Here is a list of resources I used to research the incredible girls profiled in this book, along with some additional materials you can check out if you want to know more. I’ve listed them by profile for easy referencing. A few of the websites are not in English, but if you paste the URL into Google Translate, Google will (roughly) translate the whole site for you.
Here are some excellent picture books about Esther, but to read the original story, you should read the Bible, where there is a whole book about her. I used the New American Standard Bible, but any Bible will have the story.
The Story of Esther: A Purim Tale by Eric A. Kimmel (Holiday House, 2011)
Queen Esther Saves Her People by Rita Golden Gelman (Scholastic, Inc., 1998)
You might also like to watch this movie about Queen Esther:
One Night with the King directed by Michael O. Sajbel (2006)
And if you want to learn more about the Jewish holiday Purim, its ties to Esther, and how it’s celebrated today, check out Chabad.org.
“What Is Purim?,” Chabad.org website, www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/645309/jewish/What-Is-Purim.htm
There are many good books on Cleopatra, but I liked these two the best. Schiff’s biography is for adults but is utterly fascinating. Blackaby’s biography is for kids and gives a concise, clear explanation of her life and times.
Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff (Little, Brown and Company, 2010)
Cleopatra: Egypt’s Last and Greatest Queen by Susan Blackaby (Sterling Publishing, 2009)
You might also enjoy watching the famous Liz Taylor movie about the queen.
Cleopatra directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz (1963)
The Pirate Queen by Emily Arnold McCully (Putnam Juvenile, 1995)
The Pirate Queen: In Search of Grace O’Malley and Other Legendary Women of the Sea by Barbara Sjoholm (Seal Press, 2004)
The factual information in this chapter (dates, locations, and so forth) I took from Lewis and Clark’s account in their journal of the Sacagawea and Naya Nuki reunion. For inspiration, I also used Thomasma’s thoroughly researched historical fiction account of what Naya Nuki’s journey might have been like. It is a great read for kids.
The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition: July 28–November 1, 1805 by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark (University of Nebraska Press, 1988)
Naya Nuki: Shoshoni Girl Who Ran by Kenneth Thomasma (Grandview Publishing, 2011)
Mary Shelley led a tumultuous life. I liked Garrett’s biography best because it didn’t shy away from her darker sides. If you’re curious, you should read Mary’s Frankenstein novel—it is likely quite different from the versions you’ve heard.
Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (Dover Publications, 1994)
Mary Shelley by Martin Garrett (Oxford University Press, 2002)
There are also several movies based on Mary’s book. My favorites are the original 1931 version and the Abbot and Costello comedy classic.
Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein directed by Charles Barton (1948)
Frankenstein directed by James Whale (1931)
Wallmark’s picture book is a great overview of Ada’s life. The graphic novel by Sydney Padua, however, was one of the most fun, absorbing books I read in all my research. If you want to know more and you like graphic novels, check it out!
Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine by Laurie Wallmark (Creston Books, 2015)
The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Computer by Sydney Padua (Pantheon Books, 2015)
And if you’d like to see what Babbage’s Difference Engine looked like, the Computer History Museum website has a great photo and description.
“The Babbage Engine,” Computer History Museum, www.computerhistory.org/babbage
Bull’s-Eye: A Photobiography of Annie Oakley by Sue Macy (National Geographic Children’s Books, 2006)
Who Was Annie Oakley? by Stephanie Spinner (Grosset & Dunlap, 2002)
While the books tell a truer story of Annie’s life, there is a wonderful musical loosely based on her called Annie Get Your Gun. You can see it onstage or rent the movie.
Annie Get Your Gun directed by George Sidney (1950)
The Daring Nellie Bly: America’s Star Reporter by Bonnie Christensen (Dragonfly Books, 2009)
Ten Days a Madwoman: The Daring Life and Turbulent Times of the Original “Girl” Reporter, Nellie Bly by Deborah Noyes (Puffin Books, 2017)
Russell Freedman is one of the great biographers of our time and his book about Eleanor is wonderful. You can also read Eleanor’s popular newspaper columns in the collection below.
Eleanor Roosevelt: Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman (Clarion Books, 1993)
My Day: The Best of Eleanor Roosevelt’s Acclaimed Newspaper Columns, 1936–1962 by Eleanor Roosevelt (Da Capo Press, 2001)
There isn’t a ton of information on Dora—she was a mystery even in her own time. There are a few newspaper accounts from the time, but just one book: a historical fiction imagining of her life. It’s well researched and thoroughly enjoyable.
Give Us the Vote! (My True Stories) by Sue Reid (Scholastic, 2011)
If you want to learn more about the suffragettes, check out this award-winning movie:
Suffragette directed by Sarah Gavron (2015)
Powell’s picture book is as beautifully written as it is gorgeous to look at. Caravantes’s book goes in depth about all the phases of her entrancing life.
Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell (Chronicle Books, 2014)
The Many Faces of Josephine Baker: Dancer, Singer, Activist, Spy (Women of Action) by Peggy Caravantes (Chicago Review Press, 2015)
Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science—and the World by Rachel Swaby (Broadway Books, 2015)
Technology: Cool Women Who Code by Andi Diehn (Nomad Press, 2015)
The Little Piano Girl: The Story of Mary Lou Williams, Jazz Legend by Ann Ingalls (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010)
If you’d like to see Mary Lou jamming on the piano, check out this amazing clip from a 1973 episode of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. She rocks! Mr. Rogers interviews her too.
“Mr. Rogers Neighborhood - Mary Lou Williams (Piano) and Milton Suggs (Bass) 1973,” YouTube, youtu.be/gjM63eZmsao
The best way to learn about Beverly is to read her autobiographies. They are funny and fascinating, just like her fiction.
A Girl from Yamhill: A Memoir by Beverly Cleary (Avon Books, 1999)
My Own Two Feet: A Memoir by Beverly Cleary (HarperCollins, 2009)
If you’re lucky enough to live in or visit Portland, Oregon, where many of Beverly’s books are set, you can also do a walking tour with this awesome book:
Walking With Ramona: Exploring Beverly Cleary’s Portland by Laura O. Foster (Microcosm Publishing, 2016)
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Iconic Supreme Court Justice (Gateway Biographies) by James Roland (Lerner Publications, 2016)
In this mesmerizing radio interview Ruth tells the story of seeing the “No dogs or Jews allowed” sign and discusses other major events of her life:
“A Conversation with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Her Life as a Woman, a Jew and a Judge,” Only in America, www.onlyinamerica.cc/ginsburg.shtml
As with Beverly Cleary, the best book about Julie is this one she wrote herself:
Home: A Memoir of My Early Years by Julie Andrews (Hachette Books, 2009)
Here’s an amazing recording of twelve-year-old Julie singing the Polonaise, which I wrote about in my introductory scene—check out those pipes!
“12-Year-Old Julie Andrews~Polonaise; Je suis Titaniã = Mignon,” YouTube, youtu.be/iV2-YGGn0y4
And if you haven’t seen them already, you should definitely watch her beloved movies. Here are a few to start:
Mary Poppins directed by Robert Stevenson (1964)
The Princess Diaries directed by Garry Marshall (2001)
The Sound of Music directed by Robert Wise (1965)
Unbowed: A Memoir by Wangari Maathai (Anchor Books, 2007)
Wangari Maathai: The Woman Who Planted Millions of Trees by Franck Prévot (Charlesbridge Publishing, 2015)
Aretha Franklin: Motown Superstar by Silvia Anne Sheafer (Enslow Publishers, 1996)
Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin by David Ritz (Little, Brown and Company, 2014)
And if you want to have your mind completely blown, watch these two videos! In the first, a very young and groovy Aretha sings her new hit “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” In the second, a much older Aretha brings down the house with the same song at a 2015 Kennedy Center performance. Watch President Obama cry!
“Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” YouTube, youtu.be/q9nSU2hAqK4
“Aretha Franklin - You Make Me Feel (Like a Natural Woman) - Kennedy Center Honors 2015,” YouTube, youtu.be/c7D5y_5lM5Q
There are several excellent books for kids about Hillary, including those listed here. Hillary’s memoir, Living History, is excellent reading as well.
Hillary Rodham Clinton: Do All the Good You Can by Cynthia Levinson (Balzer + Bray, 2016)
Hillary Rodham Clinton: Some Girls Are Born to Lead by Michelle Markel (Balzer + Bray, 2016)
Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Scribner, 2004)
Here you can listen to young Hillary’s passionate commencement speech at her graduation from Wellesley College:
“Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Student Speech,” YouTube, youtu.be/2CAUOa5m5nY
There aren’t any books about Sheila, but there are plenty of fascinating interviews online, including this one:
“Architect Shelia Sri Prakash, Shilpa Architects Planners Designers,” Modern Green Structures and Architecture, www.mgsarchitecture.in/architects/453-architect-sheila-sri-prakash-shilpa-architects-planners-designers.html
In this video Sheila talks about her childhood, the challenges of becoming an architect, and her design philosophy:
“Ms. Sheila Sri Prakash-Architect and Urban Designer=Chenai= India = Speaker, IWC 2014,” YouTube, youtu.be/WskgTcaty_Y
Explore the incredible buildings and projects Sheila has designed at her architecture firm’s website.
Shilpa Architects, www.shilpaarchitects.com
There is almost nothing written in English about Arlen Siu. She is well-known in Nicaragua and much of Central America, but not elsewhere. Here are links to a Spanish article and blog that I used for research:
“Vida y muerte de Arlen Siu, la mariposa clandestina,” La Prensa, www.laprensa.com.ni/2016/09/18/suplemento/la-prensa-domingo/2101994-vida-y-muerte-de-arlen-siu-la-mariposa-clandestina
“Arlen Siu Bermudez,” Agaton (blog), carlosagaton.blogspot.com/2014/02/arlen-siu-bermudez.html
And here you can also listen to a performance of Arlen’s beautiful song “Maria Rural”:
“ ‘Maria Rural’ Escrita por Alren Siu,” YouTube, youtu.be/d-XbfaJpbJY
Sadly, there aren’t any kids’ books about Björk. Here are a couple of books for adults that are intriguing and easy to read:
Björk: An Illustrated Biography by Mick St. Michael (Omnibus Press, 1996)
Björk: There’s More to Life Than This (Stories behind Every Song) by Ian Gittins (Thunder’s Mouth Press, 2002)
Björk is definitely best experienced aurally, so give her a listen. Included here are videos of her at ten years old singing “I Love to Love,” at seventeen years old singing with the band “Tappi Tíkarrass,” and a couple of her music videos—one with The Sugarcubes and one as a solo artist in all her artsy glory.
“Björk - Human Behavior (Official Music Video),” YouTube, youtu.be/KDbPYoaAiyc
“I Love to Love, - Björk (1976)” YouTube, youtu.be/rujxXOmYLUU
“Sucarcubes Birthday English,” YouTube, youtu.be/noXYiNo5TOo
“Watch 17-Year-Old Björk Sing and Dance Her Heart Out” by Nina Corcoran, Nerdist, www.nerdist.com/watch-17-year-old-bjork-sing-and-dance-her-heart-out/
Selena: The Queen of Tejano by Jill C. Wheeler (Abdo & Daughters, 1996)
To Selena, With Love by Chris Perez (Penguin Group, 2012)
Check out the music video of Selena performing “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” (the song she and Chris wrote in the intro scene).
“Selena - Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” YouTube, youtu.be/RKGbjJarMeA
You can also watch the Selena movie, starring the now-famous Jennifer Lopez in her first big role.
Selena directed by Gregory Nava (1997)
I highly recommend this excellent autobiography, which Fawzia wrote as a series of letters to her daughters:
The Favored Daughter: One Woman’s Fight to Lead Afghanistan into the Future by Fawzia Koofi (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2013)
Mindy is a fantastic writer—both funny and personal.
Is Everyone Hanging Out without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling (Crown Archetype, 2011)
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling (Three Rives Press, 2016)
I also thought this Teen Vogue interview was fantastic:
“What Mindy Kaling Wishes She’d Known as a Teenager” by Lesley McKenzie, Teen Vogue, www.teenvogue.com/story/mindy-kaling-advice-for-teen-girls
Her show The Mindy Project, which she wrote and starred in, is also pretty fabulous.
There isn’t a lot of material about Jhamak in English, but this wonderful collection of her writing has been translated from Nepali:
A Flower in the Midst of Thorns by Jhamak Ghimire (Xlibris, 2012)
This article is also a good source of information:
“Nepal’s Prize-Winning Poet with Cerebral Palsy” by Thomas Bell, BBC News, www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-14762629
Want to see this amazing woman eat, brush her teeth, and write with her feet? Watch this short documentary. (The film is in Nepali, and unfortunately there are no subtitles, but it’s still a great video to see Jhamak in action.)
“Documentary of Jhamak Kumari Ghimire,” YouTube, youtu.be/aRG8zXjqbvY
There are lots of great books about the Williams sisters. Here are two that I really enjoyed:
Venus and Serena Williams: Athletes (Women of Achievement) by Anne M. Todd (Infobase Publishing, 2009)
Venus and Serena Williams: Tennis Champions by Diane Bailey (The Rosen Publishing Group, 2010)
I was also amazed (and disturbed) by this video of the Williams sisters getting booed by fans at Indian Wells:
“Indian Wells Controversy,” YouTube, youtu.be/TcUcTMdn4dE
Here are a couple of good books on Beyoncé’s life:
Beyoncé: A Life in Music by Mary Colson (Raintree, 2011)
Beyoncé (Hip-Hop Biographies) (Saddleback Educational Publishing, 2015)
And you absolutely have to watch the Star Search video of Beyoncé and her band, Girl’s Tyme, to see the twelve-year-old singer strutting her stuff—it’s inspiring!
“Star Search - Girls Tyme with Beyonce,” YouTube, youtu.be/gWXPl18psZA
Beyoncé has a lot of amazing music videos in which she expresses her feelings on body image and being a woman and a feminist. This is one of my faves:
“Yours and Mine,” YouTube, youtu.be/x4pPNxUzGvc
Here are a couple of good print sources on Danica and her racing career:
“Danica Patrick: From Go-Kart Racer to NASCAR Contender” by M. B. Roberts, American Profile Weekly, www.americanprofile.com/articles/danica-patrick-nascar
Danica Patrick: Racing’s Trailblazer (USA Today Lifeline Biographies) by Karen Sirvaitis (Twenty-First Century Books, 2010)
And here’s a fun ABC profile on Danica after she became the first woman to win the top pole position for the Daytona 500:
“Danica Patrick Wins Pole Position for Daytona 500,” YouTube, youtu.be/aX2bymccfTE
Misty’s autobiography is fabulous. Read it!
Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland (Simon & Schuster, 2015)
You should also watch her powerful Under Armour ad that got so much attention.
“Misty Copeland - I WILL WHAT I WANT,” YouTube, youtu.be/ZY0cdXr_1MA
And here’s an amazing video of Misty dancing on the Arsenio Hall Show in 2014:
“Misty Copeland Defies Physics in a Stunning Dance Performance,” YouTube, youtu.be/yw_LfOx-1-c
Here’s another amazing woman that has no books written about her, but the online articles I read are really fun and interesting.
“Interview: ‘Polar Adventurer Sarah McNair-Landry,’ ” Euronews, www.euronews.com/2014/07/01/interview-polar-adventurer-sarah-mcnair-landry
“Meet the Couple Who Just Spent 120 Days Traveling through the Arctic on a Dogsled” by Anubha Momin, VICE, www.vice.com/read/meet-the-couple-who-just-spent-120-days-traveling-the-arctic-on-dogsled-981
“ExWeb Interview with Sarah McNair-Landry: It Was Odd to Have to Worry about Finding Water” by Correne Coetzer, ExplorersWeb, www.explorersweb.com/polar/news.php?id=18498
And check out Never Lose Sight, the short film Sarah made in 2016.
Never Lose Sight by Sarah McNair-Landry, www.nfb.ca/film/never_lose_sight/
Unbelievably there aren’t any books about Nadia and her amazing story . . . yet. But there are some great articles. Here’s a good one:
“After Escaping Afghanistan following Father’s Execution, Sky Blue FC Star Nadia Nadim Has Finally Found Life after Death” by Wayne Coffey, NY Daily News, www.nydailynews.com/sports/soccer/sky-blue-fc-star-nadia-nadim-finally-finds-life-death-article-1.2181510
In this video from the Portland Thorns website, Nadia talks about going to med school and her philanthropic work:
“Support Thorns FC Forward Nadia Nadim’s From Street to School Campaign,” Portland Timbers website, www.timbers.com/post/2016/09/28/support-thorns-fc-forward-nadia-nadims-street-school-campaign
The Denmark-based group Nadia supports, From Street to School, gives financial aid to homeless Afghan kids, helping them get an education and stay off the streets. Visit the website to find out more. (FYI, the website is in Danish!)
From Street to School website, www.FSTS.dk
Adele: A Celebration of an Icon and Her Music by Sarah-Louise James (Carlton, 2016)
Adele: The Biography by Marc Shapiro (St. Martin’s Griffin, 2012)
And in case you need more proof of how cool Adele is, check her out on Carpool Karaoke from The Late Late Show with James Corden. She is the coolest!
“Adele Carpool Karaoke,” YouTube, youtu.be/Nck6BZga7TQ
Emma Watson by Dale-Marie Bryan (The Child’s World, 2013)
Emma Watson: From Wizards to Wallflowers (Pop Culture Bios) by Nadia Higgins (Lerner Publications Company, 2014)
The opening scene of Emma’s chapter is based on her adorable first screen test with Rupert Grint and Daniel Radcliffe. It’s clear this nine-year-old was meant to play Hermione Granger.
“Young Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint - Harry Potter,” YouTube, youtu.be/3bNqQBIwUUo
This article focuses on the work Emma is doing for girls’ rights around the world:
“Emma Watson on How Being Threatened for Speaking about Feminism Enraged and Motivated Her” by Joanna Robinson, Vanity Fair, www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/03/emma-watson-feminism-threats-raging-heforshe
And if you’d like to learn more about the UN’s HeForShe Campaign that Emma is a part of, visit this website:
HeForShe, www.heforshe.org/en
Yifan is another girl with no biographies, but this Daily Mail article was a fun read. I especially loved the glamour shots of the not-so-nerdy chess champ.
“Meet Yifan Hou—the Glamorous Women’s World Chess Champion Who Is Changing the Face of the Notoriously Nerdy Game,” Daily Mail, www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2605502/Meet-Yifan-Hou-glamorous-Womens-World-Chess-Champion-changing-face-notoriously-nerdy-game.html
Most of what I learned about Lizzy I found on her website and a few online articles.
Don’t Play Me, Pay Me, www.dontplaymepayme.com
“Fame for Actress with Asperger [sic] Syndrome,” BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2008/09/16/aspergers_actress_feature.shtml
Here are some great books about Bethany, including her own book, that show how inspirational she is:
Bethany Mota (Real Bios) by Marie Morreale (Scholastic, 2016)
From Me to YouTube: The Unofficial Guide to Bethany Mota by Emily Klein (Scholastic, 2015)
Make Your Mind Up: My Guide to Finding Your Own Style, Life, and Motivation! by Bethany Mota (Gallery Books, 2017)
You’ll surely enjoy watching Bethany’s very first YouTube video. She’s come a long way since then!
“First Video :) Mac and Sephora Haul,” YouTube, youtu.be/h0wCoXVkjGA
Fight Like A Girl: 50 Feminists Who Changed the World by Laura Barcella (Zest Books, 2016)
You can (and should) read Tavi’s Style Rookie posts and interviews all collected into four awesome “yearbooks,” starting with this one. The writing and layouts are cool, funny, and totally insightful for teens—I highly recommend them.
Rookie Yearbook One edited by Tavi Gevinson (Razorbill, 2014)
You can learn more about Simone’s inspiring life story from her memoir.
Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, a Life in Balance by Simone Biles and Michelle Burford (Zondervan, 2016)
And check out this great article about Simone from Time magazine:
“Simone Biles Is Taking Her Sport to New Heights” by Alice Park, Time, time.com/4428013/simone-biles-gymnastics-usa
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers Edition) by Malala Yousafzai and Patricia McCormick (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2016)
If you’d like to watch 16-year-old Malala giving her first speech at the United Nations in 2013, check out this powerful video:
“Girl Shot in Head by Taliban, Speaks at UN: Malala Yousafzai United Nations Speech 2013,” YouTube, youtu.be/QRh_30C8l6Y
Bindi Irwin’s Wild Life by Emily Klein (Scholastic, 2016)
Steve and Bindi Irwin (Conservation Heroes) by Amy Breguet (Chelsea House, 2011)
You can watch Bindi dance and pay tribute to her father during a Dancing with the Stars competition.
“Bindi Irwin Breaks Down during Emotional Tribute to Her Late Father, Steve Irwin,” YouTube, youtu.be/DouVLDPPHGE
There are some fantastic interviews with Amandla, both in print and on video. Here are a few of my favorites, including one in which Beyoncé’s sister, Solange, interviews Amandla:
“Amandla Stenberg and Gloria Steinem Talk Feminism,” YouTube, youtu.be/SnMfnKT8Rvg
“Amandla Stenberg: ‘I Don’t Feel Afraid to Talk about Racism or Sexism or the Gender Binary” by Estelle Tang, Elle, www.elle.com/culture/q-and-a/a35917/amandla-stenberg-is-not-afraid/
“How Our February Cover Star Amandla Stenberg Learned to Love Her Blackness” by Solange Knowles, Teen Vogue, www.teenvogue.com/story/amandla-stenberg-interview-teen-vogue-february-2016
There are no books about Chloe yet, but here is a great article:
“This Sixteen-Year-Old Girl Has Won Gold TWICE at the X Games” by Amanda Chan, Teen Vogue, www.teenvogue.com/story/chloe-kim-snowboarder-16-years-old-x-games
On this video you can watch Chloe tear up the half-pipe during her historic run, which was my inspiration for her opening scene. Check out those back-to-back 1080s!
“Chloe Kim’s Historic Perfect Score - U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix 2016,” YouTube, youtu.be/BjJlFpwhERM
As with many of these girls and women, the best place to learn about them is when they write about themselves. Jazz’s memoir is powerful and fun.
Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings (New York: Crown Books for Young Readers, 2016)
You can also watch her reality TV show, I Am Jazz, on the TLC network.
“This 15-Year-Old Girl Could Be the Best Rock Climber Ever” by Mandy Oaklander, Time, time.com/4352618/ashima-shiraishi-next-generation-leaders/
“A Conversation with Two of the Most Powerful Teens in Climbing” by Megan Michelson, Outside, www.outsideonline.com/2061271/conversation-two-most-powerful-teens-climbing
It’s super fun to watch Ashima climbing. Here are some great videos:
“Ashima Shiraishi Completes First Female Ascent of 24 Karats, 8C+ | EpicTV Climbing Daily, Ep. 141,” YouTube, youtu.be/W-Ehw6LmFxA
“Ashima Shiraishi - World’s Best Female Rock Climber?” YouTube, youtu.be/KKiqVsFAFjc
Here’s a very funny video of Ashima teaching James Corden to rock climb on The Late Late Show with James Corden:
“Rock Climbing with Ashima Shiraishi,” YouTube, youtu.be/ZrYkQNzfMMA