberate her empire from a reign of terror. Ages 14-up.
Great or Nothing
Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, and Jessica Spotswood, Mar.
A retelling of Little Women set during WWII, this story follows the four March sisters with each sister’s point of view written by a separate author, three in prose and Beth’s in verse, still holding the family together from beyond the grave. Ages 12-up.
What We Harvest
Ann Fraistat, Mar.
A nightmarish debut about an idyllic small town poisoned by its past, and one girl who must fight the strange disease that is slowly claiming everyone she loves. Ages 12-up.
The Words We Keep
Erin Stewart, Mar.
A relatable story about mental health, the healing powers of art, sisterhood, and finding strength in unexpected places: Lily is desperately trying to outrun her own feelings in order to take care of her sister, but soon realizes that it’s the words she’s been swallowing that might set her free. Ages 14-up.
Girls Who Green the World
Diana Kapp, illus. by Ana Jaren, Apr.
Part biography, part guidebook to the contemporary environmental movement, features the inspiring stories of 34 revolutionary women fighting for our future. Ages 12-up.
Love from Scratch
Kaitlyn Hill, Apr.
Food and feminism take center stage in this rom-com about rival interns at a popular online cooking channel who try to keep love on the back burner when they’re forced to compete for the coveted fall internship—all through a feminist lens that takes on sexism and misogyny in the workplace, dress codes, and the experience of existing online as a teen girl. Ages 12-up.
The Agathas
Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson, May
Who killed Brooke Donovan? It’s the biggest mystery of the summer, and everyone in Castle Cove thinks it’s the wrong guy. To solve the crime, rich-girl Alice must team up with her tutor Iris, armed only with the knowledge of the master sleuth herself: the legendary Agatha Christie. Ages 14-up.
The Merciless Ones (The Gilded Ones #2)
Namina Forna, May
The sequel to The Gilded Ones, the feminist fantasy about gifted female warriors fighting a West Africa-inspired patriarchal society. When a merciless dark force threatens, she knows she is the key to saving her empire. Ages 12-up.
The Pack #2: Claw and Order
Lisi Harrison, June
In the second entry in the school series about girls learning to tame their animal powers, the it-girls called the Pack still rule the school—but Sadie has a secret that could claw its way out. Ages 8-12.
RANDOM HOUSE STUDIO
Lady Icarus: Balloonmania and the Brief, Bold Life of Sophie Blanchard
Deborah Noyes, Mar.
A middle-grade biography set against the thrilling backdrop of early flight, about Sophie Blanchard, the first woman to work as a professional aeronaut in France in the late 1700s. Ages 8-12.
REBEL GIRLS
Rebel Girls Powerful Pairs: 25 Tales of Mothers and Daughters
Rebel Girls, Feb.
Illustrated by female and nonbinary artists from around the world, this volume features 25 mother-daughter duos, including Beyoncé and Blue Ivy; Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst; Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton; Karen E. Laine and Mina Starsiak Hawk, showcasing the ways mothers and daughters work together to make the world a better, healthier, and more vibrant place.
Ages 7-12.
Rebel Girls Climate Warriors: 25 Tales of Women Who Protect the Earth
Rebel Girls, Mar.
Offers fairytale-like stories about Greta Thunberg, Autumn Peltier, Rachel Carson, and others to spotlight the world-changing work of conservationists, activists, water protectors, philanthropists, authors, and other women from all over the world who have stood up to polluters and used their amazing talents to protect the planet. Ages 7-12.
RUNNING PRESS KIDS
Gamer Girls: 25 Women Who Built the Video Game Industry
Mary Kenney, May
Explore the stories of 25 women behind beloved video games—the iconic games they created, the genres they invented, the studios and companies they built, and how they changed the industry forever. Ages 12-up.
SCHOLASTIC
Debating Darcy
Sayantani DasGupta, Mar.
This Pride and Prejudice retelling reflects the complex, diverse world of American high school culture following Leela, a lifelong speech competitor who loves nothing more than crushing the competition, while wearing a smile. Ages 12-up.
SCHOLASTIC/GRAPHIX
Good-bye Stacey, Good-bye: A Graphic Novel (The Baby-sitters Club #11)
Ann M. Martin, illus. by Gabriela Epstein, Feb.
Stacey's friends are crushed when they hear that Stacey’s moving back to New York, especially her best friend Claudia. What kind of going-away present is good enough for someone so special—and how will the BSC go on without Stacey? Ages 8-12.
SCHOLASTIC POINT
K-Pop Revolution
Stephan Lee, Apr.
In the sequel to K-Pop Confidential, Candace learns that debuting in a K-Pop band was only the beginning. How will she find the courage to stand by her beliefs, even when powerful forces are trying to shame and silence her? Ages 12-up.
SCHOLASTIC PRESS
Fire Becomes Her
Rosiee Thor, Feb.
In this fantasy novel with a Jazz Age spark, a politically savvy teen must weigh her desire to climb the social ladder against her heart in a world where magic buys votes. Ages 14-up.
When the World Turned Upside Down
K. Ilbura, Feb.
Set against the onset of Covid, this book navigates issues of race and social justice in a story of generosity, friendship, and the power of youth. Ages 8-12.
You Are a Star, Ruth Bader Ginsburg!
Dean Robbins, illus. by Sarah Green, Feb.
The first book in a nonfiction series introducing young readers to American trailblazers using a mix of first-person narrative, comic panels, and essential facts, focuses on RBG’s lifelong mission to bring equality and justice to all. Ages 5-7.
Over and Out
Jenni L. Walsh, Mar.
A girl from Cold War East Berlin is forced to spy for the secret police, but is determined to escape to freedom. Ages 8-12.
Alice Austen Lived Here
Alex Gino, Apr.
Sam is very in touch with their own queer identity, but Sam’s history teacher seems to believe that only Dead Straight Cis White Men are responsible for history. When Sam’s home borough of Staten Island opens up a contest for a new statue, Sam finds the perfect non-DSCWM subject: photographer Alice Austen, whose house has been turned into a museum, and who lived with a female partner for decades. Ages 9-12.
Coming Up Cuban
Sonia Manzano, May
Manzano, best known as “Maria” from Sesame Street, examines the impact of the 1959 Cuban Revolution on four children from very different walks of life. Ages 12-up.
SHAMBHALA / BALA KIDS
I Am Thinking My Life
Allysun Atwater, illus. by Stevie Lewis, Feb.
Follow along as a girl discovers the relationship between her thoughts, actions, and her place in the world, and how the power of positive thinking can transform our lives and the lives of those around us. Ages 3-7.
SOHO TEEN
The Color of the Sky Is the Shape of the Heart
Chesil, translated by Takami Nieda, Apr.
A teen girl tries to find her place in the world after a difficult adolescence growing up Zainichi, an ethnic Korean born in Japan, where she faced ostracism and injustice because of her ethnic background. Ages 14-up.
STARSCAPE
Kelcie Murphy and the Academy for the Unbreakable Arts
Erika Lewis, Mar.
Brimming with Celtic mythology, action, and danger, this story introduces a new kind of magical school and a warrior who must choose with which side of an epic battle her destiny will lie. Ages 8-12.
SUNBIRD
It's Her Story: Amelia Earhart: A Graphic Novel
Kim Moldofsky, illus. by Alan Brown, Feb.
Profiles Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, piloted many record-breaking flights, became an author, advised engineers, taught college students, and defended women’s rights before disappearing somewhere in the South Pacific on an attempted flight around the world. Ages 7-10.
It's Her Story: Shirley Chisholm: A Graphic Novel
Patrice Aggs, illus. by Markia Jenai, Feb.
Profiles Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, where she served for seven terms; she worked to improve the lives of children in need, was an outspoken champion of women’s rights, and in 1972, was the first Black person ever to seek the nomination of President of the U.S. from a major party. Ages 7-10.
We Are the Rainbow! The Colors of Pride
Claire Winslow, illus. by Riley Samels, June
Learn the meanings behind the colors of the LGBTQ+ pride flag; shaped pages reveal each color of the rainbow as you read. Ages 3-6.
TOR TEEN
Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak
Charlie Jane Anders, Apr.
The sequel to Victories Greater Than Death in the Unstoppable series, set against an intergalactic war. Ages 13-up.
TWO LIONS
I Am Able to Shine
Korey Watari, illus. by Mike Wu, May
Spirited Keiko sometimes feels invisible, underestimated, or misjudged because of who she is. With the help of her loving and supportive family, she perseveres and finds her voice and learns to love herself, and to shine that love brightly to the world. Based on the author’s experience growing up Asian American. Ages 3-7.
ZEST
How to Be a Difficult Bitch: Claim Your Power, Ditch the Haters, and Feel Good Doing It
Halley Bondy, Mary C. Fernandez, Sharon Lynn Pruitt-Young, and Zara Hanawalt. Apr.
Embraces the insult with irreverent humor, encouraging readers to be themselves no matter what, including an exploration of the ways this phrase can be interpreted differently among people of different backgrounds. Ages 14-18.
