Children's books with a strong girl lead
131 hand-picked books from the Bookbear catalogue tagged “female protagonist”, with Indian authors first. Each one has an age range, a short description, a heads-up on any sensitive topics and a link to buy in India.
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Pia's Pet Club: Puppy Problem
by Serena Patel
Ages 7–9Indian author
Pia has always dreamed of owning a pet. She trains her friend's new puppy and forms a local pet club to prove her credentials.
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Sita's Ramayana
by Samhita Arni / Moyna Chitrakar
Ages 9–12Indian author
The Ramayana retold entirely from Sita's point of view — a powerful, nuanced graphic novel illustrated in traditional Patua scroll art. A NYT graphic novel bestseller, ALA Notable Children's Book, and South Asia Book Award honor book.
Heads-up: War & battle violence
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Amra and the Witch
by Arefa Tehsin
Ages 6–9Indian author
Amra is transported to the lush villages of Northern India in this thrilling adventure featuring witches, magic, and forests. hOle Book series.
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Aru Shah and the End of Time
Ages 10–13Indian author
Aru Shah accidentally releases a demon and discovers she is a Pandava hero. A wildly fun, Rick Riordan Presents novel steeped in Hindu mythology — like Percy Jackson set in India.
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The Serpent's Secret (Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond)
by Sayantani DasGupta
Ages 10–12Indian author
On her twelfth birthday, Kiranmala learns she is an Indian princess from another dimension and must battle demons and rakkhosh. Rooted in Bengali folk tales and Hindu mythology.
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The Night Diary
Ages 10–13Indian author
Twelve-year-old Nisha — half-Hindu, half-Muslim — writes secret diary letters to her mother during the 1947 Partition of India. A devastating, tender Newbery Honor novel.
Heads-up: Violence, Death & grief
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The Grand Plan to Fix Everything
Ages 10–12Indian author
Dini's family moves from Maryland to India for a year. She's devastated — until she discovers her Bollywood idol lives nearby. A warm, funny story about belonging and unexpected happiness.
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Kalpana Chawla: A Life
by Anil Padmanabhan
Ages 10–13Indian author
The story of the first woman of Indian origin in space — from a small-town Haryana childhood to the space shuttle Columbia. Told with warmth and detail.
Heads-up: Death & grief
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Women in Sports (Learning TO BE)
by Pervin Saket
Ages 5–9Indian author
Five extraordinary Indian sportswomen — PT Usha, Arunima Sinha, Bhakti Sharma, Chandro and Prakashi Tomar — their stories of grit and resilience told in simple verse with stunning illustrations. Award-winning.
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Women in Science (Learning TO BE)
by Pervin Saket
Ages 6–10Indian author
Celebrating pioneering Indian women scientists including botanist Janaki Ammal and physicist Bibha Chowdhuri — told in accessible, inspiring language for young readers.
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Pickle Mania
Ages 4–7Indian author
Nitya wants to eat Thatha's fiery red pickles, but everyone says they're too spicy for children. When she finally gets a taste, they are! So she finds her own way to make a pickle that's just right. A delicious story about grandparents, determination and creative problem-solving.
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The Bridge Home
by Padma Venkatraman
Ages 10–13Indian author
Two runaway sisters make a home with two homeless boys on an abandoned bridge in Chennai, India, in this moving story about family, disability, and resilience.
Heads-up: Death & grief, Abuse
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Rickshaw Girl
Ages 7–10Indian author
A talented young artist in rural Bangladesh disguises herself as a boy to help support her family, discovering new possibilities along the way.
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She Sang for India: How M.S. Subbulakshmi Used Her Voice for Change
by Suma Subramaniam
Ages 4–8Indian author
A picture-book biography of M.S. Subbulakshmi, who loved to sing at a time when girls weren't allowed to perform in public — and grew up to become a legendary Carnatic singer who used her voice for India's freedom and for peace. Illustrated by Shreya Gupta.
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The Girl Who Loved to Sing: Teejan Bai
Ages 5–8Indian author
Before Teejan Bai became a world-famous Pandavani singer, she was a little girl who had to fight poverty and tradition for the freedom to sing. A warmly illustrated short biography from the Dreamers series.
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Menstrupedia Comic: The Friendly Guide to Periods for Girls
by Aditi Gupta, Tuhin Paul & Rajat Mittal
Ages 9–14Indian author
A friendly Indian comic in which a doctor 'didi' explains periods, puberty and hygiene to three girls — clear, unembarrassed and myth-busting. Used in thousands of schools.
Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality
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Born to Bat: Mithali Raj (Little Leaders)
by Arthy Muthanna Singh & Mamta Nainy
Ages 5–9Indian author
A picture book inspired by the life of Mithali Raj, former captain of India's women's cricket team — how a little girl who loved to sleep and dream found the grit to become a champion.
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Girls on Wheels
Ages 4–8Indian author
Inspired by India's girls' skateboarding revolution: three friends cheer each other through the falls and triumphs of learning to skate.
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Strong As Fire, Fierce As Flame
Ages 10–13Indian author
1857: thirteen-year-old Meera flees a fate she didn't choose as Indian soldiers rise against the British, and finds her own strength and voice.
Heads-up: War & battle violence
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Razia and the Pesky Presents
Ages 7–10Indian author
Sultan Razia of Delhi is receiving pesky presents that challenge her right to rule as a woman. A History Mystery about India's first woman sultan.
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Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule (Amar Chitra Katha)
by Sanjana Kapur
Ages 8–14Indian author
The Amar Chitra Katha comic on the couple who opened India's first schools for girls and fought for the education of all.
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The Incredible Life of Savitribai Phule: The Fearless Reformer
by Swati Sengupta
Ages 8–12Indian author
Married at nine, Savitri learned to read from her husband and went on to become India's first woman teacher, opening schools for girls against fierce opposition.
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Sarojini Naidu: The Nightingale and the Freedom Fighter
by Anuradha Kumar
Ages 9–13Indian author
The child prodigy who became the 'Nightingale of India' — poet, fearless freedom fighter and the first woman to preside over the Indian National Congress.
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If Elephants Could Talk
Ages 10–14Indian author
Twelve-year-old Meenakshi has not spoken since her mother died, until dance and a temple elephant named Ganeshan help her find her voice to protect the animals she loves.
Heads-up: Death & grief, Animal cruelty
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Rani's Moustache
by Vardhini N.C. (illus. Rishi Sahany)
Ages 6–9Indian author
In the palace of Keshpuram, Rani wakes up with a thick, hairy moustache, and the whole palace is thrown into chaos as remedy after remedy fails. A funny story with lively pictures.
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The Henna Start-Up
by Andaleeb Wajid
Ages 13–17Indian author
Abir, a determined teen in Bengaluru with big tech ambitions, sets out to build a start-up while standing up for herself and her mother, and learns to question her own assumptions about her classmates.
Heads-up: Teen crushes & romance
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Is It the Same for You?
by Neha Singh (illus. Priya Sebastian)
Ages 12–16Indian author
As violence and death fill the adult world around her in Kashmir, a young girl quietly faces her first period and a changing body, and wonders whether girls elsewhere feel the same. A tender, illustrated portrait of growing up amid conflict.
Heads-up: Terrorism & militancy, Death & grief
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A Suitcase for Surta
by Riddhi Shah (illus. Shruti Hemani)
Ages 6–9Indian author
Life during the pandemic is hard for young Surta, and her hopes seem to be fading, until her father's suitcase arrives with the chance of change. A story about empathy, growing up and the strength of family.
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Maari – A Gift from the Skies
Ages 4–8Indian author
Heat waves have left Kanmani's Tamil Nadu village burnt and bare, yet everyone is getting ready for a festival, with decorated pots, bright silk saris and the beat of the parai drum. A story about finding safety in community, calm in chaos, and the gentle empathy of nature.
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The Great Indian Nature Trail with Chunmun
by Rohan Chakravarty & Bijal Vachharajani
Ages 10–14Indian author
Eighteen-year-old Chunmun, a keen birdwatcher like her ornithologist uncle, wins an explorer's grant and sets off across India to photograph and write about the creatures she finds. Comics by Rohan Chakravarty with nature essays by Bijal Vachharajani.
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A Forest Calls
by Shalini Srinivasan
Ages 10–14Indian author
Raksha moves to Basavakere, beside a forest that is waking up. When her friend Pol is kidnapped, she and Savitha brave magical creatures and a vengeful monarch to bring him home.
Heads-up: Mild peril
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The War Elephants of Trigarta
by Sarita Mandanna
Ages 9–13Indian author
In 326 BCE, Mili, daughter of the general in charge of war elephants, befriends a rare white elephant called Nathu who obeys only her. Together they are swept into the battle on the Vitasta river.
Heads-up: War & battle violence
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The White Lotus
by Aditi Krishnakumar
Ages 13–17Indian author
In 1901 Tamil Nadu, fourteen-year-old Aru is widowed before her married life begins. Working as companion to the landlord's grandmother, she gains an education, an unlikely ally and a dangerous mystery to solve.
Heads-up: Crime & murder
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Down by the Mangroves
by Praba Ram & Sheela Preuitt
Ages 10–13Indian author
Moyna's backyard is the Sundarbans, full of herons, kingfishers and tigers. When her father is suddenly gone, friends, neighbours and family help her learn that sorrow and joy can share space.
Heads-up: Death & grief
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Why Is My Skin Brown?
by Lakshmi Iyer
Ages 7–10Indian author
When Sarayu moves to India for a few months, her cousins, neighbours and even her Nani have strong opinions about her dark skin. A heartfelt story about colourism, family and belonging in two worlds.
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I Am Archa: The Legend of Unniarcha, India's Warrior Girl
Ages 10–14Indian author
Unniarcha is the fiery daughter of a Kalaripayattu master, in a world where only boys can be warriors. When a bitter cousin challenges her sick father to a duel, she must step up. A verse-novel retelling of Kerala's warrior-girl legend.
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No Means No!
Ages 3–8
A little girl knows she's the boss of her own body and says no to things that don't feel right, from hugs to tickles. Teaches personal boundaries and respecting others' choices.
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Lulu Loves the Library
by Anna McQuinn
Ages 2–5
Every Tuesday Lulu and her mummy go to the library, and Lulu loves every part of it. A gentle celebration of books and reading with a Black girl at its heart.
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Hands Up!
by Breanna J. McDaniel
Ages 2–5
A young girl raises her hands to stretch, to reach, to high-five and to celebrate. A joyful, rhythmic look at a Black girl's everyday life.
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Mae Among the Stars
by Roda Ahmed
Ages 4–7
Little Mae dreams of going to space, and her parents tell her she can. Inspired by Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space.
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The Footballing Fairy
by Elli Woollard
Ages 4–5
Femi the fairy adores football but her shots aren't always on target. A charming book about following your dreams.
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Liliana the Strong
by Quentin Blake
Ages 4–5
Liliana is very strong — she can lift a piano, a cow, and even a whale! A brilliant collaboration between two award-winning creators.
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The Café at the Edge of the Woods
by Mikey Please
Ages 4–7
Rene opens a café but her only customer is an ogre! By disguising her food as bats and battered mice she becomes a hit.
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The Search for Carmella
by Chloe Savage
Ages 5–9
Marine biologist Dr Rose takes a submersible craft deep into the ocean to search for a legendary beast.
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Amelia Cheeseheart: Mummy Mayhem
by Cat Weldon
Ages 5–9
Amelia and Webster must find out who is stealing objects from the museum — and why. Action-packed comic strip style.
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Ava Spark: Hello, I'm Here!
by Alex Field
Ages 5–9
Ava and her friends concoct a plan to welcome the new girl to their class. Features a protagonist with a disability.
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Ivy and Bearlock Holmes
by Kristyna Litten
Ages 5–9
Ivy and grandpa Bearlock Holmes solve the case of the missing Agave flower with interactive puzzles for young detectives!
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Boss of the Underworld: Shirley
by Tor Freeman
Ages 8–9
A very funny graphic novel about Shirley's adventures after falling down a manhole into the underworld.
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Supa Nova
by Chanté Timothy
Ages 7–9
Young scientist Nova invents a plastic-eating organism to solve plastic waste — but Chomp causes chaos. Vibrant sci-fi graphic novel.
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Badgers Are Go!
by Susannah Lloyd
Ages 8–9
Lulu the badger undergoes specialist training before embarking on a Top Secret mission to secure world peace. Hilarious.
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Scarlet: Defender of the Universe
by James Davis
Ages 8–9
A mind-boggling sci-fi adventure that is bonkers but ingenious and laugh-out-loud funny from the very first page.
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Solving Crimes is NOT My Superpower
by Nathanael Lessore
Ages 8–9
In a town full of people with powers, will Sara ever find hers? Solving the mystery of the stolen football trophy might help.
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Wilma Unlimited
by Kathleen Krull
Ages 5–8
The true story of Wilma Rudolph, who overcame polio as a child to become the fastest woman alive at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Astonishing and deeply moving.
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Hair Love
by Matthew A. Cherry
Ages 4–7
A young Black girl wants her hair to look perfect for a special occasion, so her father — who has never done hair before — steps up. Celebrates Black hair and father-daughter love. Academy Award-winning film.
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Alma and How She Got Her Name
by Juana Martinez-Neal
Ages 4–7
Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela wonders why she has so many names — until her father tells the story of each ancestor they honour. Caldecott Honor. A love letter to heritage.
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I Am Enough
by Grace Byers
Ages 4–7
A lyrical, empowering poem about loving who you are, how you look, and where you come from. Celebrates Black girls and the joy of being exactly enough.
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Front Desk
by Kelly Yang
Ages 10–12
Ten-year-old Mia Tang manages a motel front desk while her Chinese immigrant parents work and she secretly helps hide undocumented guests. Inspiring, funny, and deeply felt.
Heads-up: Racism & discrimination, Violence
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Esperanza Rising
Ages 10–12
Thirteen-year-old Esperanza leaves her privileged life in Mexico for the California farmworker camps during the Great Depression. A powerful, beautiful novel about loss, hope, and dignity.
Heads-up: Death & grief, Violence
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Inside Out & Back Again
by Thanhha Lai
Ages 10–12
A verse novel told through a year of haiku, following ten-year-old Hà as her family flees Vietnam as refugees and arrives in Alabama. Raw and luminous. Newbery Honor.
Heads-up: War & battle violence, Death & grief, Racism & discrimination
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Merci Suárez Changes Gears
by Meg Medina
Ages 10–12
Merci navigates a full scholarship at a private school, her first crush, and a grandfather with dementia — all while being the only scholarship kid in her friend group. Newbery Medal winner.
Heads-up: Teen crushes & romance, Serious illness
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Amal Unbound
by Aisha Saeed
Ages 10–13
Amal dreams of becoming a teacher in rural Pakistan until one confrontation with a powerful landlord upends her family's future. A quietly gripping story about courage and speaking up.
Heads-up: Exploitation & child labour
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The Inheritance Games
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Ages 13–15
Avery is shocked to inherit billions from a stranger — if she can survive living in his family's mansion and solve the puzzles he left behind. Unputdownable.
Heads-up: Teen crushes & romance, Violence
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The Dot
by Peter H. Reynolds
Ages 4–7
Vashti believes she can't draw — until her teacher asks her to 'make a mark and see where it takes you.' A perfect book about creativity, courage, and the art inside all of us.
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Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos
by Monica Brown
Ages 5–8
The great Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is celebrated through the animals she loved and painted — spider monkeys, a deer, a black cat — that fed her extraordinary imagination.
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Wangari's Trees of Peace
by Jeanette Winter
Ages 5–8
The true story of Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai of Kenya, who mobilised women to plant 30 million trees to restore Africa's forests. Beautiful and essential.
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Malala's Magic Pencil
Ages 4–7
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala tells her childhood story and her wish for a magic pencil to redraw the world — give every child food, freedom, and a chance to learn.
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I Am Malala: Young Readers Edition
by Malala Yousafzai & Patricia McCormick
Ages 10–13
Malala's full story — the Taliban's ban on girls' education in Pakistan, the attack that nearly killed her, and the worldwide movement she ignited. Adapted for young readers.
Heads-up: Violence, Terrorism & militancy
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Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
by Vashti Harrison
Ages 7–10
Forty Black women — from Harriet Tubman to Misty Copeland — in illustrated short biographies that celebrate ambition, courage, and quiet genius.
Heads-up: Racism & discrimination
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She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World
by Chelsea Clinton
Ages 5–8
Harriet Tubman, Clara Lemlich, Sonia Sotomayor, and ten more — each woman who refused to be told no. A joyful, affirming collective biography.
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The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin
by Julia Finley Mosca
Ages 6–10
Temple Grandin was told to be quiet and sit still. She became one of the world's most important animal scientists. A rhyming biography about the power of thinking differently.
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Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin
by Chieri Uegaki
Ages 4–7📱 eBook only in India
Hana's grandfather played violin in Japan; now she wants to honour him by performing at the school talent show — even though she has only just begun.
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The Korean Cinderella
by Shirley Climo
Ages 5–8
Pear Blossom is mistreated by her stepmother until magical creatures help her win the favour of the magistrate. A beautifully illustrated Korean folk tale retelling.
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Bee-Bim Bop!
Ages 3–6
A child helps her mother shop, chop, and cook a traditional Korean meal — all in bouncy, irresistible rhyming verse. A joyful celebration of Korean food and family.
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Esperanza (Norma / Scholastic edition)
Ages 10–12
Esperanza Ortega's privileged Mexican childhood is destroyed overnight — she must reinvent herself as a farmworker in Depression-era California. Widely taught across Latin America.
Heads-up: Death & grief, Violence
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Matilda
by Roald Dahl
Ages 7–10
Matilda has a brilliant mind and extraordinary powers — but her dreadful parents and the terrifying Miss Trunchbull want to crush her. One of the greatest children's novels ever written and a love letter to books and readers.
Heads-up: Child abuse & neglect
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The BFG
by Roald Dahl
Ages 7–10
Sophie is snatched from her orphanage bed by a Big Friendly Giant who takes her to Giant Country. Wildly inventive, endlessly funny, and absolutely original — Roald Dahl at his most magical.
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The Breadwinner
by Deborah Ellis
Ages 10–13
In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, eleven-year-old Parvana disguises herself as a boy to earn money after her father is arrested. One of the most important children's books of the 21st century — suspenseful and deeply humane.
Heads-up: War & battle violence, Violence
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Fatty Legs
by Christy Jordan-Fenton & Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
Ages 7–10
Eight-year-old Olemaun (Margaret) is determined to learn to read — despite a cruel nun at the residential school who gives her ugly grey stockings to break her spirit. Based on a true story. Powerful.
Heads-up: Child abuse & neglect, Racism & discrimination
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Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
by Grace Lin
Ages 8–12
Young Minli leaves her poor village to find the Old Man of the Moon and change her family's fortune. A magical quest woven from Chinese folk tales — full of dragons, legends, and wonder. Newbery Honor.
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I Am Hua Mulan
by Yu Rong
Ages 5–9
The legendary story of Hua Mulan — the girl who takes her father's place in battle — retold through breathtaking traditional Chinese papercutting art. A visually stunning celebration of courage and devotion.
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Dim Sum for Everyone!
by Grace Lin
Ages 3–5
A young girl and her family visit a dim sum restaurant and share beloved dishes together. A warm, joyful celebration of Chinese family culture and food, with simple text perfect for early readers.
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Cinder
Ages 12–16
A gifted mechanic — and secret cyborg — in futuristic New Beijing gets caught up in a deadly plague and a devastatingly handsome prince, in this Cinderella retelling with a sci-fi twist.
Heads-up: Death & grief, Teen crushes & romance
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Daughter of the Pirate King
by Tricia Levenseller
Ages 12–16
A pirate captain's daughter lets herself get captured by enemy sailors as part of a plan to find a legendary hidden map.
Heads-up: Violence, Teen crushes & romance
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Divergent
by Veronica Roth
Ages 12–16
In a divided future Chicago, Tris must choose which faction to devote her life to — and hide a dangerous secret that marks her as Divergent.
Heads-up: Violence, Death & grief, Teen crushes & romance
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Truthwitch
by Susan Dennard
Ages 13–17
Two best friends — one who can sense truth from lies, one who can control water — flee treacherous forces in a magical world at war.
Heads-up: Violence, War & battle violence
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Victories Greater Than Death
by Charlie Jane Anders
Ages 13–17
A teenage girl who is secretly the human clone of a famous alien hero is swept into an intergalactic war when her alien crewmates arrive to find her.
Heads-up: Violence, War & battle violence
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Sadie
by Courtney Summers
Ages 14–17
A girl sets out to find and kill the man she believes murdered her younger sister, her journey tracked by a true-crime podcast trying to find her before it's too late.
Heads-up: Abuse, Violence, Crime & murder, Alcohol & drugs
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Anna Hibiscus
by Atinuke
Ages 6–9
Anna Hibiscus lives in a big white house in Nigeria with her large, warm extended family, in this joyful chapter book series full of everyday adventures.
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Akata Witch
by Nnedi Okorafor
Ages 12–16
An American-born albino Nigerian girl discovers she has latent magical powers and must master them alongside a group of fellow misfits in this inventive fantasy.
Heads-up: Violence, Crime & murder, Scary / horror
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Dreamers
by Yuyi Morales
Ages 4–8
An autobiographical picture book about a mother and baby who immigrate from Mexico to the US and discover the transformative power of the public library. Pura Belpré Award winner.
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The First Rule of Punk
by Celia C. Pérez
Ages 9–12
When Malú starts a new school, she channels her love of punk rock and her Mexican American heritage into a zine and a band, defying everyone's expectations of who she should be.
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Islandborn
by Junot Díaz
Ages 5–8
A girl who left her Caribbean island as a baby asks her family and neighbors what it was like, piecing together a vivid, magical portrait of the home she can't remember.
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Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match
by Monica Brown
Ages 5–8📱 eBook only in India
Marisol McDonald is Peruvian and Scottish American, and nothing about her matches — and that's exactly how she likes it. A joyful bilingual celebration of mixed heritage.
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We Are Water Protectors
by Carole Lindstrom
Ages 5–9
Inspired by Indigenous-led movements across North America, a young water protector stands against a black snake threatening her people's water. Caldecott Medal winner.
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Rez Dogs
by Joseph Bruchac
Ages 10–14
Stranded with her grandparents on a Wabanaki reservation during the pandemic, Malian finds comfort in the stray dogs and the stories her grandparents tell, in this quiet verse novel.
Heads-up: Racism & discrimination
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Eyes That Kiss in the Corners
by Joanna Ho
Ages 4–8
A young girl notices her eyes look different from her friends' — until she recognizes the same eyes in her mother, grandmother and little sister, and learns to see them as beautiful. A lyrical celebration of Asian beauty and heritage.
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Amazing Grace
by Mary Hoffman
Ages 4–8
Grace loves acting out stories, and dreams of playing Peter Pan in the school play — until a classmate says she can't, because she's a girl and she's Black. A beloved British classic about believing you can be anything.
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Look Up!
by Nathan Bryon
Ages 4–8
Rocket loves space and wants everyone — including her wheelchair-using Grandad — to look up from their screens and marvel at the night sky. A joyful STEM adventure starring a Black British family.
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Susan Laughs
Ages 4–8
Susan swims, rides, laughs and plays just like any other child — a rhyming celebration of an ordinary girl's everyday life, with a gentle final-page reveal that she uses a wheelchair. A much-loved disability-inclusion classic.
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Letters from Rifka
by Karen Hesse
Ages 9–12
Twelve-year-old Rifka writes letters to her cousin as her Jewish family flees Russia in 1919, facing typhus, separation and the long journey to America. Based on a true family story.
Heads-up: Racism & discrimination, Serious illness
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Wolf Hollow
by Lauren Wolk
Ages 10–13
In WWII-era rural Pennsylvania, Annabelle must decide whether to stay silent or stand up for a troubled war veteran being falsely blamed by a cruel new classmate.
Heads-up: Violence, Death & grief
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Coraline
by Neil Gaiman
Ages 8–12
Behind a locked door in Coraline's new home is another world with an Other Mother who wants to sew buttons over her eyes and never let her leave. Eerie, brilliant, and unforgettable.
Heads-up: Scary / horror
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Small Spaces
by Katherine Arden
Ages 9–12
After finding a mysterious book about a decades-old tragedy, Ollie is drawn into a scarecrow-haunted cornfield where the rule is simple: avoid the small spaces, or else.
Heads-up: Scary / horror, Death & grief
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City of Ghosts
by Victoria Schwab
Ages 8–12
After a near-drowning leaves her able to see ghosts, Cassidy moves to famously haunted Edinburgh, where she and her ghost best friend Jacob must face something much older and darker.
Heads-up: Scary / horror
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Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell
Ages 9–12
Left behind when her people evacuate their Pacific island, Karana survives alone for years — befriending wild animals and building a life from what the island provides. Based on a true story. Newbery Medal winner.
Heads-up: Violence, Death & grief
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Dork Diaries: Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life
by Rachel Renée Russell
Ages 8–12
Middle-schooler Nikki Maxwell pours her hopes, crushes and social disasters into her diary in this hugely popular, hilariously illustrated series about surviving middle school.
Heads-up: Teen crushes & romance
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Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl
by Anne Frank
Ages 11–15
The real wartime diary of a Jewish teenager hiding from the Nazis in a secret annex in Amsterdam — funny, hopeful, and devastating, and one of the most important books of the twentieth century.
Heads-up: Holocaust & genocide, War & battle violence, Puberty & sexuality
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The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Younger Girls
by Valorie Schaefer
Ages 8–12
The bestselling illustrated guide to growing up for girls, from hair and skin care to first periods, updated with input from a paediatrician.
Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality
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Welcome to Your Period
by Yumi Stynes & Dr Melissa Kang
Ages 9–13
A funny, frank and reassuring guide to first periods, pads, cramps and feelings, with real questions from young people.
Heads-up: Puberty & sexuality
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Patina
Ages 10–13
Patty runs track to outrun her worries about family — but learns she can't win alone. Book two of the Track series after Ghost.
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The Kicks: Saving the Team
by Alex Morgan
Ages 8–12
New in town, Devin joins a struggling school football team and helps turn them into real teammates. Book one of the series by the US World Cup winner.
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Rebel Girls Champions: 25 Tales of Unstoppable Athletes
by Rebel Girls (foreword by Ibtihaj Muhammad)
Ages 7–12
Twenty-five true stories of women athletes from around the world, from Serena Williams to Simone Biles, each with a full-page portrait.
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Nancy Drew: The Secret of the Old Clock
by Carolyn Keene
Ages 8–12
The very first Nancy Drew case: the plucky teen sleuth hunts for a missing will. The series that inspired generations of girl detectives.
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Enola Holmes: The Case of the Missing Marquess
by Nancy Springer
Ages 10–14
Sherlock Holmes's clever younger sister sets out to find her missing mother — and solves a kidnapping along the way.
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Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow
by Jessica Townsend
Ages 9–13
Cursed Morrigan Crow escapes to the magical city of Nevermoor and must pass four trials to join its most prestigious society.
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The Girl Who Drank the Moon
by Kelly Barnhill
Ages 10–13
A girl accidentally fed moonlight as a baby grows up with dangerous magic. Newbery Medal winner about love, family and courage.
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Agatha Oddly: The Secret Key
by Lena Jones
Ages 9–12
Thirteen-year-old Agatha, who dreams of being a detective like Hercule Poirot, uncovers a real conspiracy under London.
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Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World
by Rachel Ignotofsky
Ages 9–13
Illustrated profiles of fifty women scientists, from Hypatia and Marie Curie to Janaki Ammal and Katherine Johnson.
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Rosa Parks (Little People, Big Dreams)
by Lisbeth Kaiser
Ages 4–8
How a quiet seamstress's refusal to give up her bus seat helped spark the civil rights movement.
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Marie Curie (Little People, Big Dreams)
by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Ages 4–8
The Polish girl who loved learning and became the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.
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Amelia Earhart (Little People, Big Dreams)
by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Ages 4–8
The pilot who became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
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Mother Teresa (Little People, Big Dreams)
by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Ages 4–8
The nun who made Kolkata her home and devoted her life to caring for the poorest of the poor.
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Mary Kom (Little People, Big Dreams)
by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Ages 4–8
The girl from Manipur who became a six-time world boxing champion and Olympic medallist.
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Jane Goodall (Little People, Big Dreams)
by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Ages 4–8
The girl who loved animals and grew up to study chimpanzees in the wild and protect them.
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I Am Rosa Parks
by Brad Meltzer
Ages 5–8
Rosa Parks tells her own story, with a lesson about standing up for what's right. Part of the Ordinary People Change the World series.
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Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition
Ages 9–13
The true story of the Black women mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped put astronauts into space.
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Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees
by Franck Prévot
Ages 6–10
The Kenyan environmentalist who started the Green Belt Movement and became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
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The Story of My Life
by Helen Keller
Ages 10–14
Helen Keller's own account of growing up deaf and blind, and of the teacher, Anne Sullivan, who opened the world of language to her.
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Rosa Parks: My Story
by Rosa Parks & Jim Haskins
Ages 11–15
Rosa Parks tells the full story of her life, the Montgomery bus boycott and the civil rights movement, in her own words.
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The Girl Who Played With Colour
by Samira Ahmed (illus. Humayra Kabir)
Ages 5–9✈️ Import only (pricey)
When young Rana moves to London from a small village in Bangladesh, she has no way to talk to those around her except through her colouring pencils. The true story of how artist Rana Begum found her voice through drawing. From the Deshis Create series.
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How to Catch an Idea
by Forest Xiao
Ages 3–7
A curious girl sets out to discover where ideas come from: do they grow like seeds, bake like buns or get caught from the sea?
