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
Sales rank:	266,556
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 Publisher’s Weekly and #1 Indie Bound bestselling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages, and edited the inspiring anthology of true stories, Because I Was a Girl. She grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. At Columbia University, she majored in art history and English. Melissa de la Cruz lives in West Hollywood with her husband and daughter.

Editorial Reviews

10/09/2017
This collection of first-person reflections by 38 accomplished women—writers, politicians, entrepreneurs, and others—encompasses a sweeping range of voices, personalities, and experiences. De la Cruz (the Descendants series), whose own entry recounts fraught professional environments while working as a computer programmer, organizes the anthology by decade, opening each section with a list of women’s achievements in a variety of fields and pivotal legislation affecting them. Sharing stories of dreams dashed and fulfilled, racism and sexism confronted, and career paths diverted, the contributors share sound advice for teenage readers. Activist Dolores Huerta urges girls “to stand up for themselves always, and to reach out and stand up for others.” Author and literary agent Brenda Bowen underscores the importance of “finding ways around bad rules” that disadvantage and discriminate against women. And Katie Button, who quit a Ph.D. program in neuroscience to become a chef and restaurateur, advises girls to “do what you love, not what you think is expected of you.” Thoughtful, encouraging, and honest, this compilation should inspire readers looking for guidance in charting the directions their own lives take. Ages 12–up. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

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