Best Books to Raise Your Daughters On

In a world where a certain eight year old I know has a cell phone, Miley Cyrus is a huge role model, and a teenager I was speaking to told me a ludicrous number of his Las Vegas classmates come into high school already pregnant or having children, it's a tougher place to grow up than it was even ten years ago. More than ever, girls especially need positive role models to help them navigate the dicey waters of being a strong, happy young woman--so here are some of my favorite childrens and young adult books to offer the right kind of example!

This is part one of an on-going series--keep checking to read more!

What Age? 11+

What's it Really About? The first novel is a sweet and powerful take on what it means to be true to yourself and your culture.

What's So Great About it? Perkin's novels tackle timely issues (the political race and surrounding issues) coupled with adolescence and multiculturalism (Sameera--adopted--is Indian-American). Sameera is a fresh voice in a modern tale that offers kids an intrepid and spirited, and as an added bonus, Sameera is very tech-savvy, even writing her own real life, media-tie in blog. Doubly great because it gives kids a safe way to explore the internet AND politics.

What Age? Grades 5-9

What's it Really About? A witty, "defective" princess has to make her own happily ever after.

What's So Great About it? Wrede happily pillages common tropes and stereotypes of classic fairy tales to create a funny, sassy heroine. A tomboy caught in a princess' life, Cimorene runs away from home and lands a job keeping house for a nest of dragons. Not one to wait around and be saved, she does all the saving in this little book, offering girls a stronger, sturdier example of what it means to be the fairer sex. Added bonus--its the first in a series, so girls have a lot to sink their teeth into!

What Age? Grades 5-8

What's it Really About? This quartet of books follows a girl who doesn't like the role society has proscribed for her, so she takes her brother's place training for knighthood. Alanna struggles to be true to herself and yet keep her identity secret.

What's So Great About it? Alanna has a really difficult struggle--trying to prove her skills and be true to her heart while lying to almost everyone she meets about her true gender. When I first read it, I was outraged that Alanna had to lie about her sex--I thought it meant that women could only be strong when hiding behind the facade of a boy. As I read the whole series, and grew up myself, I really took her struggle to heart, because not everything in your life will make perfect sense, and it's about being honest about what really matters--for Alanna, that she wants to be a knight, no matter the cost. And that lesson made a big difference in my childhood. Added Bonus--Tamora Pierce is a prolific, career author with series targeted toward different age groups; she's also very passionate about promoting strong female role models and fostering young writers. Girls can really, truly, grow up alongside her characters. STRONGEST RECOMMENDATION.

What Age? 9-12

What's it Really About? One part ocean adventure, one part adolescent rebellion, this book is about a girl who is raised prim and proper, but discovers the most trustworthy people just might be the ones you never expect.

What's So Great About it? Well, first of all, it's a gorgeous nautical adventure, and for a girl that was raised on the ocean, Charlotte Doyle was all I ever wanted to be, a pirate on the ocean waters, rebelling against the little white gloves of her parent's expectations. (I had to wear white gloves to cotillion classes as a girl; I could DEFINITELY relate). Charlotte Doyle takes the education she's given and runs with it, defying all expectations and beginning a life long love affair with the ocean. When crossing the ocean to return to her American family after being educated in England, she is caught in the middle of a mutiny, and her first reaction is to side with the aristocratic captain--changing her mind about that becomes one of the biggest turning points in the novel.

What Age? 9-12

What's it Really About? It's Cinderella, rewritten! A great model for girls who understand that being obedient is respectful, but everyone has to discover how to obey their own heart.

What's So Great About it? Ella is cursed at birth by a fairy to always obey orders, but she learns from a young age the dangers of other people knowing about the curse, and constantly longs to break free of it. She has an incredibly strong heart, and she's got considerable talents--she can quickly learn almost any language, and does so eagerly, and despite her curse she's fearless, a quality that attracts the friendship of Prince Charmont. It's a beautiful rewrite of a classic fairytale--especially considering the original was the ultimate damsel in distress. Ella is no damsel! Added Bonus--this book won a Newbury Award Medal, so you don't have to take my word for it that it's a sensational read!

I love books, especially young adult books, so frankly, this could go on for a while. Here are the first five--if there are any books you really want me to profile in the upcoming series, leave a comment!

...and definitely check out the blog of a YA writer at the final word.