Literature Collection

Looking for a good book with a tough, strong female? Well, look no further! These books will inspire anyone to never give up and to always reach for the stars and stand up for what's right!

The Double Life of Pocahontas; By Jean Fritz

This true story tells of the life of Pocahontas a Native American Princess who’s world was turned upside down by European Settlers. Pocahontas was not intimidated nor frightened by these new people. In fact, she thought that these new people should be given a chance. She then falls in love with a European man, Captain John Smith. This divides her between two cultures and ways of life and forces her to make difficult decisions. This story is one of courage and of standing up for what you believe is right.

Gathering Blue; By Lois Lowry

Kira is an orphan with a twisted leg, living in the future, a world where the weak are cast aside. After her mother’s death she fears for her future until her life is spared by the all-powerful Council of Guardians. Kira is a gifted weaver and is given a task that no other community member can do. While her talent gives her privileges and keeps her alive, Kira soon realizes she is surrounded by several mysteries and secrets. She devises a plan to uncover the truth about her world and see what places exist beyond. This book is in the intriguing style of Lowry’s awarding winning book The Giver. Kira goes against her whole culture to discover the truth.

Homeless Bird; by Gloria Whelan

Koly, a 13-year-old Indian girl, is engaged to be married. She has never met her groom and she worries that she may not like him, let alone love him. But she never gets a chance to find out if she does care for her intended groom as she is quickly married and promptly widowed at 13. Koly’s finds herself in a society that has no place for girls like her. Faced with an angry mother-in-law and a lonely future in India, this courageous and spirited young woman sets out to forge her own destiny. She must learn to support herself and hopefully to find happiness again. This is a great novel about a very strong girl. This is also a great book to take a look into a new culture.

Island of the Blue Dolphins; by: Scott O'Dell

This book was inspired by the reali life story of a 12-year-old American Indian girl. In Island of the Blue Dolphins Karena, a young Indian girl, is stranded on an island for 18 years. She had jumped off a ship to stay with her brother who had been abandonded on the island. Her brother dies shortly after and leaves Karan to find her own food, make her own clothing, and secure her own shelter. This book is a great story of courage and of developing peace of mind in the most hopeless of situations.

A Journey to the New World; The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple (Mayflower, 1620) Dear America Series.

This book is the diary of a young girl named Mem who is journeying from England on the Mayflower. It documents her struggles and experiences on this long journey. This addition in the Dear America series demonstrates how the Pilgrims, as they came to be known, traveled in a small cargo ship, the Mayflower, for two miserable months. They suffered through bad food, unfit drinking water, vicious storms, and sheer boredom on an old, leaky ship that had never even carried human cargo and was not equipted for it. Mem was one of the 34 children among the 102 people on board. The journey was bad enough but Mem nor the others were ready for what they found when they arrived on land. Mem's story is one of incredible courage in the face of extreme obstacles and hardships. Mem herself almost gives up, but her sense of humor and her hopes for the future carry her through the worst of them. She is truly a strong heroin for any time period.

Morning Girl by: Michael Doris

This book takes place in a peaceful, tropical world and is the story of brother and sister. Morning Girl and Star Boy grapple many issues such as experiencing simultaneous anger and love toward family members and the struggle of finding youself. As all siblings do, these children respond to, play off of, and learn from each other. They siblings grow up in this tropical world full of their own troubles however, taking place in 1492, the strange-looking visitors Morning Girl welcomes to shore are not as harmless as they may appear. Explorers have come to settle this Native land and Morning Girl and Star Boy must adapt and survive.

Out of the Dust. by: Karen Hesse

14-year-old Billie Jo lives in Oklahoma (the dust bowl) during the Great Depression. She tells her story in free verse poetry in a journal. She tells of the hardships of living in the dust bowl and its effects on the crops and the people. A terrible accident leaves Billie Jo to deal with a death and what that death leaves behind in its wake. This story is told beautifully and shows the journey of a young girl and a family rising out of the dust.

Click here for lesson ideas to go along with this book!

Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry by: Mildred Taylor

This book tells the story of an African American family, fighting to stay together and strong in the face of racism and poverty and all that comes with it while living in the Deep South of the 1930s. Nine-year-old Cassie Logan has never had reason to suspect that any white person could consider her inferior or wish her harm because she was protected from these things by her family. Soon her community becomes ripped apart as racism morphs into violence against African Americans. Cassie and her three brothers have to learn to stand up for their rights and the rights of others. This book tells a compelling story and is a Newbery Medal Winner.

Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by: Suzanne Fisher Staples

This is the story of Shabanu growing up in the Cholistan Desert among camel-dealing nomads in modern Pakistan. Her the people live by the rules: a daughter abides by her father's decisions, a wife obeys her husband's wishes. Against her mother’s wishes, Shabanu is strong-willed and independent. As the arranged marriage of Shabanu's sister Phulan approaches, and with her own wedding planned for the following year, Shabanu faces much fear and anxiety. She barely knows the man she is expected to wed. What if she does not obey? Before the ceremonies take place, however, disaster strikes and Shabanu must do the unthinkable to keep peace and help her family. With the help of a wise, loving aunt, Shabanu learns to curb and conceal her powerful will and channel it to bring her peace of mind.

A Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie “Peanut” Johnson by: Michelle Y. Green

Mamie “peanut” Johnson played professional baseball for the Indianapolis Clowns for three years in the last few moments of the Negro Leagues. Before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major leagues baseball, she succeeded as a professional athlete, competing on an equal footing against some of the best male ballplayers in the country. Johnson faced a large bias against female athletes, not to mention African American female athletes. She never let any of this stand in her way, however, and her love of baseball kept her going. This is the true story of a very strong, brave woman breaking the gender and color barrier in the world of sports.