For my Identity Project, I decided to research how women and/or young girls are represented In recent literature. To be more specific, I have researched how women and/or young girls are portrayed in children’s books. I have always loved to read, and when I was younger most of the books involved girls being princesses or damsels in distress. I always wanted a book where the girl was the hero, where the girl saves herself. Therefore, I decided to see if the portrayal of women and/or girls has changed in recent years. Through my research, I have found that the portrayal of women and/or girls has significantly changed for the better in recent years. During my research, I found that there was quite a few books that involved the girls saving themselves, their family members, or just going on a crazy adventure. Recent children’s books have female characters that are strong, brave, and independent.
During my research for my Identity Project, I began by looking at female characters from children’s books published in the past and then I looked at female characters in children’s books from more recent years. I actually did not have trouble finding children’s books with strong female characters. There were quite a few on Goodreads. Goodreads also provided a number of facts about the books and the authors.
The first book I chose was Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls b y Elena Favilli. This book was a New York Times bestseller, and it was published in 2016 by Timbuktu Labs. It was awarded the Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) and the Waterstones Book of the Year. Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls reinvents fairy tales and inspires its readers through the stories of one hundred women for both the past and present
. The book contains stories from painters, scientists, dancers, astronauts, etc. The book is classified under nonfiction, feminism, short stories, and childrens genres. Elena Favilli, the author, is actually the founder and CEO of Timbuktu Labs, where the book was published. In this book, the point is that girls are capable of incredible things despite what others or how they’re treated in society for being female. This book uses stories from both past and present, ranging from Cleopatra to Elizabeth I to Serena Williams. On Goodreads, this book received 4.35 of 5 stars. This book received comments about how the book is inspiring for both young and old. There was a lot of positive comments about the illustrations and how empowering it was to read about all of the strong women that have been and still are in the world. (“Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women by Elena Favilli.”).
The second book I chose was Malala’s Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai. This book was inspired by Malala’s own childhood in Pakistan. As a child, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil that would make everyone happy, erase the smell of garbage from her city, and let pe
ople sleep an extra hour in the mornings. In the book, Malala tells her story for a younger audience to show them the worldview that allowed her to hold on to hope. Malala’s Magic Pencil w as published in 2017 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. It won the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, the Monarch Award, and the Goodreads Choice Award. It is classified under biography, nonfiction, and children’s genres with a sub-genre of picture books. Malala Yousafzai, the author, is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a New York Times bestselling author, and she is also an activist for female education. In this book, Malala tells her own life story. She went from being a young girl in Pakistan dreaming of a pencil that would make everyone happy to a activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner. Once again, girls can do anything they want if they put their minds to it. Girls are strong and brave. They are not damsels in distress that need a prince to rescue them. On Goodreads, this book received 4.54 out of 5 stars. This book received comments about how the story reflects on Malala’s childhood Pakistan and how she cannot go to school to receive an education. There are some comments about how the book kind of skims over the horrors she faced, while still telling her story in a happier way that is suitable for little children to read. (“Malala's Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai.”).
The third book I chose was The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Cviil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson. This book was published in 2017 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers. It was awarded the Goodreads Choice Award and the NAACP Image Award. The Youngest Marcher tells the story of when Audrey Faye Hendricks marched to the Birmingham jail in 1963. Audrey Hendricks was nine years old when she was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama for a civil rights protest. This book is classified under biography, nonfiction, history, and children’s genres with a sub-genre of picture books. (“The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson.”). Cynthia Levinson, the author, was actually in high school when Hendricks marched to the jail. (Levinson, Cynthia). In this book, the author is makin
g the point that girls can do whatever they put their minds to. Hendricks was nine years old and marched to the Birmingham jail to partake in a civil rights protest. She was standing up for what she believed was right and was arrested at nine years old, but she still did it. She was no damsel in distress. On Goodreads, this book got 4.42 out of 5 stars. This book received many comments about how the main character, Audrey, was very brave for standing up for what she believed in to the point that she went to jail. There was also a plethora of comments about how the book did a good job of including history and telling the pain and anger that was felt during the civil rights march in Birmingham. (“The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson.”).
The fourth book I chose was Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Beaty. This book was published in 2013 by Harry N. Abrams. It tells the story of a young girl named Rosie that invented things and dreamed of becoming a great engineer. Rosie’s great-great-aunt Rose, aka Rosie the Riveter, comes to visit Rose and mentions her one unfini
shed goal in life, which is to fly. Straight away, Rosie begins working on inventing something to make her dream come true. This book is classified under the children's genre with a sub-genre of picture books. In this book, the point is that Rosie tried. Her invention may not have worked exactly the way she wanted it too, but she still tried and succeeded. She put her mind to it and got the job done. She didn’t quit. She didn’t have someone save her. No one did it for her. She persevered. On Goodreads, this book has 4.55 out of 5 stars. This book received many comments about how it was inspirational and how it showed the importance of failing before you can be truly great. It touches base with self-esteem in girls and connects itself to Rosie the Riveter who says, “We Can Do It!” (“Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty.”).
The fifth book I chose was Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly. This book was published in 2019 by Greenwillow Books. It is classified under fantasy, fiction, adventure, and children’s genres with a sub-genre of middle grade. The book tells the story of a twelve year old girl names Lalani Sarita that lives on the island of Sanlagita. Lalani sets out on an adventure acr
oss the distant sea, searching for the good fortune in life. Lalani of the Distant Sea i s actually inspired by Filipino folklore. In this book, the author seems to be making the point that you don’t have to be a superhero or have heroic like qualities to be able to take care of yourself or have an adventure. Lalani is just an ordinary girl that’s going on an adventure across the sea. She doesn’t need anyone to save her, she can do it herself, and she’s twelve. On Goodreads, this book has 3.99 out of 5 stars. This book received many comments about how ordinary kids, like Lalani, can do extraordinary things when they put their mind to it. There was also a plethora of comments about how the Filipino culture really came through to the audience. (“Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly.”).
Through my research, I have found that the portrayal of women and/or girls has significantly changed for the better in recent years. During my research, I found that there was quite a few books that involved the girls saving themselves, their family members, or just going on a crazy adventure. Recent children’s books have female characters that are strong, brave, and independent. In the next few years, I predict that children’s books will continue to portray females as strong individuals that are capable of anything. I also predict that the number of children’s books with strong female characters will increase exponentially over the years.
Works Cited:
“Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women by
Elena Favilli.” Goodreads, Goodreads, 1
Dec. 2016, www.goodreads.com/book/show/33016249-good-night-stories-for-
rebel-girls.
“Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly.” Goodreads, Goodreads,
3 Sept. 2019, www.goodreads.com/book/show/35227939-lalani-of-the-distant-sea.
Levinson, Cynthia. “The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks,
a Young Civil Rights Activist: Hardcover.” Barnes & Noble,
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 17 Jan. 2017,
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-youngest-marcher-cynthia-levinson/1123807320.
“Malala's Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai.” Goodreads, Goodreads,
3 Oct. 2017, www.goodreads.com/book/show/31932921-malala-s-magic-pencil.
“Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty.” Goodreads, Goodreads,
3 Sept. 2013, www.goodreads.com/book/show/17290220-rosie-revere-engineer.
“The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist
by Cynthia Levinson.” Goodreads, Goodreads,
17 Jan. 2017, www.goodreads.com/book/show/20670612-the-youngest-marcher.
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