Nomination: I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

Yousafzai, Malala. I am Malala:The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. 2013. 352p. Little, Brown and Company, $26.00.  (978-0316322409). Gr. 8-12.

In October 2012, 15-year old Malala Yousafzai was on her way home from school when she was shot point-blank in the head by a Taliban soldier. The supposed reason for this brutal attack? Malala’s refusal to back down from her right to an education. I am Malala vividly describes Yousafzai’s childhood and the political upheaval and religious fundamentalism that has underscored the oppression of women in Pakistan. Recovered from her attack, Malala has come back stronger than ever, engaging in conscious-raising and serving as an inspiration to girls and women all over the world.

Nomination: Lone Wolves

Smelcer, John. Lone Wolves. 2013. 192p. Leapfrog Press, $12.16.  (978-1935248408). Gr. 7-10.

16-year old Denny Yazzie has inherited her grandfather’s passion for dogsledding, as well as his commitment to keeping their Native Alaskan language and culture alive. Despite being told by her mother, as well as her peers, that girls don’t sled, Denny prepares for the Great Race,  a male-dominated dog-sled competition that will take her a grueling 1,000 miles into the wilds of Alaska.

Nomination: Pink Sari Revolution

Fontanella-Khan, Amana. Pink Sari Revolution. 2013. 304p. W.W. Norton, $26.95.  (978-0-39306-297-7). Gr. 9-12.

When 17-year old Sheelu Devi is thrown into jail after being sexually assaulted by a local politician, women’s rights crusader, Sampat Pal, works tirelessly to bring justice to the wronged teen.

 

 

Nomination: The Servant

Sharafeddine, Fatima. The Servant. 2013. 144p. Groundswood, $12.75.  (978-1-55498-307-0). Gr. 9-12.

15-year old Faten despairs when her father forces her to abruptly leave her family and education to work as a maid for a wealthy family in Beirut. Despite rigid Lebanese social expectations, and an unsupportive family stacked against her, Faten forges ahead to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse.

 

 

Princesses on the Run

Coh, Smiljana. Princesses on the Run. 2013. 40p. Running Press Kids, $15.95 (978-0762446124). Gr. K-2.

Rather than waiting for handsome princes to rescue them, fairy tale heroines take charge of their own lives and decide to embark on adventures and foster positive friendships with each other.

Part-time Princess

Underwood, Deborah. Part-time Princess. Illus. by Cambria Evans. 2013. 40p. Disney-Hyperion, $16.99 (978-1423124856). Gr. K-2.

A normal little girl goes to bed, and wakes up every night as a fire-fighting princess, protecting her kingdom, peace-making through tea-parties, and forging alliances with trolls. There is no task too dangerous for this intrepid royal!

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Nomination: Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ottaviani, Jim and Maris Wicks. Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birute Galdikas. 2013. 144pp. First Second. $19.99. 978-1596438651

The lives and groundbreaking research of Goodall, Fossey, and Galdikas are brought to life in this vivid graphical biography. All three women refused to settle for conventional lives and pursued their dreams and work to the fullest extent – an inspiration to budding scientists everywhere.

Nomination: Imogen: The Mother of Modernism and Three Boys

Novesky, Amy. Illus. Lisa Congdon. Imogen: The Mother of Modernism and Three Boys. 2012. 32pp. Cameron + Company. $16.95. 978-1937359324

During the early twentieth century, an era when women were expected to fully devote themselves to their families, Imogen Cunningham successfully balanced motherhood and her art.

Nomination: Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children

 

 

 

 

 

Pinborough, Jan. Miss Moore Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children. 2013. 40pp. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. $16.99. 978-0547471051

Fighting against the popular notion of her time that little ones should not be allowed to enjoy the pleasures of reading (especially girls), Anne Carroll Moore created the iconic Central Children’s Room at New York Public Library. Her tenacious advocacy for children’s library services inspired  generations of readers and librarians.

Nomination: Juliette Gordon Low: The Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scouts

Cordery, Stacey A. Juliette Gordon Low: The Remarkable Founder of the Girl Scouts. 2012. 400p. Viking Adult, $17.95 (978-0670023301). Gr.10-up.

The intrepid Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low overcame a terrible marriage and pursued a lifestyle free from the restraints placed on women in her era. Her founding of the Girl Scouts was groundbreaking for its inclusion of all young women regardless of race, social class, and physical abilities. Low’s legacy continues to inspire girls today.