Because I Was A Girl: True Stories for Girls of All Ages

by Melissa de la Cruz (Editor), Victoria Aveyard (Contributor), Libba Bray (Contributor)

Because I Was a Girl is an inspiring collection of true stories by women and girls about the obstacles, challenges, and opportunities they've faced…because of their gender. Edited by #1 New York Times-bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz, the book is the perfect gift for girls of all ages.

The collection includes writings from an impressive array of girls and women who are trailblazers in their fields, including bestselling authors Victoria Aveyard, Libba Bray, and Margaret Stohl; industry pioneers like Dolores Huerta, Trish McEvoy, and Holly Knight; renowned chef Katie Button; aerospace and mechanical engineer Emily Calandrelli; and many more.

Because I Was a Girl features powerful stories from:

Elizabeth Acevedo
Katrina Adams
Victoria Aveyard
Bonnie Bartlett
Brenda Bowen
Libba Bray
Katie Button
Emily Calandrelli
Babette Davis
Williabell Jones Davis
Melissa de la Cruz
Abby Falik
Jena Friedman
Joan Hanawi
Jane Hawley
Tina Hay
Jody Houser
Dolores Huerta
Zareen Jaffery
Anjanette Johnston
Mattie Johnston
Holly Knight
Jill Lorie
Zoey Luna
Trish McEvoy
Loretta Miranda
Gloria Molina
Susan Morrison
Anna Ponder
Margaret Semrud-Clikeman
Rebecca Soffer
Cheri Steinkellner
Margaret Stohl
Noor Tagouri
Tillie Walden
Quvenzhane Wallis
Francesca Zambello
Lenore Zion

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Memoir, Anthologies, Short Stories, Biography, Middle Grade

240 pages, Hardcover

First published October 3, 2017

About the author

Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.

Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.

She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.

Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).

She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Greyson | Use Your Words]

How in the fuck did I not know about this sooner???

[Robin Tobin (On the back porch reading) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely a book I will recommend to other readers.

[Enne · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this book sounds just like something I would enjoy, right? I mean a collection of short stories about women overcoming the challenges that are presented to them because of the fact that they are women. What’s there not to love about that? Turns out, there are things. First of all, the writing felt extremely childish, like the authors were talking down to the readers, which I was not a fan of, at all. The stories were also pretty short, and the writing was very basic in most of them. Libba Bray’s was the exception and was the one I really loved. Other than that, the message carried throughout the stories was nice, but the execution could have been better. A lot of the stuff the authors in the stories also felt a bit repetitive, but I don’t know, that might just be me.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected more from this collection of true stories about being a girl in both its positive and negative sense as these women profiled were growing up. The quotes pulled out from the stories in the black background with blue font was a fantastic addition and the portrait before the story of the woman made it clear that a reader could connect with the woman BUT de la Cruz edited it AND included herself in the story? For some reason I found this tacky. There were certainly a few authors within the pages and then another group of diverse women including lawyers, activists, and more but this also felt a bit forced and not as genuine as it could have been.

My issues with those profiled are really the reason in part because they don't feel as YA as they could have if this is being marked toward young adults. But I understand the power behind their words. I also liked the timeline of certain monumental events that led readers through the stories.

To me it was just "eh", not earth-shattering or ground breaking. There was potential and it does have a killer cover but not enough to save it for me.

[Kitty Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I was a girl, I’m willing to prove that females are equal to males,

[Ace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because I Was A Girl is an empowering non fiction book told from many different collaborators. I don't normally read non-fiction and I thought this was... fine.

'I'm afraid. I don't remember. I don't remember how to howl.' 'Yes you do. I will remind you. But for f*ck's sake, get angry. Don't die a martyr for their comfort.

If your going to read any of them, read Libba Bray's, who, of course, delivered

Trigger and Content Warnings: homophobia, use of the word d*ye, talk of prostitution, sexual abuse, violence, misogyny, sexual harassment, racism, sexism, talk of death threats, alcohol consumption, islamaphobia

[Melissa Flanagin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many wonderful ladies in our world. great role models for on kiddos today

[Claire S .8B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall this was a really good book, it inspired me to speak up if there is an issue with sexism and fight for what I believe in. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for one on a social issue because it covers that aspect a lot in my opinion.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

38 essays by actors, writers, entrepreneurs, scientists, artists and so, so many more about the ways that being a girl has affected their lives. I was impressed by the wide range of backgrounds and careers featured, to say the least. It was so inspiring to read about these women achieving their goals and I was surprised that so many of these successful people had no clue what they wanted to do when they grew up. It was interesting to see the conception of these women's livelihoods. How a passion, question, or objective snowballed into a full-blown business/career. Each story is as unique as the author and there are enough organizations, programs, and resources mentioned in this book to put you in an internet black hole for days. I borrowed this, but I'd like to own a copy just so I can have those tidbits on hand.

The morals of some of these stories were a little unclear, but several brought me to tears. My favorites were the ones by Brenda Bowen, Margaret Stohl, Libba Bray, Rebecca Soffer, Lenore Zion, Anjanette Johnson, and Tillie Walden. My least favorite is by Jena Friedman. I feel like her story could be harmful to the feminist cause and to the young impressionable girls that this book is marketed to. Speaking of which, I personally would hesitate to recommend to younger girls because there is some swearing, slurs, and a story about sexual abuse.

Overall, I enjoyed this for its diversity and was truly empowered by these girls' stories. It leaves you feeling as though you can do anything. That you should do anything. As though that as a girl, it is your duty to achieve your goals. That there's absolutely nothing stopping you because you are a girl.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great real life stories from women who make headlines today and from yesterday. Each decade has events that happened because of women. I learned a lot of stuff from women I didn't even know. I got the book because of Tillie Walden, who writes graphic novels, I have been reading her work lately and saw this at the library. A great book for women of all ages to read.

[Melanie Brinkman]

Because I Was a Girl tells many stories from all walks of life.

These stories are told by a wide range of women who have overcome many obstacles and smashed the boundaries that have been set in front of them and for all women.

These women are anything from designers, chefs, authors, scientists, business women, comic book creators.

I started this book and immediately decided to parcel it out by only doing a couple of stories a day because I could tell this was something that I would want to read over time. It's filled to the brim with empowering women.

The design of this book is completely beautiful. It's filled with large photos of these amazing women. It also has large type of important statements and sentences in each of their stories. The blue and white and black color scheme was really neat as well.

The use of the facts of it to the decades has an introduction was absolutely spectacular. I learned so much!

Because I Was a Girl is incredibly empowering and motivating. I believe that all women should read this book or at least a couple of the stories because I really feel the vibes of strength that just seem to radiate out of this book!

Totally inspiring!

[olivia ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"If you have a dream, don't waste a second before chasing it. You are the one only architect of your life, and the sooner you start planning and building, the sooner you will enjoy a life you love."

Plot Summary: "Because I Was A Girl" is a collection of non-fiction stories of different women's lives. They talk about their childhood and jobs. These stories are written by women in an assortment of jobs from actors, writers, lawyers to cartoonists, artists and television personality's.

My Opinion: I enjoyed reading this book because I like non-fiction books that allow me to learn about other people's lives. I felt like every story was meaningful and they all had a message in them. I loved the ones from women in the STEM fields since that is what I plan to pursue. Emily Calandrelli said in her mini-story that "People seem to believe that women must be one-dimensional in their interests and surprised when girls can love coding and Kylie Jenner's new lip kit." This really stuck with me as a coding girl and makeup lover.

Do I Recommend this book? Yes! It was an easy read where I got to learn about life from other women's perspectives. I enjoyed reading it and learning from these strong women.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just happened to see this book on the shelf at the library and pick it up. I was familiar with Melissa de la Cruz's fiction, but was unaware of this collection she edited. It's a collection of short essay written by women about either something they did or didn't do or were treated in a certain way because they were a girl or woman. The stories are organized by decade starting with the 1920's -1930's and going up to the 2010's. At the beginning of each section there are several facts about women's rights or issues that took place or were achieved in that decade. I really liked that most of the stories were just from regular women - not necessarily celebrities or famous people. Ordinary women who have achieved great things shows any young girl reading this book that they too can do great things. Overall, it was a solid book that would be good for teen/preteen girls (or older as I'm well past those ages). My only minor complaint was that the few articles in the 2010's section were of pretty young girls with not a whole lot of content (at least compared to the rest of the stories). Still, a book worth reading.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thirty-eight women and girls share their personal journeys toward becoming the best individuals they can be in this edited collection. Some have had it harder than others, and often their stories reflect the prejudices of the times in which they were reared as well as the places they grew up. It was interesting to note the encouragement and discouragement they experienced as well as how often they adjusted their dreams or chose to use their voices to reach their goals. The collection is diverse, and the careers represented include that of a chef, a banker, a CEO, a programmer, a children's book publisher, and a Methodist bishop, among others. While I enjoyed reading these vignettes, many of their experiences mirrored my own as I was growing up as well as some of my current experiences so that I felt more validated than anything else. The use of full-page black and white photographs of each of the contributors as well as information about their careers helps readers see these women and possibly consider their own groundbreaking moves.

[Lydia LaGue Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bottom line: Do what you love, not what you think is expected of you. Follow your true passion no matter where it leads. It will help you find your strength in life and success, but more important, happiness will follow.” -Katie Button

I have so many quotes written down from all of these inspiring, badass, incredible women, but this one hit me the hardest. I know I have to keep following my dream and passion, and I feel inspired to do so after reading this book.

These women gave me stories to relate to and stories to appreciate for the strides they’ve made. This book has me reflecting on my life and what moments have shaped me as a woman. It has me thinking about what my path is and how one day I can become a part of a book that celebrates and appreciates my life as a woman. Because I am a girl, I have my own story to tell.

[Mary Havens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me want to rise up and ROAR!!! So many great female role models. I enjoyed reading their stories of triumph but it also breaks my heart that they struggled. But only through struggle is there triumph?
All of the stories were good but my favorite was a precocious 7 year old who was obsessed with death and brought a cow eyeball to school. :)
My favorite line wasn’t from a contributor but from Sheryl Sandberg who challenges us: “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” My answer: TRAVEL. Guess I need to book some flights :P
Recommended for everyone!

[Sabrina Bain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the stories were just blah. Book was just ok for me.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short powerful essays from names you know and names you should know about how being female influenced their lives. These true stories will inspire you to not let anyone limit you just because you were a girl.

[Hannah Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had seen this book a few months ago and immediately was attracted to it. Feminism is something that I have always been passionate about. A collection of stories from girls of all ages was really interesting to me. I eventually ended up buying this book, looking to be inspired.

Because I Was A Girl is a collection of true stories by girls and women about their personal experiences. These stories include the challenges and obstacles they have faced because of their gender. A wide variety of contributors are included. Some are famous while some were just ordinary people. The contributors ranged from students to activists to scientists. Each person’s story described what it was like growing up as a girl and how their gender affected their life. The book shows how sexism has affected the lives of women of the past and of today.

I really liked the idea behind this book. It was unique for women of different ages and backgrounds to come together and share their experiences. It was really shocking to hear some of the obstacles these women had to face. The book shows that sexism is still prominent in society today. Women are being paid less, disrespected, and have to work harder than men to be noticed. It was also really interesting to see how unique their experiences were. Some women faced a great amount of sexism while others did not. Lastly, I really enjoyed that the book emphasized important statements and sentences from each contributors stories and put them in larger text.

Although this book was interesting, I felt as if it could have been better. I think I had started reading this book with expectations that in the end were not met. First off, I think that a large portion of the stories focused on issues in the workplace. I had hoped to see the stories discuss all aspects of what it is like to be a girl, including rape culture, societal standards, et cetera. I also think some of these stories were very short and lacked detail. I was left wanting more but in a good way that made me want to keep reading. This was pretty disappointing because I was looking forward to getting an insight into these women’s experiences. In general, I did not feel overly inspired and motivated by this book.

Overall, I would suggest Because I Was A Girl for younger readers. Although the book was not my favorite, it did include some important lessons.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this book for two reasons:
1. I felt like this would be a good way to feel empowered. I had been feeling trapped lately and had hoped this would inspire me to get out of the rut I was in
2. I wanted to try reading something different.

Well, I won't be doing that again. This book made me so agitated, I was glad I was reading a kindle version instead of a physical copy. Otherwise I would have set it on fire and watched it burn.

There was only one story in here that helped me. The rest felt useless, and some had random details that didn't serve any purpose to the story. Things like
"I could hardly wait to tell my roommate, who was also a very close friend. (We would later be in each other's bridal parties)"
WHY IS THIS NECESSARY?

The stories weren't empowering. It seemed like most things happened because of pure luck, or knowing the right people, which to me felt like it was sending the wrong message.

These were the ones that aggravated me the most:

Story 1:
A female bishop in the united Methodist church, who got a position she wasn't after but was handed the position anyway because random people voted for her.

"I was not planning to attend that regional gathering. A phone call motivated me to attend since I was the lone regional member on the Judicial Council. So, at the last minute, I packed some casual clothes in a bag and off I went."
"On the third ballot report, I heard a familiar name: Susan Morrison, one vote. My name! Amused, I wondered which friend had written it. On the next ballot, I received two votes. On the next ballot, there were seventeen votes!"

Moral of the story:
Do you ever get people telling you to go for something? You probably should, cause you know, you might randomly be handed a job! No effort on your part whatsoever!! isn't that GREAT?

Story 2:
A girl wanted to join the army, and was hesitant because almost everyone in her family said it's a bad idea. So she thinks that maybe she shouldn't because everyone says no, doesn't matter that the army would take her anyway. No, her life is decided by her family. Until she talks to her father. He is the one that says she should. So she does.

Moral of the story:
Make sure you have daddy's permission before you do ANYTHING. It doesn't matter how badly you want it. You can only do it if he says so.

Story 3:
Founder of Trish McEvoy Beauty.

"I was blessed at the beginning of my career to meet the love of my life, a renowned New York City dermatologist, Dr. Ronald Sherman. He was my biggest fan and supported every idea I ever had. I know how lucky I was."

Luck? No. You married a rich guy that paid for everything.

"My husband's and my next idea was to join forces!"

OF COURSE IT WAS! He's already paying for it, so why not throw his name up there too? That'll make it easier for you to get noticed if a man's name is attached to it. Also, notice it was "my husband and I" and not "my" or "our"?

Moral of the story:
Marry a rich guy. That way they can pay for everything! Why try to do it all yourself if you can snag a rich man?

Aside from all of that, there was one good quote from Holly Knight that, although obvious, sometimes we need to hear it:

The only one you need validation from is yourself. Once you discover that, there's nothing you can't do

Read that as many times as you need to.

And now, on to the one story I said helped me:
Libba Bray. Holy crap.
She described something I've always felt, but never had words for.

Because I was a girl, they told me not to get angry. They told me no one would love me if I did. But I know who I am: I am the thing with teeth. I am the messy, to-much-feeling girl who can smile and growl at the same time. I am the dragon slipped free of its leash.
"Would you like to see what lives inside me?" I say, the beast scratching at the locks of my soul.
I part my red lips in a grin, exposing a mouthful of glorious teeth.
And then I throw open the basement door.

Maybe there is a thing with teeth coiled within you, too?
Don't be afraid.
Its bite may save your life.

OH. MY. GOD.
Where has that been my whole life?
You know those times where you hear the right song at the right time, or read the right words at the right time? At the moment you really needed to hear it and everything just seems to be answered all at once, and all the chaos suddenly settles?

That was it. That was what I needed.
I cried. A lot.

Despite hating everything else in that book, That story was the best thing I read. I have typed that out and hidden it around to stumble upon later and be reminded of who I am. That was amazing.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of essays from contributors of all ages and from a wide range of careers, including TV writers, business women, chefs, scientists, and college students. Each reflects on a moment or collection of moments where gender shaped their lives, whether in limiting or expanding their possibilities. The essays are all short and not earth-shaking but as a woman I saw my own experiences mirrored in a hundred different places. I would recommend it to any of my adult friends, but it would be an especially great gift for a teenage girl. Boy readers, too, could gain some insights into unconscious bias and male privilege by reading it.
The only thing I wish was different would be the inclusion of a few more activist/organizer voices. The careers did lean heavily on authors/creators of various types (perhaps for obvious reasons).
The essays are grouped by decaude of the writers' birth, and each section starts with a page of highlights on the status and achievements of women at that time. I enjoyed re-reading those pages consecutively after finishing the book.

[Charlie N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved all the inspirational stories!!

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book filled with remarkable stories by women of the sights and disadvantages they experienced as a result of their gender. Some of them were just okay, but many of them were interesting and uplifting. Good book to read if you need to feel empowered.

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book popped up as a popular one being checked out at our local library. So I hopped in the virtual queue and waited. It wasn't until I had 3 days left on my 21 day loan that I started reading.

I finished it 48 hours later.

I was surprised by how many moments echoed my own experience. Walk in the room with a man colleague and who is addressed first? Who is praised for being loud, authoritative, and assertive? Who is told to get more sleep if they forget (or refuse) to put cover up under their eyes? How if you like makeup you can't be brainy?

It wasn't until I read Libba Bray's narrative that I shook with rage at the generational and societal inequality of women.

And this from a woman who had all the other advantages: two college educated parents, never told I couldn't do it, never experienced sexism until working in college. For this I am glad that those were not the only stories told in this collection.

This should find a home in every classroom to give girls a voice, to show them they are not alone, and to give them hope in paper form- may it take root in their souls.

[Megan Russ · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES. Girl power. Love love love it &i all these amazing women who have done so much. Feminism for the win

[Danielle Benich · Rating 5 out of 5]

So inspiring! We have come so far... I just hope we aren't going backwards now.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait to read this! And not just because my face is on the cover ;) UPDATE: I finally received my copy for free since I submitted a photo for the cover. All three of my photos were picked which is pretty neat. But anyway onto the book itself. This is a great book for girls and women. This book is full of inspiring women each with a different story about a difficult obstacle they overcame because they are a woman. In almost every industry men dominate it. Hell even the make-up industry which I'm not going to lie, but I was surprised with. The book also showed how much progress women have made over the years to become equal to men which was a nice touch to the book. But we still have ways to go because we are still not equal. Our progress does not end here. I think we proved ourselves in many ways, but unfortunately there is still discrimination. This book is very encouraging and I recommend it for EVERYONE. Seriously, everyone should read this book and educated themselves on how much women have gone through to get where we are today. There are so many women to thank because without some of these women crossing the lines we wouldn't have made as much progress as we have today. If you get a chance to pick this up please do!

[Ashley Tidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! True stories of women throughout history and in present day. They are inspirational and I highly suggest you google some of them to get more of their accomplishments. I love knowing that sometimes they faced obstacles and overcame and sometimes they moved on because life isn’t perfect and we aren’t all meant to win at everything. I loved all the different personalities in the stories. It was a good book to end the week on!

[Alex (novelswithalex) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology of autobiographical short stories was a pleasant surprise. Honestly, I wasn't sure if this would be as inclusive as I wanted it to be. Thankfully—for the most part—I was proven wrong. I really appreciated how the anthology itself was set up. there were women and girls telling their stories ranging from the 1920s to the 2010s, each decade getting its own chapter with a few women and girls dedicated to each. I really appreciated everyone's stories and found them all to be exceptional and entertaining. I also liked that this anthology didn't just focus on authors but also on women in other professions and areas of life. I would definitely recommend this book to either read all the way through or even just for casual reading.

Thank you to MacMillan for sending me a copy and also for featuring me and dozens of other women on the cover's collage. This was a very inspiring collection.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this title, as I like hearing true stories from interesting and successful women. My only real issue is that each story was incredibly short, and left me wanting to know more about the life story of each woman featured in the book. In addition, the book was a quick read, which left me wanting to hear more stories from a wider variety of women. While this would be great for a reluctant reader in need of something fast-paced, I felt that the book was too short and needed more content. This, however, is my only complaint, as I enjoyed the stories being told and felt inspired by some of these awesome ladies (many of whom are YA authors I adore) while reading.

Because I Was A Girl features short reflections from a number of influential women from diverse backgrounds, including Holly Knight, Victoria Aveyard, and Quvenzhane Wallis. The ladies range in age from 88 to their early teens, and each comes from a very different and unique background. All are writing from the same basic premise, which makes up the title of the book: "Because I was a girl..." This sentence features heavily throughout every one of the stories, tying them together despite the diversity of each individual account. These stories chronicle the many challenges these women faced, while also sharing the many triumphs and obstacles each woman conquered to find success in a man's world. Written for girls of all ages, Because I Was A Girl is an anthology that reminds all girls of the power they have to make a difference in the world.

First of all, let me say that I think this is an absolutely brilliant idea, especially since I have a feeling it will empower and inspire a whole new generation of women to make meaningful change. The book is organized into different decades, with women who were born in each one giving accounts of what their life was like back when the rules of society were different than they are today. Each decade begins with a list of facts, chronicling the major advances or milestones made by women in that decade. My favorite part of this book was reading through each section and feeling a sense of how things were progressing from decade to decade, starting with women who were expected to be housewives and mothers, and ending with a young girl who had never been told she couldn't do something because she was a girl. I could easily imagine one of the older women reading her story and smiling, knowing that the battles they fought helped pave the way for younger generations.

Though I have also never been told I couldn't do something because I was a girl, I have seen evidence of sexism throughout my lifetime, from being told to "act more lady-like" to being hit on at work simply for being in a public service position. I have never been discriminated against, however, and never lost a job or scholarship simply because I was a woman. Things might not be perfect, but they are certainly much better than they were only a century ago. The shift in tone of these stories as the book progresses is proof that things are changing for the better, and I think they give young readers hope that the world will continue to embrace that change in the future.

And, though I wish there had been more variety in the professions each of these women, I have to admit that I loved hearing from some of my favorite female YA authors. Melissa De la Cruz, Libba Bray, Margaret Stohl, and Victoria Aveyard all make appearances, which is wonderful for teenage girls who might be fans of their work. To see an author whose work you admire encouraging you to fight for the things you want is incredibly inspiring, and I'm glad this book exists for today's generation of young teens to enjoy. I would honestly gladly read an anthology entirely comprised of female YA authors talking about their experiences, as I think writers have very interesting personal stories to tell. While I think it would be better as a separate anthology, I certainly didn't mind hearing from these ladies who have inspired me with their writing for many years.

Personal highlights from this book included Libba Bray, Victoria Aveyard, and Tillie Walden. Libba Bray's words were both powerful and poetic, and I forgot how much I loved her unique writing style. Victoria Aveyard wrote the Red Queen series, which remains one of my favorite YA series, and I geeked out a little bit reading her entry. Tillie Walden's stood out as being the only illustrated entry, making it fun to read as well. Again, my only complaint with this book was that I wanted more, as I was thoroughly enjoying hearing each of the stories from these awesome and powerful ladies.

I would highly recommend this book to any teenage girl in need of encouragement, especially one who has been bullied or feels ostracized for being different in some way. Included in these entries is a transgender woman, a devout Muslim, and women of many different races. Chances are, a young teen will find someone in this line-up whose struggles she can personally relate to, and I think it's both uplifting and empowering to see women in your situation who have succeeded in achieving their dreams. The stories are short, simple, and easy to read, and I found myself feeling inspired as a full-grown adult. I can only imagine the good this might do for a teen lacking confidence in herself (heck, it would've helped me a lot as a teen as well), and I think this is a worthy collection to any library's YA non-fiction collection. I can only hope that more books like this one will continue to be published in the future, as I know there are many more great and inspiring stories left out there to tell.