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Born Reading: 20 Stories of Women Reading Their Way into History
Once books kick-start their brains, girls change history. Discover the foundation of reading that empowered some of the world’s most influential women in this informative and inspirational illustrated middle grade collection of twenty biographies.
What do Cleopatra, Audre Lorde, and Taylor Swift have in common? They’re all influential women who grew up doing one very important reading.
This collection of short-form biographies tells the story of twenty groundbreaking women and how their childhood reading habits empowered them to change the world. From Cleopatra to Sally Ride to Amanda Gorman, the women featured in this collection are from all throughout history and all kinds of backgrounds. They are women who have and who continue to change the game in STEM, literature, politics, sports, and more. Most importantly, they are women who were born to read.
For some, reading was forbidden, but they taught themselves to read anyway. For some, reading was a struggle, but they practiced and grew to love it. For some, reading was an escape from difficult realities. For all, reading was empowering.
What do Cleopatra, Audre Lorde, and Taylor Swift have in common? They’re all influential women who grew up doing one very important reading.
This collection of short-form biographies tells the story of twenty groundbreaking women and how their childhood reading habits empowered them to change the world. From Cleopatra to Sally Ride to Amanda Gorman, the women featured in this collection are from all throughout history and all kinds of backgrounds. They are women who have and who continue to change the game in STEM, literature, politics, sports, and more. Most importantly, they are women who were born to read.
For some, reading was forbidden, but they taught themselves to read anyway. For some, reading was a struggle, but they practiced and grew to love it. For some, reading was an escape from difficult realities. For all, reading was empowering.
136 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2023
1 person is currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 5, 2023
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
Kathleen Krull was the author of so many fantastic biography books, including Big Wig: A Little History of Hair, American Immigration: Our History, Our Stories, Louisa May's Battle, and Frenemies in the Family: Famous Brothers and Sisters Who Butted Heads and Had Each Other's Backs. She had a fun, engaging, and somewhat flippant style that made her books seem like we were reading about friends or neighbors, not famous people who changed the world. Sadly, she died of cancer in 2021, but left many works in progress. Her friend Loh-Hagan polished this collection of short biographies about women who fought against gender stereotypes to make their way in the world.
The women portrayed all had different challenges to overcome, but they did so even when they were told that it wasn't their places or simply that they couldn't. While historical figures like Queen Elizabeth I and Wu Zetian's worlds were very different from the world today, even modern figures like Oprah Winfrey and Taylor Swift faced opposition in their rise to celebrity. Marley Diaz is the youngest person to be included, and young readers might be aware of her #1000BlackGirlBooks initiative.
Each of the twenty woman has three to four pages of information, and a fantastic portrait by Lewis. This is arranged in chronological order, which is always helpful. At the end of the book, there are thumbnail biographies of a wide range of other women that will also encourage readers to find out more information about individuals that inspire them to think about their own impact on the world. There's a complete bibliography at the end of the book, which readers will find helpful if they choose to gather more information about their favorite person.
It's never too early to get young girls reading, and this is a great title to add to any young feminist's library that may already include Chambers's Finish the Fight!: The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote, Calkhoven's Women Who Changed the World: 50 Amazing Americans, Rubin's The Women Who Built Hollywood: 12 Trailblazers in Front of and Behind the Camera and Favilli's Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World.
Kathleen Krull was the author of so many fantastic biography books, including Big Wig: A Little History of Hair, American Immigration: Our History, Our Stories, Louisa May's Battle, and Frenemies in the Family: Famous Brothers and Sisters Who Butted Heads and Had Each Other's Backs. She had a fun, engaging, and somewhat flippant style that made her books seem like we were reading about friends or neighbors, not famous people who changed the world. Sadly, she died of cancer in 2021, but left many works in progress. Her friend Loh-Hagan polished this collection of short biographies about women who fought against gender stereotypes to make their way in the world.
The women portrayed all had different challenges to overcome, but they did so even when they were told that it wasn't their places or simply that they couldn't. While historical figures like Queen Elizabeth I and Wu Zetian's worlds were very different from the world today, even modern figures like Oprah Winfrey and Taylor Swift faced opposition in their rise to celebrity. Marley Diaz is the youngest person to be included, and young readers might be aware of her #1000BlackGirlBooks initiative.
Each of the twenty woman has three to four pages of information, and a fantastic portrait by Lewis. This is arranged in chronological order, which is always helpful. At the end of the book, there are thumbnail biographies of a wide range of other women that will also encourage readers to find out more information about individuals that inspire them to think about their own impact on the world. There's a complete bibliography at the end of the book, which readers will find helpful if they choose to gather more information about their favorite person.
It's never too early to get young girls reading, and this is a great title to add to any young feminist's library that may already include Chambers's Finish the Fight!: The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote, Calkhoven's Women Who Changed the World: 50 Amazing Americans, Rubin's The Women Who Built Hollywood: 12 Trailblazers in Front of and Behind the Camera and Favilli's Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World.
February 17, 2024
There were some factual errors. One I caught before looking it up was Taylor Swift singing Lion King songs at three-- the Lion King came out in 1994. Taylor Swift was born in 1989, so she would have been 4-5 when the movie came out.
Another that I looked up more just because I wanted to learn more about it was Temple Grandin's cow squeezing machine. The book says she invented the cow squeezing machine when she was 18. From the basic research I've done, it appears that she invented the squeezebox for herself when she was 18, which was based on already existing contraptions for livestock. This squeezebox allowed for gentle pressure that helped with some of her autism sensory needs. She did go on to invent other implements to help animals in various aspects, however the book gets this specific one wrong.
In terms of historical representation, I think this provides a good overview, although it is pretty much only positive about its subjects. Since the lens is through women becoming powerful or influential who are spurred on by reading, I don't think this is necessarily bad. The focus is not on the influence they had, but rather on how their love of reading got them where they ended up going.
I also like to consider geographic, racial, disability, and LGBTQ+ representation in books like this. Two of the women were explicitly listed as being LGBTQ+. Four are explicitly listed as having a disability (blindness, Autism, Type 1 Diabetes, and an unspecified learning disability).
In terms of geography, I only marked the subject as being from the place they got famous from. For example, I marked Phyllis Wheatly as being North American, because that is where she gained notoriety, rather than from Africa, from which she was forcibly taken and enslaved. This book skewed heavily North American, at 80% of its subjects coming from North America. Two subjects were from South Asia, and one each was from East Asia, Europe, and Saharan Africa.
For race, I used the identifiers from the book. 35% of subjects were White, 35% were Black, and 15% were East Asian. Two were South Asian, one was biracial (White and First Nations), and one was Latina.
Another that I looked up more just because I wanted to learn more about it was Temple Grandin's cow squeezing machine. The book says she invented the cow squeezing machine when she was 18. From the basic research I've done, it appears that she invented the squeezebox for herself when she was 18, which was based on already existing contraptions for livestock. This squeezebox allowed for gentle pressure that helped with some of her autism sensory needs. She did go on to invent other implements to help animals in various aspects, however the book gets this specific one wrong.
In terms of historical representation, I think this provides a good overview, although it is pretty much only positive about its subjects. Since the lens is through women becoming powerful or influential who are spurred on by reading, I don't think this is necessarily bad. The focus is not on the influence they had, but rather on how their love of reading got them where they ended up going.
I also like to consider geographic, racial, disability, and LGBTQ+ representation in books like this. Two of the women were explicitly listed as being LGBTQ+. Four are explicitly listed as having a disability (blindness, Autism, Type 1 Diabetes, and an unspecified learning disability).
In terms of geography, I only marked the subject as being from the place they got famous from. For example, I marked Phyllis Wheatly as being North American, because that is where she gained notoriety, rather than from Africa, from which she was forcibly taken and enslaved. This book skewed heavily North American, at 80% of its subjects coming from North America. Two subjects were from South Asia, and one each was from East Asia, Europe, and Saharan Africa.
For race, I used the identifiers from the book. 35% of subjects were White, 35% were Black, and 15% were East Asian. Two were South Asian, one was biracial (White and First Nations), and one was Latina.
September 5, 2023
Many women shaped our world history, and they didn't just have whatever they had to be famous; they also had their books to keep them company.
There are a lot of famous feminine names in history that we know of. We know all about the things they did, but there are some things we don't know about their personal lives, such as a great love for books! Read on, and you girls might find bookworms like yourself on these pages!
This collection of 20 short biographies talks about Cleopatra to the author Kathleen Krull, who died recently in 2021 (rest in peace). There were some people I knew and some I didn't know. I even had more background about a famous person I was interested in: Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz.
My favorites among these women are Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth I, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Temple Grandin, Taylor Swift, Malala Yousafzai, and more.
This book has excellent illustrations, very informative, and inspiring quotes.
Give this book to history buffs and bookworms wanting to know about famous readers.
Happy Reading, Paige 📚 ❤️
Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.
There are a lot of famous feminine names in history that we know of. We know all about the things they did, but there are some things we don't know about their personal lives, such as a great love for books! Read on, and you girls might find bookworms like yourself on these pages!
This collection of 20 short biographies talks about Cleopatra to the author Kathleen Krull, who died recently in 2021 (rest in peace). There were some people I knew and some I didn't know. I even had more background about a famous person I was interested in: Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz.
My favorites among these women are Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth I, Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Temple Grandin, Taylor Swift, Malala Yousafzai, and more.
This book has excellent illustrations, very informative, and inspiring quotes.
Give this book to history buffs and bookworms wanting to know about famous readers.
Happy Reading, Paige 📚 ❤️
Thank you to the publisher for sending a copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.
October 12, 2023
Once books kick-start their brains, girls change history. Discover the foundation of reading that empowered some of the world’s most influential women in this informative and inspirational illustrated middle grade collection of twenty biographies.
What do Cleopatra, Audre Lorde, and Taylor Swift have in common? They’re all influential women who grew up doing one very important reading.
This collection of short-form biographies tells the story of twenty groundbreaking women and how their childhood reading habits empowered them to change the world. From Cleopatra to Sally Ride to Amanda Gorman, the women featured in this collection are from all throughout history and all kinds of backgrounds. They are women who have and who continue to change the game in STEM, literature, politics, sports, and more. Most importantly, they are women who were born to read.
For some, reading was forbidden, but they taught themselves to read anyway. For some, reading was a struggle, but they practiced and grew to love it. For some, reading was an escape from difficult realities. For all, reading was empowering.
What do Cleopatra, Audre Lorde, and Taylor Swift have in common? They’re all influential women who grew up doing one very important reading.
This collection of short-form biographies tells the story of twenty groundbreaking women and how their childhood reading habits empowered them to change the world. From Cleopatra to Sally Ride to Amanda Gorman, the women featured in this collection are from all throughout history and all kinds of backgrounds. They are women who have and who continue to change the game in STEM, literature, politics, sports, and more. Most importantly, they are women who were born to read.
For some, reading was forbidden, but they taught themselves to read anyway. For some, reading was a struggle, but they practiced and grew to love it. For some, reading was an escape from difficult realities. For all, reading was empowering.
December 16, 2023
I was excited, but sad, to read Kathleen Krull's last book. I've loved her work for ages, and I liked the idea of paying tribute to women who read. However, I was not happy with some of the women chosen. Indira Gandhi? Yeah, she read a lot. She also had millions of people forcibly sterilized. Not somebody I would want a young girl looking up to. Taylor Swift? A slightly odd choice, but fine - if the author had actually mentioned Taylor Swift reading. The author only talked about Taylor Swift's writing. This was supposed to be a book about READERS! If there hadn't been anyone else they could use, I wouldn't be so upset, but there was literally a section of women who didn't make the cut. Some of the writing was weird (one of the women "chatted up the king" whenever he was around), and while Krull's books in the past have always been casual, this one was a mix of casual and very formal, so it just didn't work. I'm blaming everything I didn't like on Krull's co-author, Virginia Loh-Hagan, which probably isn't fair, but I got the feeling that Krull only wrote a couple of the stories anyway.
TLDR: I wanted to love it, but I couldn't.
TLDR: I wanted to love it, but I couldn't.
November 16, 2023
I'm not usually a huge fan of biographical anthologies, but I'd say that this one is the exception. I *really* got into these women's complex and nuanced stories, and I think that middle grade readers will, too. The theme is women throughout history who used reading to fulfil their purpose and achieve their loftiest dreams. But the stories touch on so many amazing things, and the women selected are wonderfully diverse, traversing continents, time periods, and all sorts of professions. Reading is presented as something that can benefit everyone--those who struggle with it, those who embrace it, those who hide it, and those who profess it openly. Absolutely LOVED the epilogue. The backmatter is wonderful, too, providing reading and literacy resources and bite-size blurbs on each of the women featured in the book. I can't NOT recommend this, because it's wonderful!
December 8, 2024
One of those "mixed emotions" books. First, I did find a lot of the vignettes interesting and learned things I didn't know. I think it would be good for research, but am not sure if many readers would sit and read it straight through. It's more of a book to pick up and read a couple of entries before putting it down. Since one of the chapters is Taylor Swift, it will have readers at least for that chapter. It has good back matter.
A lot of the writing drove me crazy. There would be 4 or 5 sentences in a row starting with "She..." But it wasn't that way in all of the entries. Basically, I felt the writing was inconsistent. When it was, I wanted to start editing.
I'd put it in a library. (Pretty much would fit all levels.) I would book talk it, but I think it would remain on the shelf a lot.
A lot of the writing drove me crazy. There would be 4 or 5 sentences in a row starting with "She..." But it wasn't that way in all of the entries. Basically, I felt the writing was inconsistent. When it was, I wanted to start editing.
I'd put it in a library. (Pretty much would fit all levels.) I would book talk it, but I think it would remain on the shelf a lot.
August 26, 2023
This was a great middle-grade read. This book is a collection of 20 short biographies of groundbreaking women and how reading empowered them. Born Reading has great illustrations and it was both informative and inspirational. This book features women from all throughout history, all with different backgrounds and interests but they all had a love for reading in common. Some of the women showcased in this book are Cleopatra, Oprah, Amanda Gorman, and Taylor Swift. For some of these famous, influential women, reading was forbidden, for others it was a struggle and for others it was an escape. Overall this was a great read that middle grade girls should find inspiring.
March 12, 2024
This book features 20 different women who have made a difference in the world AND loved books/reading. It features a diverse cast starting with Cleopatra and ending with Marley Dias. Each person gets a full page stylized picture plus a few pages of information about them. Back matter includes an epilogue featuring Kathleen Krull who inspired this book to be written; feminist fun facts; more girls with books; activities to keep reading; resources such as how to access free books and organizations that help girls/children to read; references; and an index.
September 11, 2023
This is a collection that includes 20 stories of women reading their way into the history. From Cleopatra to Wu Zetian to Taylow Swift, groundbreaking women from all around the world share their reading habits and how reading impacted them. Reading is empowering and my favorites were Wu Zetian, Malala Yousafzai and Oprah Winfrey. I love the feminist fun facts. Very informative and inspiring!
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Simon kids . All opinions are my own ]
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Simon kids . All opinions are my own ]
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October 23, 2023
A resource book featuring 20 women’s who read their way into history, what I enjoyed about Born Reading is the mixture of new and old. Children relate to who they know so including Taylor Swift, as an example, is smart because most young girls know and love her. I also appreciated the feminist facts, ways to engage in reading and educational resources. Every young child, especially girls, should have this book.
Thank you Simon Kids for gifting me a copy to review.
Thank you Simon Kids for gifting me a copy to review.
August 16, 2023
I especially liked the quotes by the women featured in the biographies. Pleasantly surprised to see women you would not have expected to be so influenced by reading or books.
November 16, 2023
Wow! What a fantastic and inspirational book! I learned so many interesting facts about women through history.
December 31, 2023
Excellent and inspirational.
April 28, 2024
This was a really neat book! 20 stories of women who influenced the world through their love of reading. There were also some "honorable mentions" at the end.
August 1, 2024
I loved this book and so did the baby I nanny.
February 23, 2025
Women who read
Women who have done great things
Women
Women who have done great things
Women
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews