2020 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List

We are now Rise: A Feminist Book Project for ages 0-18.

It’s time to remember. Read. Reflect. Rage. Reclaim. Resolve. Rebuild. 

It’s time to inspire. Imagine. Illuminate. Ignite. Innovate.

It’s time to speak. Sing. Shout. Support. Smash. Slay.

It’s time to engage. Enrich. Enlighten. Elevate. Elect. Empathize. Expand.

With Laurie Halse Anderson’s Shout and Laura Ruby’s Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All, we remember. We reflect on things that have been taken. We rage against it, and we reclaim it. We resolve to recognize our fear and step out of our comfort zones; as Alice Tapper says in Raise My Hand:  “I want to raise my hand, but sometimes it’s too scary.” But we challenge ourselves to do it anyway.

In What Do You Do With a Voice Like That (Barton), we are inspired by Barbara Jordan’s voice and her determination to use it. We Set the Dark on Fire (Mejia) ignites the fight for ourselves and others. Strange Birds (Perez) demands institutional change. In Fighter in Velvet Gloves (Boochever), we watch Elizabeth Peratrovich challenge systemic racism. 

In I Am The Night Sky (Next Wave Muslim Initiative), we celebrate the importance of speaking up and out, but not over. “They didn’t ask, but I had to tell them, I had to tell them what I was, who I was, an act of remembrance” (Noor Saleem). Bri in On The Come Up (Thomas) learns to speak through verse and rhyme, finding her own identity and moving people to action.

In Make Trouble (Richards), we learn the importance of engaging with the world around us to elevate marginalized voices. Forward Me Back to You (Perkins) empowers us to validate our pain and embrace our future.

“We remember it and we honor it by making our own voices heard” (Barton, What Do You Do With a Voice Like That).

We rise.

Join us.

Committee

Rise: A Feminist Book Project for Ages 0-18 is a project of the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association. Members of the 2020 Amelia Bloomer Project committee are: Kelsey Keyes (co-chair), Albertsons Library, Boise State University (ID); Melissa Nemitz (co-chair), West Windsor Branch of the Mercer County Library System (NJ); Tiffeni Fontno, Boston College (MA); Natasha Forrester Campbell, Multnomah County Library (OR); Silvia Lin Hanick, LaGuardia Community College (CUNY) (NY); Ariana Sani Hussain, The Blake School (MN); Leila Roy, Lyman Community Library (ME); Sara Saxton, Wasilla Public Library (AK); Ally Watkins, First Regional Library (MS) and Jean-Louise Zancanella, College of Western Idaho (ID).

2020 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List

An asterisk (*) indicates that a book is one of our Top Ten Titles. 

Early Readers – Fiction 

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al Serkal, Maryam. Mira’s Curly Hair. Illus. by Rebeca Luciani. 2019. 32p. Lantana, $17.99 (9781911373612). PreS-Gr. 2.
Mira attempts to make her curly hair straight like her mother’s but makes a discovery that changes both of their perceptions.

Babbott-Klein, Libby. Baby Feminists. Illus. by Jessica Walker. 2018. 24p. Penguin Random House/Viking Books for Young Readers, $9.99 (9780451480101). PreS-Gr. 1.
Before these feminists were famous they were…babies!

Babbott-Klein, Libby. Baby Feminists Too. Illus. by Jessica Walker. 2019. 24p. Penguin Random House/Viking, $9.99 (9780451480132). PreS-Gr.1.
Before these additional feminists were famous they were…babies!

Cherry, Matthew. Hair Love. Illus. by Vashti Harrison. 2019. 32p. Penguin Random House/Kokila, $17.99 (9780525553366). PreS-Gr. 3.
Zuri’s father, a novice hairstyler, helps find the perfect hairstyle to help her feel special.

Gale, Heather. Ho‘onani: Hula Warrior. Illus. by Mika Song. 2019. 40p. Tundra, $17.99 (9780735264496). PreS-Gr. 3.
Ho‘onani doesn’t feel like a wahine (girl) or kāne (boy); she’s somewhere in the middle. Is there room for her in kāne hula chant?

Howley, Jonty. Big Boys Cry. 2019. 48p. Random House, $17.99 (9781524773205). PreS-Gr. 2.
Afraid to start his first day at a new school, Levi learns that big boys do cry.

Khan, Hena. Under My Hijab. Illus. by Aaliya Jaleel. 2019. 32p. Lee & Low, $18.95 (9781620147924). PreS-Gr. 2.
A young girl observes women in her life who each wear the hijab in a unique way, and imagines how she may someday express her personality through her hijab.

*Muhammad, Ibtihaj with S.K. Ali. The Proudest Blue. Illus. by Hatem Aly. 2019. 40p. Hachette/Little, Brown, $17.99 (9780316519007) Gr. 1-3.
Faizah gazes at her older sister Asiya’s new beautiful, strikingly blue first day hijab with pride, finding inner strength even when others misunderstand and are unkind at school.

*Murphy, Frank.  A Boy Like You. Illus. by Kayla Harren. 2019. 32p. Sleeping Bear, $16.99 (9781534110465). PreS-Gr. 2.
The world needs a boy like you: thoughtful, kind, curious, smart, helpful, loving, and brave!

*Sorell, Traci. At the Mountain’s Base. Illus. by Weshoyot Alvitre. 32p. Penguin Random House/Kokila. $17.99 (9780735230606). PreS-Gr. 3.
A picture book celebrating the bonds of a Cherokee family and history-making Native women in the military during WWII.

Tapper, Alice Paul. Raise Your Hand. Illus. by Marta Kissi. 32p. Penguin Random House/Penguin Workshop. $17.99 (9781524791209). Gr. 1-3.
11-year-old Alice challenges girls to have confidence, to raise their hands, and speak up in class.

Véissid, Jacqueline. Ruby’s Sword. Illus. by Paola Zakimi. 2019. 40p. Chronicle, $16.99 (9781452163918). PreS-Gr. 1.
When Ruby’s brothers leave her behind she changes the game, making it even better than before.

Wan, Joyce. Dream Big. 2019. 24p. Scholastic/Cartwheel, $9.99 (9781338338683). PreS.
Female leaders, visionaries, and dreamers encourage readers to explore all possibilities and dream BIG!

Early Readers – Nonfiction 

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*Barton, Chris. What Do You Do with a Voice like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan. Illus. by Ekua Holmes. 2018. 48p. Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane, $17.99 (9781481465618). Gr. 2-4.
Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman to be elected to the Texas legislature, was also the first Southern Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Bass, Beverley with Cynthia Williams. Me and the Sky: Captain Beverley Bass, Pioneering Pilot. Illus. by Joanie Stone. 2019. 40p. Random House/Alfred A Knopf, hardback, $17.99 (9780525645498). Gr. 1-3.
Beverley heard repeatedly from childhood that girls weren’t pilots. Beverley proved everyone wrong by becoming the captain of a major airline and several other firsts for female commercial pilots.

Chaffee, Kim. Her Fearless Run: Kathrine Switzer’s Historic Boston Marathon. Illus. by Ellen Rooney. 2019. 40p. Page Street Kids, $17.99 (9781624146541). Gr. 3-4.
Kathrine Switzer was determined to prove that women could run long distances. She became the first woman to enter the Boston Marathon.

Duncan, Alice Faye. A Song for Gwendolyn Brooks. Illus. by Xia Gordon. 2019. 32 p. Sterling Children’s Books, $16.95 (9781454930884). Gr. 1-3.
A biography told in free verse of Gwendolyn Brooks celebrating her life and her poems.

Gonzales, Debbie. Girls with Guts! The Road to Breaking Barriers and Bashing Records. Illus. by Rebecca Gibbon. 2019. 32p. Charlesbridge, $16.99 (9781580897471). Gr. 1-4.
Today girls can participate in sports of all kinds, thanks to the generations of women athletes that worked to pass Title IX in the United States.

*Hegedus, Bethany. Rise! From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou. Illus. by Tonya Engel. 48p. Lee & Low. $20.95 (9781620145876). Gr. 1-3.
Maya Angelou survived rape, poverty, and racism to become a poet, humanitarian, and activist.

Hoeger, Christian and Kristen Lilla. Vaginas and Periods 101: A Pop-Up Book. Illus. by Sara M. Lyons. 2019. 19p. Sex Ed Talk LLC, $31.00 (9781732913202). Gr. 4-7.
Pop-ups and colorful graphics normalize anatomy, menstruation, and menstrual product options.

MacMillan, Kathy and Manuela Bernardi. She Spoke: 14 Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World. Illus. by Kathrin Honesta. 2019. 32p. Familius, novelty book, $24.99 (9781641701310). Gr. 1-up.
A woman’s voice can be a powerful instrument of change, as evidenced by the fourteen women showcased here. Vibrant illustrations, audio clips, and engagement questions round out each mini-biography.

Markel, Michelle. Out of This World: TheSurreal Art of Leonora Carrington. Illus. by Amanda Hall. 2019. 40p. HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray, $17.99 (9780062441096). Gr. 1-4.
Leonora Carrington rejected the life of a “proper” lady to become a leader in the surrealist art movement.

Mir, Saira.  Muslim Girls Rise. Illus. by Aaliya Jaleel. 2019. 48p. Simon and Schuster/Salaam Reads, $17.99 (9781534418882). Gr. 1-5.
Illustrated profiles of nineteen Muslim women of different nationalities and national origins in various fields who persevere, contribute, and change the world for the better.

Rappaport, Doreen. Wilma’s Way Home: The Life of Wilma Mankiller. Illus. by Linda Kukuk. 2019. 48p. Disney/Hyperion, $17.95 (9781484747186). Gr. 1-5.
This biography follows Cherokee activist Wilma Mankiller’s life, from her childhood in rural Oklahoma to her election as the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Rockliff, Mara. Billie Jean! How Tennis Star Billie Jean King Changed Women’s Sports. Illus. by Elizabeth Baddeley. 2019. 40p. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, $17.99 (9780525517795). Gr. 1-3.
Tennis phenomenon Billy Jean fought for fairness in women’s sports and proved that men and women are equal on and off the court.

Sánchez Vegara, Mª Isabel. Maria Montessori. Illus. by Raquel Martín. 2019. 32p. Quarto/Frances Lincoln, $14.99 (9781786037558). Gr. PreS-3.
Maria Montessori was the first woman in Italy to go to medical school. She revolutionized the field of early childhood education.

Sánchez Vegara, Mª Isabel. Simone de Beauvoir. Illus. by Christine Roussey. 2018. 32p. Quarto/Frances Lincoln, $14.99 (9781786032324). Gr. PreS-3.
Simone de Beauvoir was a French philosopher and important feminist writer.

Schmidt, Gary D. So Tall Within: Sojourner Truth’s Long Walk Toward Freedom. Illus. by Daniel Minter. 2018. 48p. Macmillian/Roaring Broo, $18.99 (9781626728721). Gr. 1-5.
This biography of Sojourner Truth covers her early life under slavery, finding her purpose, and her life’s work as an abolitionist and advocate for civil rights and women’s rights.

Middle Grade – Fiction

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Dee, Barbara. Maybe He Just Likes You. 2019. 304p. Simon & Schuster/Aladdin, hardcover, $17.99 (9781534432376). Gr. 4-8.
When Mila begins to be sexually harassed at her middle school, it affects her friendships, her extracurriculars, and her family life.

Kadarusman, Michelle. Girl of the Southern Sea. 2019. 224p. Pajama, $17.95 (9781772780819). Gr. 5-8.
With her alcoholic father unable to run the family food cart, 14-year old Nia takes on home and money-making duties while saving money for her education.

Hale, Shannon. Best Friends. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2019. 256p. First Second, $12.99 (9781250317469). Gr. 4-8.
Hale’s graphic memoir reflects on 6th grade as a time of questioning what friendship is, gaining confidence in her abilities, and pushing back against societal limits on girls and women.

McManis, Charlene Willing with Traci Sorrell. Indian No More. 2019. 211p. Lee & Low/Tu. $18.95 (9781620148396). Gr. 4-7.
In 1957, when the government enacts a law that terminates their Umpqua tribal status, Regina’s family becomes “Indian no more,” forced from their homeland and relocated to Los Angeles.

Pérez, Celia C. Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers. 2019. 384p. Penguin Random House/Kokila, hardcover, $16.99. (9780425290439). Gr. 4-7.
The summer before starting middle school, four very different girls—a journalist, a chef, a birdwatcher, and an artist—form a secret Scout troop dedicated to “truth, kindness, justice, and community.”

Ramée, Lisa Moore. A Good Kind of Trouble. 2019. 368p. Balzer + Bray, $16.99 9780062836687. Gr. 5-8.
Shayla finds her voice as an African-American, suburban, young woman as she grapples with changing friendships, her identity, and understanding the complexities surrounding the shooting of an African-American man.

Middle Grade – Nonfiction

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Boochever, Annie with Roy Peratrovich, Jr.  Fighter in Velvet Gloves: Alaska Civil Rights Hero Elizabeth Peratrovich. 2019. 80p. University of Alaska/Snowy Owl, paper, $16.95 (9781602233706). Gr. 4-up.
Nearly 20 years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Alaska Native Elizabeth Peratrovich worked to successfully pass anti-discrimination laws in the future state of Alaska.

Johnson, Katherine. Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson. 2019. 248p. Atheneum Books, $17.99 (9781534440838). Gr. 4-8.
The inspiring autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped launch Apollo 11.

O’Brien, Keith. Fly Girls Young Readers’ Edition: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History. 2019. 299p. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $16.99 (9781328618429). Gr. 6-up.
Fly Girls follows the stories of five American women who pursued their passion for flight during a time when women aviators weren’t seen as being equal to men.

Richards, Cecile and Lauren Peterson. Make Trouble Young Readers Edition: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead. 2019. 256p. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books, $17.99 (9781534451957). Gr. 5-up.
This memoir of Cecile Richards, a lifelong activist and feminist icon, offers practical advice and inspiration for aspiring young leaders.

Steward, Robyn.The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods. 2019. 94p. Jessica Kingsley, $19.95 (9781785923241). Gr. 5-10.
A clear, detailed guide about the basics of menstruation.

Young Adult – Fiction 

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Acevedo, Elizabeth. With The Fire on High. 2019. 388p. HarperTeen,  $17.99 (9780062662835). Gr. 9-up.
Afro-Boricua high school senior and single-mother, Emoni, navigates through societal barriers to empower herself and create a future where she can pursue her passion to become a chef.

Ali, S.K. Love from A-Z. 2019. 342p. Simon & Schuster/Salaam Reads, $18.99 (9781534442726). Gr. 8-up.
Zayneb and Adam are both facing individual hardships, but unexpectedly fall in love after meeting on a spring break trip to Qatar.

Barnard, Sara. Goodbye, Perfect. 2019. 375p. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, $19.99 (9781534402447). Gr. 8-up.
When her 15-year-old best friend runs away from home with their music teacher, Eden reevaluates their friendship and her loyalty as she learns about how power dynamics can complicate consent.

Bartlett, Claire Eliza. We Rule the Night. 393p. Hachette/Little, Brown. $17.99 (9780316417273). Gr. 9-up.
Two girls use illegal magic to fly and fight for the Union in a fantasy realm inspired by the Night Witches, Soviet female bomber pilots of World War II.

Capin, Hannah. The Dead Queens Club. 2019. 455p. Harlequin/Inkyard, $18.99 (9781335542236). Gr. 8-up.
Tudor drama is reimagined for high school as homecoming king Henry tries to make sense of his relationships with his six formidable, ambitious, remarkable ex-girlfriends.

Carlton, Susan Kaplan. In the Neighborhood of True. 2019. 314p. Workman/Algonquin, $17.95 (9781616208608). Gr. 8-up.
After moving to Atlanta in 1958, Ruth must choose between being Jewish or popular; she yearns to be a debutante, even as anti-Semitism complicates her embrace of Southern society.

Capetta, Amy Rose and Cori McCarthy. Once & Future. 2019. 352p. Little, Brown/JIMMY Patterson, $18.99 (9780316449274).
Ari and her brother have successfully avoided the sinister, monopolistic Mercer Corporation since their moms were arrested. Then, Ari is revealed as the 42nd reincarnation of King Arthur.

Cavallaro, Brittany and Emily Henry. Hello Girls. 2019. 322p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegan Books, $17.99 (9780062803429). Gr. 9-up.
Best friends Winona and Lucille, who have had enough of the controlling men in their lives, hit the road to make a new life for themselves.

Courtney, Nadine Jolie. All-American Muslim Girl. 2019. 419p. Macmillan/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.99 (9780374309527) Gr. 8-up.
When white-passing Allie begins to delve into her Arab and Muslim heritage, reactions from those closest to her leave her wondering where or if she will truly belong.

Davis, Charlotte Nicole. The Good Luck Girls. 351p. Tor Teen. $17.99 (9781250299703). Gr. 9-up.
Fleeing a life of forced prostitution, five “Good Luck Girls” outwit their pursuers, seeking freedom outside of the oppressive rule of their country, Arketta, in this dystopian Western.

Donnelly, Jennifer. Stepsister. 2019. 342p. Scholastic, $17.99 (9781338268461). Gr. 7-up.
Ugly stepsister Isabelle cuts off her toes to fit the slipper — a misstep, if there ever was one. With help from fate, chance, and a godmother, she rewrites her story.

Emezi, Akwaeke. Pet. 2019. 204p. Penguin Random House/Make Me a World, $17.99 (9780525647072). Gr. 8-up.
The revolution freed the world of monsters. But when Pet, a mysterious monster-hunting creature emerges from her mother’s painting, Jam must uncover the truth the adults are in denial of.

Fowley-Doyle, Moira. All the Bad Apples. 2019. 315p. Penguin Random House/Kathy Dawson, $17.99 (9780525552741). Gr. 9-up.
Deena sets off across Ireland to search for her missing older sister, Mandy, learning the troubled history of generations of women in her family along the way.

Gough, Erin. Amelia Westlake Was Never Here. 2019. 356p. Little, Brown/Poppy, $17.99 (9780316450669). Gr. 7-up.
Will and Harriett reluctantly join forces in a rebellious feminist plan to expose harassment and inequality at their elite all-girls school.

Hartl, Sonia. Have a Little Faith in Me. 2019. 329p. Page Street, $17.99 (9781624147975). Gr. 9-up.
CeCe’s boyfriend dumps her after they have sex for the first time. To win him back, CeCe follows him to a Christian summer camp.

Jean, Emiko. Empress of All Seasons. 2018. 384p. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $17.99 (9780544530942). Gr. 7-up.
The yokai demon Mari, intending to steal the imperial fortune, competes to become the next empress of Honoku, but finds that her choices will shape the fate of all yokai.

Keenan, Elizabeth. Rebel Girls. 2019. 413p. Inkyard, $18.99 (9781335185006). Gr. 8-up.
In 1992 Baton Rouge, rumors abound at a Catholic school that pro-life Helen had an abortion, causing her feminist riot grrrl sister Athena, to rise to her defense.

Khan, Sabina. The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali. 2019. 326p. Scholastic, $17.99 (9781338227017). Gr. 9-up.
As a queer, Bengali-American teen, Rukhsana must navigate love, culture, and homophobia within her family.

Kwaymullina, Ambelin and Ezekiel. The Things She’s Seen. 2019. 197p. Penguin Random House/Alfred A. Knopf, $17.99 (9781984848789). Gr. 8-up.
Beth, recently deceased, accompanies her detective father in ghostly form to investigate an arson in a remote Australian town. Their only witness speaks in stories that may reveal darker truths.

Legrand, Claire. Sawkill Girls. 2018. 447p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen, $17.99 (9780062696601). Gr. 9-up.
Three young women find their fates entwined while investigating the disappearance of girls on Sawkill Island, spanning generations, and discover that the truth is far more sinister than it seemed.

Liggett, Kim. The Grace Year. 2019. 408p. St. Martin’s/Wednesday Books, $16.99 (9781250145444). Gr. 9-up.
In Garner County, 16-year-old girls, including rebellious Tierney, are sent to an isolated island, where they must release their seductive, poisonous magic into the wild before taking their proper places as a wives and mothers.

Meconis, Dylan. Queen of the Sea. 2019. 400p. Candlewick/Walker, $24.99 (9781536204988). Gr. 6-up.
When political exiles, including the former queen, arrive on the island, Margaret questions her life in the island’s convent, the true nature of its existence, and her own presence there.

*Mejia, Tehlor Kay. We Set the Dark on Fire. 2019. 364p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen, $17.99 (9780062691316). Gr. 8-up.
Wealthy young men in Medio are matched with two wives: a wise Primera and a passionate Segunda. Rivals, now sharing a household, Daniela and Carmen must come together to survive.

Menon, Sandhya. There’s Something About Sweetie. 2019. 378p. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, $18.99 (9781534416789). Gr. 7-up.
Tired of being told being fat means she’s lacking, Sweetie begins to gain and display more confidence, including dating a handsome boy her mother says is out of her league.

Morris, Brittney. SLAY. 2019. 318p. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, $18.99(9781534445420). Gr. 8-up.
High school senior, Kiera, secretly creates a multiplayer online role-playing game dedicated to Black culture but is attacked in mainstream media after a player is murdered.

Moss, Sarah. Ghost Wall. 2019. 132p. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $22.00 (9780374161927). Gr. 10-up.
Silvie and her family join an anthropology class to live as if they are ancient Britons. She discovers that Iron Age life was difficult, but the patriarchy remains timeless.

*Perkins, Mitali. Forward Me Back to You. 2019. 432p. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.99 (9780374304928). Gr. 9-up.
A summer service trip to work with survivors of human trafficking allows two American teens, Katina and Ravi, to learn, grow, and heal their own suffering in unexpected ways.

*Ruby, Laura. Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All. 2019. HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray, $17.99 (9780062317643). Gr. 9-up.
Two young women try to survive in harsh circumstances in WWII Chicago–one of them living, one of them dead.

Rum, Etaf. A Woman is No Man. 2019. 337p. Harper, $26.99 (9780062699763). Gr. 10-up.
A novel tracing the lives of three generations of Palestinian-American women, Deya, Isra and Fareeda, who struggle to find their places, and their voices, in a culture dominated by men.

Safi, Aminah Mae. Tell Me How You Really Feel. 2019. 312 p. Macmillan/Feiwel and Friends, $17.99 (9781250299482). Gr. 9-up.
Rachel is forced to collaborate on her final film project with the impossibly beautiful, accomplished Sana, who once seemingly pranked Rachel by asking her out.

Schwartz, Virginia Frances. Among the Fallen. 2019. 297p. Holiday House, $16.99 (9780823441020). Gr.8-up.
After she leaves prison a “fallen woman,” sixteen-year-old Orpha finds refuge at Urania Cottage. There, she is guided by author Charles Dickens, philanthropist Lady Burdett-Coutts, and a community of women.

*Spillett, Tasha and Natalie Donovan. Surviving the City, Vol. 1. 2019. 54p. HighWater, paper, $18.95 (9781553797562).  Gr. 8-up.
Two friends, Miikwan and Dez, navigate the dangers of life in the city, shadowed constantly by the memories of murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people.

Sugiura, Misa. This Time Will Be Different. 2019. 386p. Harper Collins/HarperTeen, $17.99 (9780062473448). Gr. 8-up.
CJ and student activists campaign to change the name of their high school, named after a racist who preyed upon interned Japanese-American families, including her own.

Tamaki, Mariko. Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me. Illus. by Rosemary Valero-O’Connell. 2019. 289p. Roaring Brook Press/First Second, paper, $17.99 (9781626722590). Gr. 9-12.
Despite Laura Dean’s cheating and emotional manipulation, Frederica “Freddy” Riley is still in love with her. But relationship woes have caused Freddy to neglect her friends who need her support.

Thomas, Angie. On the Come Up. 2019. 447p. HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray, $18.99 (9780062498564). Gr. 8-up.
Sixteen-year-old Bri, an aspiring rapper, finds herself stereotyped and depicted as a “hoodlum” following the release of her debut song, written in response to being assaulted by school security guards.

Trueblood, Amy. Across a Broken Shore. 2019. 343p. North Star/Flux, paper, $14.99 (9781635830422). Gr. 9-up.
In 1930’s San Francisco, Willa MacCarthy dreams of becoming a doctor, but must resist expectations from her family and gender discrimination.

van Arsdale, Peternelle. The Cold is in Her Bones. 2019. 278p. Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry, $18.99 (9781481488440). Gr. 7-up.
From childhood, Milla has been taught to fear the demon that cursed her village. When her friend is taken, Milla sets out to confront the demon and break the curse.

Waller, Sharon Biggs. Girls on the Verge. 2019. 228p. Henry Holt, $17.99 (9781250151698). Gr. 9-up.
High school student Camille, and two friends, must drive thousands of miles to procure the abortion Camille can’t get due to restrictions in her home state of Texas.

Watson, Renee and Ellen Hagan. Watch Us Rise. 2019. 360p. Bloomsbury YA, $18.99 (9781547600083). Gr. 7-up.
Through writing, poetry and performance, Jasmine and Chelsea find and use their voices to fight for gender equality.

Whitley, Jeremy. The Unstoppable Wasp: Unlimited: Vol. 1: Fix Everything. Illus. By Gurihuru. 2019. unpaged. Marvel, paper, $15.99 (9781302914264). Gr. 7-up.
The Unstoppable Wasp Nadia Van Dyne is back with her team of teen girl scientists! But what will happen when villains A.I.M. strike?

Young, Suzanne. Girls with Sharp Sticks. 2019. 400p. Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, $18.99 (9781534426139). Gr. 8-up.
When her friend abruptly disappears from Innovations Academy, Philomena begins to question her school’s curriculum (focused on obedience, beauty, and purity) and control (of her diet, friendships, and curiosity).

Youngdahl, Shana. As Many Nows as I Can Get. 2019. 432p. Dial Books, $17.99 (9780525553854). Gr. 9 and up.
Reflecting back and forth between the present and the past, Scarlett recounts the emotional challenges of her first year of college, recovering from intense relationships and discovering new ones.

Young Adult – Nonfiction

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Fleming, Melissa. Hope More Powerful Than the Sea (Young Readers’ Edition): The Journey of Doaa Al Zamel: One Teen Refugee’s Incredible Story of Love, Loss, and Survival. 2018. 290p. Macmillan/Flatiron, $16.99 (9781250311429). Gr. 8-up.
Increasing violence in Syria forces 16-year-old student Doaa Al Zamel to flee her homeland. Doaa’s true story of resistance and survival underscores the ongoing plight of Syrian refugees.

*Halse Anderson, Laurie. Shout. 2019. 291p. Penguin Random House/Viking, $17.99 (9780670012107). Gr. 9-up.
In this memoir in verse, Halse Anderson recounts her experience of sexual assault, its impact on her life, and how she continues to speak up for survivors.

Keyser, Amber J.No More Excuses: Dismantling Rape Culture. 2019. 144p. Lerner/Twenty-First Century, $37.32 (9781541540200). Gr. 8-up.
This text defines rape culture and provides concrete steps for dismantling the words, ideas, and actions that perpetuate cycles of violence against women.

Lemay, Kate Clarke, ed. Votes for Women!: A Portrait of Persistence. 2019. 289p. Princeton University. $39.95 (9780691191171). Gr. 9-up.
A richly illustrated history of women’s suffrage in the United States that highlights underrecognized activists. Recommended as reference source.

Next Wave Muslim Initiative. I Am the Night Sky & Other Reflections by Muslim American Youth. 2019. 171p. Shout Mouse, paper, $14.99 (9781945434938). Gr. 7-12.
This anthology of short stories, poems, collages by American Muslim teens in the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area highlights everyday reality, marginalization and expressions of identity and faith.

Stevenson, Robin. My Body My Choice: The Fight for Abortion Rights. 2019. 175p. Orca, paper, $19.95 (9781459817128). Gr. 7-up.
A short, yet comprehensive guide to the history of abortion rights in North America and the continued fight for reproductive justice.