Stories About Remarkable Girls and Women

This Women’s History Month, introduce your kids to these wonderful books that center female protagonists! These stories about remarkable girls and women include picture books, middle grade novels, a graphic novel, and books for young adults. They are a mix of fiction and non-fiction. The characters are not perfect, but they are all remarkable for their thoughtfulness, courage, and “main character energy.”

Disclosure: I received copies of some of the books below for review purposes; however, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Stories About Remarkable Girls and Women

Enjoy these stories about remarkable girls and women this Women’s History Month!

As defiant acts go, for most Americans, riding a bike wouldn’t even register. This simple activity, enjoyed by so many girls and boys alike in this country, is considered radical in some parts of the world. Based on the author/illustrator’s own experiences biking in Pakistan (and creating street art in Lahore celebrating a woman riding a bike), this graphic novel stars a group of friends who encourage each other as they enjoy biking in a park. But when they decide to venture out into the city, they expose themselves to stares and worse. But these courageous girls aren’t about to let that stop them! Instead, they speak up for themselves and come up with clever ways to defy the bullies – together! An empowering story about friends who work together to make their little part of the world a safer (and more fun!) place.

Buy The Biker Girls on Amazon or Bookshop

This biographical gem brings to life the story of Clara Driscoll, the inspired creator of world famous Tiffany lamps. Clara designed unique lamps that imitated stained glass windows, making light bloom forth in brilliant colors from within the lamps. The lamps were incredibly detailed and carefully researched to mimic flowers and other natural designed. One of Clara’s lamps even won a Bronze medal at the World’s Fair! Yet not everyone was happy with Clara’s work – namely, the male workers who resented a woman having such an important role at Tiffany’s. Luckily Mr. Tiffany himself championed Clara, although the fact that the lamps still carried his name obscured her role as a designer for many years. The artwork in this lovely volume captures the colors and natural designs of Clara’s work, allowing young readers to appreciate Clara’s incredible artistry.

Buy Making Light Bloom: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Lamps on Amazon or Bookshop

A mother faces a dilemma that so many of us have dealt with: Despite all of the professional opportunities and incredible role models available today, her daughter wants to be a princess when she grows up. As they walk home from school, the mother tries to convince her daughter by telling her about some of the remarkable Black women in occupations as diverse as neuroscience and ballet. Yet her daughter is adamant that she just wants to be a princess. But there is a twist – the princess she has in mind is not at all the type her mother envisions! She wants to be like Princess Amina, a warrior princess from present day Nigeria. A great book to introduce children to Black women role models, whatever career they want to pursue. Be sure to watch my interview with the author and illustrator.

Buy I’m Going to Be a Princess on Amazon or Bookshop

This engaging early chapter book is the latest in the popular Amina Banana early chapter books series, featuring a charming character that reads will instantly fall in love with. In this new book, Amina Banana overhears her parents’ money troubles and is sure that she can discover the formula for making money to help her family. Readers will identify with Amina’s missteps but cheer on her successes, learning lessons about persistence – and asking for help when you need it. It is also a book about dealing with prejudice. An author’s note discusses how Amina responds to ignorance the way the author wishes she had when faced with similar situations. Highly recommended.

Buy Amina Banana and the Formula for Making Money on Amazon or Bookshop

What is it like to be the only Muslim student at a Catholic school? Mariam Hassan is about to find out! Not only does she feel pressure to represent her religious community, but, as the oldest daughter of an immigrant family, Mariam feels added pressure to excel at school and take on extra responsibilities at home. This tender, often funny book is about a young girl learning to lean on others rather than carry the world on her own shoulders. The story also models respectful, meaningful conversations among religious groups, as Mariam discovers the importance of asking questions and learning that the answers are not always so clear. Be sure to watch my interview with the author.

Buy Hail Mariam on Amazon or Bookshop

If one is looking for courageous girls throughout history, Kartini must take her place in that pantheon of young women who were able to transcend the limitations imposed on them to expand our ideas of what a girl is capable of. Though her name is well known in Indonesia, where Kartini Day is celebrated every year, this remarkable middle grade novel will help to elevate her name in the rest of the world. It is an intimate portrait of a young woman literally and figuratively constrained by her society – forced to stay in her home before her thirteenth birthday, to remain in seclusion until her marriage. Yet Kartini fought courageously and persistently for her right to an education and changed, through her words, the opportunities for girls.

Buy Seabird on Amazon or Bookshop

This wonderful new graphic novel is a lesson in persistence and believing in yourself. Faiza wants to be a boxer, but few believe in her other than her beloved father. The kids at school tease her and make Faiza doubt herself, but her father is always in her corner. But just before a new regional boxing competition for kids, her father is caught up in a terrible landslide and can’t make it home in time to cheer her on. Faiza must find the strength in herself to show the world that she is a fighter, even though few believe a girl from rural India can be a boxer. A wonderful book about persistence and courage, even in the face of incredible odds.

Buy Faiza Is a Fighter on Amazon or Bookshop

It’s the summer before high school, and Dolores has a lot on her plate. On top of the constant money worries and family squabbles, Dolores needs to win back her best friend. Dolores can’t blame Shae for ghosting her (although it still hurts). After all, Dolores’ newly discovered chronic bladder condition led to a humiliating incident at the end of last school year, and Dolores gets that being her best friend is a popularity killer right now. But she and Shae have been friends forever, so surely something can be done to repair the relationship, right? Enter Terpsichore, a beautiful, talented girl that has strategically targeted Dolores to be her new BFF. Terpsichore needs help convincing her overprotective mother that she can handle public school even though she’s autistic. Perhaps in return, Dolores can use Terpsichore’s friendship to help win Shae back. Can both girls get what they want? An often hilarious, always heartfelt story about figuring out what you really want, and who you want by your side. Dolores is a wonderful narrator, with her sarcastic wit and a catalog rating bathrooms around the city. The story embraces all kinds of diversity – from race, physical disabilities, neurodiversity, and gender identity – but done in a way that renders the characters as real, multifaceted people you want to get to know. Highly recommended.

Buy Chronically Dolores on Amazon or Bookshop

What would you do if you found out about a girl your own age who’s been trafficked, and no one is even looking for her? Melati has been in trouble before, but now she’s doing her best to make up for the past. So when she discovers a diary written by a girl who has now disappeared, at first she’s hesitant to get involved. But the more she reads the more she is compelled to help, especially when she discovers that the girl has been trafficked. This YA novel is story of courage and self-doubt, pushing through your guilt about your own past in order to help someone else. The book also raises questions about how complicated people are: No one is all good or all bad, yet a complex mix of both. While it doesn’t excuse bad behavior, it can also help show grace towards others – and ourselves.

Buy The Hidden Girl on Amazon or Bookshop

What are your favorite stories about remarkable girls and women?

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Women’s History Month Resources for Kids

Women’s History Month Biographies

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