Because I Was a Girl: True Stories for Girls of All Ages

by Melissa de la Cruz

Overview

Because I Was a Girl is an inspiring collection of true stories by women and girls about the obstacles, challenges, and opportunities they've faced…because of their gender. Edited by #1 New York Times-bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz, the book is the perfect gift for girls of all ages to celebrate the accomplishments of these women and girls who overcame adversity with their limitless potential.

The collection includes writings from an impressive array of girls and women who are trailblazers in their fields, including bestselling authors Victoria Aveyard, Libba Bray, and Margaret Stohl; industry pioneers like Dolores Huerta, Trish McEvoy, and Holly Knight; renowned chef Katie Button; aerospace and mechanical engineer Emily Calandrelli; and many more.

Because I Was a Girl features powerful stories from:

Elizabeth Acevedo

Katrina Adams

Victoria Aveyard

Bonnie Bartlett

Brenda Bowen

Libba Bray

Katie Button

Emily Calandrelli

Babette Davis

Williabell Jones Davis

Melissa de la Cruz

Abby Falik

Jena Friedman

Joan Hanawi

Jane Hawley

Tina Hay

Jody Houser

Dolores Huerta

Zareen Jaffery

Anjanette Johnston

Mattie Johnston

Holly Knight

Jill Lorie

Zoey Luna

Trish McEvoy

Loretta Miranda

Gloria Molina

Susan Morrison

Anna Ponder

Margaret Semrud-Clikeman

Rebecca Soffer

Cheri Steinkellner

Margaret Stohl

Noor Tagouri

Tillie Walden

Quvenzhane Wallis

Francesca Zambello

Lenore Zion

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250154460
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	10/03/2017
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Melissa de la Cruz is the #1 New York Times, #1 Publishers Weekly, and #1 IndieBound bestselling author of over 70 books for readers of all ages including Disney’s Descendants, Blue Bloods, Alex and Eliza and Witches of East End (also an hourlong drama on Lifetime). Her Hallmark movies include Pride, Prejudice and Mistletoe (based on her novel); Sense, Sensibility and Snowmen; Christmas in Angel Falls; and Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday. Her books are published in over thirty countries and translated in twenty languages. She lives in Los Angeles with her family.

Editorial Reviews

A 2019 Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List Pick

"This anthology represents a culturally diverse group of women who disclose how they found the inner strength and courage to excel, oftentimes breaking new ground in fields where women are not welcome...An inspiring collection and an encouragement to young girls from all walks of life."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"In this timely collection of first-person essays, thirty-eight women of different races, ethnicities, backgrounds, and ages reflect upon their experiences growing up and how each of them found their place in the world...for anyone seeking inspirational stories of success through perseverance." —VOYA Magazine (starred review)

"Thoughtful, encouraging, and honest, this compilation should inspire readers looking for guidance in charting the directions their own lives take." —Booklist

From the Publisher

★ 2017-08-27
A collection of minimemoirs of successful women whose enduring spirits have enabled them to follow their passions, achieve their dreams, and overcome obstacles and naysayers. It begins with Dolores Huerta, the union organizer who worked alongside Cesar Chavez and helped to rally thousands while also a mother and wife. Francesca Zambello tells the story of the barriers she faced as a woman wanting to direct theater and opera, a particularly male-dominated sector of the arts. As a teenager, Holly Knight loved rock music and started her own band, going on to write Grammy-winning songs of female empowerment for such singers as Tina Turner and Pat Benatar. Aspiring to break into rap music growing up, Elizabeth Acevedo decided to walk away from it after refusing to glorify the stereotypes of sex, drugs, and violence that too often characterized the form. Instead, she chose spoken word and poetry to tell her truth. This anthology represents a culturally diverse group of women who disclose how they found the inner strength and courage to excel, oftentimes breaking new ground in fields where women were not welcome. The collection is organized by decade, and interspersed throughout are bulleted lists of women's historic accomplishments from the 1920s to the present day. Represented are CEOs, entrepreneurs, bestselling authors, bankers, and scientists, ending with girls and young women who are already leaders, paving the way for future generations of young women. An inspiring collection and an encouragement to young girls from all walks of life. (Collective memoir. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews