Women and Girls Making Waves

Here at JLG, we continue to be impressed by the amazing work of our female writers and illustrators. We believe in the importance of providing young readers with books that genuinely resonate with them, and in which they can see themselves and their experiences reflected. So we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight a few of our upcoming selections written by women and featuring compelling female protagonists. Add them to your wishlist today.

A Blade So Black
by L.L McKinney
Grades 9 and up

In this innovative retelling of Lewis Caroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice is reimagined as a young, African American woman living in contemporary Atlanta. A trained fighter, Alice finds herself pitted against many monstrous creatures, including the terrifying Nightmares.

But keeping these creatures at bay is a demanding endeavor that draws her into the mysterious realm of Wonderland. When her mentor is poisoned, she has to venture deeper into Wonderland than ever before.

At the same time, Alice must juggle an overprotective mother, a falling G.P.A, and challenges with her best friend. It’s a tall order, and one that requires Alice to grow both personally and as a fighter.

As Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give, describes, "With memorable characters and page-turning thrills, A Blade So Black is the fantasy book I've been waiting for my whole life. Alice is Black Girl Magic personified."

Everlasting Nora
by Miranda Cruz
Grades 5-8

As a result of a family tragedy, Nora loses her father when she’s 12 years old. She then lives with her mother in the Philippines. But the hardship doesn’t stop there. Nora’s mother soon disappears.

With the help of her best friend Jojo and her grandmother, Nora sets out on a dangerous journey to find her mother. In the process, she comes to appreciate the resilience of her community and the strength of the human spirit. It’s an uplifting and heartwarming story about women and girls coming together to support one another.

As School Library Journal says in its starred review of the book, “Cruz offers an important and engaging tale. At its heart, this is a story about friendship and family―the one we’re born into and the one we make…. This moving title should find a place in all libraries looking for authentic and powerful middle grade stories.”

The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone
by Jaclyn Moriarty
Grades 2 - 6

When Bronte is 10 years old, her parents, who have been away pursuing adventures since she was a baby, are killed by pirates. Up until this point, Bronte, who was raised by her Aunt Isabelle, has had a pleasantly uneventful childhood filled with riding lessons and afternoon teas. But now, Bronte finds she must follow the instructions her parents have left her, delivering treasures to her 10 other farflung aunts.

As she travels from one aunt to the next, she begins to suspect that there might be more to this endeavor than meets the eye. What did her parents really have in mind when the decided to send her on this journey? Pulled from the comfort of her everyday life, Bronte must rise to the occasion in order to find out.

As The Horn Book says in a starred review, "Irresistible characters help readers navigate a tantalizingly complex plot that will leave them eagerly awaiting the next book."

In these powerful books, you’ll find engaging protagonists whose captivating stories are sure to keep your young readers -- both girls and boys -- on the edge of their seats.