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Brave, Determined, and Strong: Books for Girls (and Sometimes Boys)

2009; Western Michigan University; Volume: 49; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

2642-8857

Barbara A. Ward, Terrell A. Young,

Child Development and Digital Technology

Today’s teachers need to choose texts that provide strong role models for young readers, both male and female. When choosing a book for a girl, merely reaching for any old book with female characters isn’t enough. Care should be taken to find books that feature strong female literary role models, allowing girls to explore their own identities, claim their own voices, and gain confidence, particularly during the adolescent years. The expectations of society and peers often prompt girls to assume false identities. In addition, finding and becoming true to oneself is an arduous task that can be made easier through books with excellent female protagonists. The following books were reviewed: Grades K-2 Baruzzi, Agnese and Sandro Natalini. (2009). The true story of Little Red Riding Hood Bernheimer, Kate. (2008). The girl in the castle inside the museum Capucilli, Alyssa Satin. (2009). Katie Duck is a caterpillar Isadora, Rachel. (2009). Hansel and Gretel McCormack, Caren McNelly. (2009). Fiesta dress: A quinceanera tale O’Connor, Jane. (2009). Fancy Nancy: Explorer extraordinaire! Ouellet, Debbie. (2009). How Robin Saved Spring Yum, Hyewon. (2008). Last night Grades 3-5 Badger, Meredith. Fairy school dropout Durst, Sarah Beth. (2008). Out of the wild Holt, Kimberly Willis. (2008). Piper Reed: The great gypsy Rappaport, Doreen. (2009). Eleanor, quiet no more: The life of Eleanor Roosevelt Shange, Ntozake. (2009). Coretta Scott Grades 6-8 Gladstone, Valerie. (2009). A young dancer: The life of an Ailey studen Harris, Lewis. (2009). A taste for red Hoose, Phillip. (2009). Claudette Colvin: Twice toward justice Klass, Sheila Solomon. (2009). Soldier’s secret: The story of Deborah Sampson Lin, Grace. (2009). Where the mountain meets the moon Lopez, Diana. (2009). Confetti girl Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. (2009). Faith, hope, and Ivy June Patron, Susan. (2009). Lucky breaks Smith, Hope Anita. (2009). Mother poems Grades 9-12 Anderson, Laurie Halse. (2009). Wintergirls Caletti, Deb. (2008). The fortunes of Indigo Skye Cashore, Kristin. (2008). Graceling Collins, Suzanne. (2008). The Hunger Games Karim, Sheba. (2009). Skunk girl Williams, Carol Lynch. (2009). The chosen one. Brave, Determined, and Strong: Books for Girls (and Sometimes Boys) • 257 Brave, Determined, and Strong: Books for Girls (and Sometimes Boys) Barbara A. Ward, Ph.D. & Terrell A. Young, Ed.D. Today’s teachers need to choose texts that provide strong role models for young readers, both male and female. When choosing a book for a girl, merely reaching for any old book with female characters isn’t enough. Care should be taken to find books that feature strong female literary role models, allowing girls to explore their own identities, claim their own voices, and gain confidence, particularly during the adolescent years. The expectations of society and peers often prompt girls to assume false identities. In addition, finding and becoming true to oneself is an arduous task that can be made easier through books with excellent female protagonists. While books that feature female protagonists may be enticing to girls, teachers should take care to choose books with protagonists that aren’t merely window dressing or arm candy on a male character’s arm. They should instead carefully consider books with fully developed female characters who have a sense of humor about themselves. By exploring the different ways girls navigate the world around them, readers can expand their expectations of the females in their lives and erase their own stereotypes about them. The words of reader response theorist Louise Rosenblatt (1938) still ring true: Through books readers may explore their own nature, becoming aware of “potentialities for thought and feeling within himself [or herself], acquire clearer perspective and develop aims and a new sense of direction” (p. 106). This is especially true when it comes to books for girls. For your reading pleasure, here are some of our current favorite books exploring the world from a female perspective. Don’t be surprised if some of your male students enjoy reading them as well!