16 books written by or highlighting the achievements of women
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March is both Women's History Month and National Reading Month. So it's appropriate to share some books written by women and others about historic achievements women have made. These titles, curated by specialists at the Capital Area District Library, can be found at one of the libraries 13 branches or in local bookstores.
Fiction
Night Wherever We Go: A Novel by Tracey Rose Peyton
A powerful debut exploring the inner lives of a community of enslaved women in Texas in the years leading to the Civil War.
Independence: A Novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
This book follows the lives of three sisters torn apart by the political and religious chaos of the Partition of India in 1947.
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
The Award-winning author of The Yellow Wife, explores racism, colorism, and women’s rights pre-Roe through the impact of unwed pregnancy in the 1950s.
The Manhattan Girls: A Novel of Dorothy Parker and Her Friends by Gill Paul
Jazz Age New York through the eyes of Dorothy Parker, renowned wit and founding member of the Algonquin Round Table, and three close friends—New York Times reporter Jane Grant, Broadway actress Winifred Lenihan, and ad agent/aspiring novelist Peggy Leech.
The Picture Bride by Lee Geum-yi
A little-known piece of Korean and Hawaiian history is brought to life in this story of three Korean mail-order brides brought to Hawaii to join immigrant men working on the islands in the 1910s.
Adult Non-Fiction
The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science by Kate Zernike
Twenty-four years after she broke the story for the Boston Globe, journalist Kate Zernike recounts how scientist Nancy Hopkins and a group of her female colleagues – referred to as the MIT 16 – took action that led to the university’s public admission of gender discrimination.
Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World by Lauren Fleshman
The two-time national champion writes about her life as an elite distance runner while advocating for changes in the sport that would benefit girls and women.
The New Guys: The Historic Class of Astronauts that Broke Barriers and Changed the Face of Space Travel by Meredith Bagby
The fascinating story of the launch of the space shuttle program and the 35 members of NASA’S 1978 Class 8 who included in their ranks the first American women, the first African American, and the first Asian American astronauts.
Paradise Falls: The True Story of an Environmental Catastrophe by Kevin O’Brien
A story of persistence and resistance, Paradise Falls tells how a group of mothers fought for truth and justice, leading to the exposure of the actions of the Hooker Chemical company at Love Canal.
Twice as Hard: The Stories of Black Women Who Fought to Become Physicians, from the Civil War to the 21st Century by Jasmine Brown
This groundbreaking book tells the stories of nine black female physicians, from Dr. Rebecca Crumpler, the first African American woman to earn an M.D. degree to Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the First African American surgeon general of the United States.
Children's title
A Take-Charge Girl Blazes a Trail to Congress: The Story of Jeannette Rankin by Gretchen Woelfle
This picture book biography details the life of Jeannette Rankin, the first U.S. congresswoman elected in 1916. A powerful activist for women’s suffrage, Rankin advocated fiercely for children.
Josephine and Her Dishwashing Machine: Josephine Cochrane's Bright Invention Makes a Splash by Kate Hannigan
Women were not known for holding patents in the 19th century. But when Josephine Cochrane’s dishwashing machine won first prize at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, her ideas prompted a wonderful business opportunity. The book includes a timeline of notable women inventors.
Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, A Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker
Evelyn Glennie is a Scottish percussionist who redefined what it means to listen to music. Having lost her hearing as a child, this world-renowned musician defied all expectations by learning to feel vibrations to play her percussion instruments.
Love Is Loud: How Diane Nash Led the Civil Rights Movement by Sandra Neil Wallace
Diane Nash is a civil rights icon who studied nonviolent protest movements and worked to desegregate lunch counters. Illustrated by Bryan Collier, his excellent use of watercolors and collage celebrates the important impact women like Nash had on peacefully opposing racism.
Poet, Pilgrim, Rebel: The Story of Anne Bradstreet, America’s First Published Poet by Katie Munday Williams
This beautiful picture book biography tells the story of Anne Bradstreet, America’s first published poet in 1650. Inspired by the rhythms of her new American home, she wrote her poems by candlelight and led the way for Puritan women to read and write freely.
To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights by Angela Dalton
Nichelle Nichols is honored for her role as Lieutenant Uhura on the legendary Star Trek television show and inspiring countless minority individuals to consider a career with NASA.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: 16 books written by or highlighting the achievements of women
