Today is International Day of the Girl Child!
Girls all around the world are “brimming with talent and creativity. But their dreams and potential are often thwarted by discrimination, violence and lack of equal opportunities. On International Day of the Girl Child, we stand with the global community to support girls’ progress everywhere. Let girls be girls.” (UN Women)
We have put together a short list of books that feature strong girls. Girls who stand up for what they believe in. Girls who are brave. Girls who dream. Girls who inspire.
Get your hands on these and embrace girl power!
I am Malala: Malala is a girl who loves cricket, gossips with her best friends, and, on the day of the shooting, nearly overslept and missed an exam. A girl who saw women suddenly banned from public, schools blown up, the Taliban seize control, and her homeland descend into a state of fear and repression. This is the story of her life, and also of her passionate belief in every child’s right to education, her determination to make that a reality throughout the world, and her hope to inspire others.
The Girl Who Climbed Everest: ‘I believe that nothing is impossible if you dare to dream, plan and take action. I’m an ordinary girl who simply refused to give up on a dream, and that’s all it takes to succeed in life.‘ The Girl Who Climbed Everest is the inspiring story of how an ordinary girl from country Queensland worked towards ascending the world’s highest peak. Through passion, determination and immense hard work, and despite being turned back twice, Alyssa Azar is the youngest Australian to have achieved this extraordinary feat.
I am Nujood: Uplifting and impossible to put down, this is a true story of the ten-year old girl who won a divorce from the man she was forced to marry, courageously defying both Yemeni customs and her own family.
The Paper Bag Princess: When a dragon destroys Elizabeth’s possessions and captures Prince Ronald, Elizabeth decides to chase after him. Wearing only a paper bag, she outwits the dragon and rescues Ronald.
Madeline: This fearless french heroine was a rebel in all the best ways. She had red hair, a dislike for “bad hats,” and a taste for adventure. Not to mention, she made scars cool. Need we say more?
The Sleeper and the Spindle: On the eve of her wedding, a young queen sets out to rescue a princess from an enchantment. She casts aside her fine wedding clothes, takes her chain mail and her sword and follows her brave dwarf retainers into the tunnels under the mountain towards the sleeping kingdom. This queen will decide her own future – and the princess who needs rescuing is not quite what she seems.
Anne of Green Gables: Anne was not like anybody else, everyone at Green Gables agreed; she was special – a girl with an enormous imagination. Feisty and full of spirit, this orphan girl dreamed of the day when she could call herself Anne of Green Gables.
Alice-Miranda: Move over, Matilda, and step aside, Madeline, there’s a new charming miniature heroine about to make her mark. Confident and sassy Alice-Miranda charms everyone in her globe-trotting adventures.
Matilda: How could we make a list like this and leave off Matilda? Matilda taught us all about the power of reading, pranks, standing up to bullies and telekinesis. This classic not only encourages independence and individuality, it gives children power in a world ruled by adults.
Throne of Glass: Sarah J Maas delivers an epic Y.A. fantasy, with a kick-butt girl assassin heroine who overcomes love, death and other obstacles to reach her ultimate goal.
