Take Five: Middle Grade Books on Women’s History

Today I’m focusing on five collections of books about women’s history for middle grade readers. I love books like this because they provide such a broad look at important people and I always learn about so many new people who did cool things. Most of these collections (and there are many collections similar to these that include people of all genders) present some of the people you might expect, but they all always show me people I can’t believe I’ve never heard about.

All descriptions from the publishers.

Rad Girls Can: Stories of Bold, Brave, and Brilliant Young Women by Kate Schatz, Miriam Klein Stahl (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9780399581106 Publisher: Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed Publication date: 07/17/2018, Ages 10-14)

From the New York Times best-selling authors of Rad Women Worldwide and Rad American Women A-Z, a bold and brave collection of stories and art about inspiring and accomplished girls who have made positive impacts on the world before the age of 20.

You might know the stories of Malala Yousafzai, Anne Frank, Jazz Jennings, and Joan of Arc. But have you heard about Yusra Mardini, a Syrian refugee who swam a sinking boat to shore, saved twenty lives, then went on to compete as an Olympic swimmer? Or Trisha Prabhu, who invented an anti-cyberbullying app at age 13? Or Barbara Rose Johns, whose high school protest helped spark the civil rights movement?

In Rad Girls Can, you’ll learn about a diverse group of young women who are living rad lives, whether excelling in male-dominated sports like boxing, rock climbing, or skateboarding; speaking out against injustice and discrimination; expressing themselves through dance, writing, and music; or advocating for girls around the world. Each profile is paired with the dynamic paper-cut art that made the authors’ first two books New York Times best sellers. Featuring both contemporary and historical figures, Rad Girls Can offers hope, inspiration, and motivation to readers of all ages and genders.

Brave. Black. First.: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World by Cheryl Willis Hudson, Erin K. Robinson (Illustrator) (ISBN-13: 9780525645818 Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Publication date: 01/07/2020, Ages 8-12)

Published in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, discover over fifty remarkable African American women whose unique skills and contributions paved the way for the next generation of young people. Perfect for fans of Rad Women Worldwide, Women in Science, and Girls Think of Everything.

Fearless. Bold. Game changers.

Harriet Tubman guided the way.
Rosa Parks sat for equality.
Aretha Franklin sang from the soul.
Serena Williams bested the competition.
Michelle Obama transformed the White House.
Black women everywhere have changed the world!

Published in partnership with curators from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, this illustrated biography compilation captures the iconic moments of fifty African American women whose heroism and bravery rewrote the American story for the better.

Noisemakers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices & Changed the World – A Graphic Collection from Kazoo by Kazoo Magazine, Erin Bried (Editor) (ISBN-13: 9780525580171 Publisher: Random House Children’s Books Publication date: 02/04/2020, Ages 8-12)

From the creators of Kazoo magazine, a quarterly magazine for girls ages 5-12, which Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls called “required reading,” comes a graphic novel anthology of women who are not afraid to make some noise!

Did anyone ever get anywhere by being quiet? To change anything, you have to make some noise! From the creators of the award-winning Kazoo magazine comes a look at the lives of 25 extraordinary women through the eyes of 25 extraordinary comic artists. In chapters titled Grow, Tinker, Play, Create, Rally, and Explore, you’ll meet Eugenie Clark, who swam with sharks, Raye Montague, who revolutionized the design process for ships, Hedy Lamarr, a beautiful actress and brilliant inventor, Julia Child, a chef who wasn’t afraid to make mistakes, Kate Warne, the first female detective, who saved the life of President-Elect Abraham Lincoln, and many more.

In 25 distinct styles from some of the most exciting comic artists, Noisemakers is for everyone who is not afraid to use their voice and for those who could use a little boost.

Finish the Fight!: The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote
by Veronica Chambers, The Staff of The New York Times (Illustrator), The Staff of The New York Times (ISBN-13: 9780358408307 Publisher: HarperCollins Publication date: 08/11/2020, Ages 8-12)

A New York Times Bestseller!

In collaboration with the New York Times, Finish the Fight! reveals untold stories of diverse heroines who fought for the 19th amendment—celebrate the historic win for women’s rights and voting rights that changed the fabric of America.

Who was at the forefront of women’s right to vote? We know a few famous names, like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, but what about so many others from diverse backgrounds—black, Asian, Latinx, Native American, and more—who helped lead the fight for suffrage? On the hundredth anniversary of the historic win for women’s rights, it’s time to celebrate the names and stories of the women whose stories have yet to be told.

Gorgeous portraits accompany biographies of such fierce but forgotten women as Yankton Dakota Sioux writer and advocate Zitkála-Šá, Mary Eliza Church Terrell, who cofounded the National Association of Colored Women (NACW), and Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, who, at just sixteen years old, helped lead the biggest parade in history to promote the cause of suffrage.

Finish the Fight! will fit alongside important collections that tell the full story of America’s fiercest women.

Women Who Dared Volume 2: 52 More Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels by Linda Skeers, Livi Gosling (Illustrator)(ISBN-13: 9781728297781 Publisher: Sourcebooks Publication date: 07/08/2025, Ages 8-14)

Women Who Dared Volume 2 brings readers 52 MORE incredible stories of daredevils and adventurers from around the world for readers of all ages. Celebrate and be inspired by the amazing, outrageous stories of women!

Women have been doing amazing, daring, and dangerous things for years, yet they’re rarely mentioned in our history books as adventurers. This sequel of short biographies features women throughout history who have risked their lives for adventure—some of whom you may know, many of whom you may not know, but all of whom you’ll WANT to know, like:

Katherine Cheung, the first Chinese woman to obtain an international flying license

Laura Dekker, the youngest person to sail around the world single-handedly

Katharina Paulus, an exhibition parachute jumper and the inventor of the first collapsible parachute 

Filed under: Take 5