Team Picks for Women's History Month
Welcome back to the blog. Today, we’ve got some top picks by female authors and/or about wonderful female creators from our amazing team of women, in honor of Women’s History Month!
Angie:
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega is one of my most recent favorites about a hilarious and charming fat brown girl trying to survive high school. I’ve never read a YA book that talks about fatness and body image in such a real, perfect way. It’s a book that I wish I had when I was 16, but equally as validating reading at 26.
I read The Secret Lives of Church Ladies in one sitting over two months ago and I still cannot stop thinking about it. Every single story in this collection is a hit. The women in these pages are bold and tender and hilarious and radiating with love - queer love, Black love, self-love, love for the south, love for their mothers and sisters and grandmothers.
Gathering Moss is Robin Wall Kimmerer’s first and lesser-known book. If you’ve read Braiding Sweetgrass, you know that she’s a master at connecting western science with personal reflections from her indigenous teachings. In this collection of nature essays, she invites us to learn about how moss, although incredibly common, plays a huge part in a forest’s ecosystem, and how humans can learn from their acts of reciprocity and simple ways of being.
Melissa:
Shaking Things Up: 14 Young Women Who Changed the World, by Susan Hood, artwork by thirteen notable female children's illustrators
Poetry and history converge in this unique nonfiction book, which profiles fourteen revolutionary young women spanning three centuries, pairing usual suspects like Frida Kahlo and Malala with lesser-known figures like journalist Nellie Bly and early firefighter Molly Williams. Each of the informative poems is visually interpreted by a different prominent children’s book artist. (Ages 5-10)
The Oldest Student, by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, illus. Oge Mora
This picture book documents one of the most amazing true stories I’ve ever heard. Mary Walker, a former slave, achieved her lifelong dream of learning to read at the astounding age of 116. Yes, you heard that right! This story of fortitude, yearning, and persistence is living proof that “you’re never too old to learn.” Backmatter contains photographs and additional information about the real Mary Walker. (Ages 5-10)
All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team, by Christina Soontornvat
If there was ever a time when we needed a story to showcase the best of humanity—the strength, ingenuity, and kindness exhibited when we come together as helpers—it is in the past twelve months. In addition to being my daughter's favorite read-aloud of 2020, this riveting non-fiction chapter book, about the global effort to rescue twelve soccer players and their coach from a flooded cave in Thailand, is also a testament to a female author at the top of her game. Newly-crowned Newbery medalist of not one but two books, Christina Soontornvat reminds us of the unique viewpoints women bring to history, science, and literature. (Ages 10-15)
Emma:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: This is a novel I constantly go back to. The imagery is enchanting, the characters are beautifully constructed and the idea itself is one that tugs at my heartstrings. As the author’s very first novel, and one written through National Novel Writing Month, this is a great read if you love magic and mystery.
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl: A murder mystery, a conspiracy, a romance, and an ending you have to find the clues for yourself? Sign me up! I initially read this as a part of a creative writing course, but the book is delightful and supremely written to both entice you and get you to use your own intuition.
Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell: This book is written mostly in verse, an interesting style but apropos for a retelling of the story of the infamous “Lady of the Lake”; she fell in love with Lancelot, but was she really a damsel? I love this book for its creative form and its incredible storytelling.
Shannon:
Lilith, but Dark by Nichole Perkins: I flew through this book of poetry in a single sitting. Passion and loss, self-love and self-loathing, friendship, and family, Perkins covers it all with a grace and voice that left me in tears and/or speechless at multiple points. I cannot wait to see what she will do next.
Lobizona by Romina Garber: This book captivated me from the moment I saw it (just look at her!) and I knew I just had to bring it home. I was not disappointed. It has everything: relevant cultural commentary, supernatural beings, magic, family, school drama, adventure, rebellion, and more. I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment of Manu’s story.
Sh*t, Actually by Lindy West: I absolutely adored this one on audiobook. Though I will admit to having to skip the chapter about Love, Actually itself, simply because I love it so and refuse to admit that it has any flaws (not actually, but you get my point). Lindy West narrates this herself and I think it might be the ideal reading/listening experience because her humor really gets to shine through in all its glory. Rating: 4 out of 5 DVDs of The Fugitive (if you know, you know).
Faran:
Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future
The artist Hilma af Klint was little known in the USA (or the world for that matter) until a 2018 exhibition at the Guggenheim. This catalogue from the show has had a huge influence on me as an artist and so many other artists working today. Many men are credited with being the first abstract artists, but af Klint was making abstract paintings about 40 years before the abstract expressionist movement was born. I love the legend around her as a person and I find her works to be beautiful and soulful in a way that I've not seen in any other artist. Her paintings are at once ahead of their time and seemingly channeled from another dimension entirely. This book is beautifully printed and has interesting essays and biographical information on the artist.
Everything She Touched: The Life of Ruth Asawa
"This is the story of a woman who wielded imagination and hope in the face of intolerance and who transformed everything she touched into art." This beautiful book is partly a biography and partly a documentation of her artworks and public projects. "Ruth Asawa's remarkable life story offers inspiration to artists, art lovers, feminists, mothers, teachers, Asian Americans, history buffs, and anyone who loves a good underdog story."
Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat
This book changed the way I cook! I love cooking and grew up in a household that was very enthusiastic about food and cooking. This book explained to me why things should be done a certain way and goes into the science of cooking. I had never considered the importance of salting something at the right time and how it changes the textures and flavors of a dish when done right. At the same time, the writing is approachable and fun. Samin's warmth invites you to join her on a cooking journey and her explanations and enthusiasm for cooking are truly delightful. This book is one of my most treasured things.
Amanda:
In the Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce came out this year and it is one of my favorites so far. All about a woman who is slighted or taken advantage of by men, and she repays their actions by burying them in her garden. And lots of arson. Based on the true story of The Black Widow of La Porte, this book was a phenomenal fictionalization of true events and great for fans of true crime wondering what it's like in the mind of a serial killer.
In 2020, my favorite book hands down was Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy. This year, her second book Once There Were Wolves is coming out in August and I am SO excited for the world to read it. For those who've asked me on shift before to recommend a book like Migrations, honestly, this is it. McConaghy has a gift for spooky environmental stories and you won't want to miss this one!
Blog contributions by Angie Sanchez, Melissa LaSalle, Emma Kiely-Hampson, Shannon McCarthy, Faran Peterson, and Amanda Robinson.
Photos contributed by corresponding team member.
Edited by Shannon McCarthy.