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Powerful Voices: Inspiring Female Characters and Their Stories

YA and Middle Grade books have often been a place where the adolescent, female experience is explored and celebrated. Join us in spotlighting a few of the many powerful female authors and characters that inspire us all. 

Turning Point

Turning Point

Paula Chase
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fiction
Published:
2020
fire-keppers-daughter

Firekeeper’s Daughter

Angeline Boulley
Age Level:
YA
Genre:
Fiction, Mystery / Crime
Published:
2021
The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas
Age Level:
YA
Genre:
Fiction
Published:
2017
one crazy summer

One Crazy Summer

Rita Williams-Garcia
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Published:
2010
Hands reaching out to each other

The Night Diary

Veera Hiranandani
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Published:
2019
Patina (Track #2) by Jason Reynolds

Patina

Jason Reynolds
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fiction
Published:
2017
Young girl answering phone at motel front desk

Front Desk

Kelly Yang
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fiction
Published:
2018
Like a love story

Like a Love Story

Abdi Nazemian
Age Level:
YA
Genre:
Fiction
Published:
2019
Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone Trilogy

Leigh Bardugo
Age Level:
YA
Genre:
Fantasy, Fiction, Romance
Published:
2017
Children of Blood and Bone

Children of Blood and Bone

Tomi Adeyemi
Age Level:
YA
Genre:
Fantasy, Fiction
Published:
2018
Last Cuentista book cover

The Last Cuentista

Donna Barba Higuera
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Science fiction / Dystopian
Published:
2021
Young woman rides bicycles past palm trees

Merci Suárez Changes Gears

Meg Medina
Age Level:
Middle Grade
Genre:
Fiction
Published:
2018
Watch Us Rise

Watch Us Rise

Renée Watson, Ellen Hagan
Age Level:
Middle Grade, YA
Genre:
Fiction
Published:
2020
Girl Who Could Silence the Wind Book Cover

The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind

Meg Medina
Age Level:
YA
Genre:
Classics, Fiction
Published:
2012
Girl in a red, formal dress with her hands lifted above her head

Dumplin’

Julie Murphy
Age Level:
YA
Genre:
Fiction
Published:
2017
Theme:
Activism and social issues
Age Level:
Middle Grade, YA