Strong girls strong plots wonderful worlds - My Favorite Books
Discover the best books with strong girls, captivating plots, and wonderful worlds! From Tamora Pierce's fantasy classics like Wild Magic and Alanna to unforgettable memoirs like The Glass Castle, this curated list features empowering heroines in The City of Ember, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and more. Perfect for readers seeking inspiring female protagonists and immersive stories across juvenile fiction, fantasy, and biography.
Book
Emily of New Moon
by L. M. Montgomery
From the author of Anne of Green Gables, the first book of the beloved Emily trilogyârecently seen on Netflixâs hit show Russian Doll! Emily Starr never knew what it was to be lonelyâuntil her beloved father died. Now Emily's an orphan, and her snobbish relatives are taking her to live with them at New Moon Farm. Although she's sure she'll never be happy there, Emily deals with her stern aunt Elizabeth and her malicious classmates by using her quick wit and holding her head high. In this first volume of the celebrated Emily trilogy, Lucy Maud Montgomery draws a more realistic portrait of a young orphan girl's life on early twentieth-century Prince Edward Island. Along with Emily Climbs and Emilyâs Quest, Emily of New Moon insightfully portrays the beauty and anguish of growing up.
Book
Emily Climbs
by L. M. Montgomery
Emily Starr was born with the desire to write. As an orphan living on New Moon Farm, writing helped her face the difficult, lonely times. But now all her friends are going away to high school in nearby Shrewsbury, and her old-fashioned, tyrannical aunt Elizabeth will only let her go if she promises to stop writng! All the same, this is the first step in Emily's climb to success. Once in town, Emily's activities set the Shrewsbury gossips buzzing. But Emily and her friends are confident -- Ilse's a born actress, Teddy's set to be a great artist, and roguish Perry has the makings of a brilliant lawyer. When Emily has her poems published and writes for the town newspaper, success seems to be on its way -- and with it the first whispers of romance. Then Emily is offered a fabulous opportunity, and she must decide if she wants to change her life forever.
Book
Emily's Quest
by L. M. Montgomery
"Published by arrangement with Harper & Row, Inc."--T.p. verso.
Book
Alanna
by Tamora Pierce
From Tamora Pierce, the first book in the Song of the Lioness Quartet, honored with the Margaret A. Edwards Award. âFrom now on Iâm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. Iâll be a knight.â In a time when girls are forbidden to be warriors, Alanna of Trebond wants nothing more than to be a knight of the realm of Tortall. So she finds a way to switch places with her twin brother, Thom. Disguised as a boy, Alanna begins her training as a page at the palace of King Roald. But the road to knighthood, as she discovers, is not an easy one. Alanna must master weapons, combat, and magic, as well as polite behavior, her temper, and even her own heart. Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alannaâs first adventure beginsâone that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and make her a legend in the land.
Book
The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
by Tamora Pierce
"Let her prove herself worthy as a man." Newly knighted, Alanna of Trebond seeks adventure in the vast desert of Tortall. Captured by fierce desert dwellers, she is forced to prove herself in a duel to the death -- either she will be killed or she will be inducted into the tribe. Although she triumphs, dire challenges lie ahead. As her mythic fate would have it, Alanna soon becomes the tribe's first female shaman -- despite the desert dwellers' grave fear of the foreign woman warrior. Alanna must fight to change the ancient tribal customs of the desert tribes -- for their sake and for the sake of all Tortall. Alanna's journey continues...
Book
Lioness Rampant
by Tamora Pierce
The final book in Pierce's fantasy quartet is now available in this hardcover edition. Alanna of Trebond must win the Dominion Jewel, a legendary gem with enormous power for good--and the one thing that can save her war-torn nation. But her archenemy returns from the dead to disrupt her exalted destiny.
Book
Wild Magic
by Tamora Pierce
Thirteen-year-old DaIne has always had a knack with animals, but it's not until she's forced to leave home that she realizes it's more than a knack -- it's magic. With this wild magic, not only can Daine speak to animals, but also she can make them obey her. Daine takes a job handling horses for the Queen's Riders, where she meets the master mage Numair and becomes his student. Under Numair's guidance, Daine explores the scope of her magic. But she begins to sense other beings too: immortals. These bloodthirsty monsters have been imprisoned in the Divine Realms for the past four hundred years, but now someone has broken the barrier. It's up to Daine and her friends to defend their world from an immortal attack.
Book
Wolf-speaker
by Tamora Pierce
When Daine is summoned by the wolf pack that saved her life a year earlier, she knows she has to go. She and Numair travel to Dunlath Valley to answer the call. But when they arrive, Daine realizes with a shock that it's not just the animals whose lives are threatened; people are in danger too. Dunlath's rulers have discovered black opals in their valley and are dead set on mining the magic these stones embody. Daine learns that Dunlath's lord and lady plan to use this power to overthrow King Jonathan -- even if it means irreversibly damaging the land and killing their workers. On a mission to save both her animal friends and her human ones, Daine has to master her wild magic in order to fight for the kingdom and triumph over the would-be usurpers.
Book
The Realms of the Gods
by Tamora Pierce
During a dire battle against the fearsome Skinners, Daine and her mage teacher Numair are swept into the Divine Realms. Though happy to be alive, they are not where they want to be. They are desperately needed back home, where their old enemy, Ozorne, and his army of strange creatures are waging war against Tortall. Trapped in the mystical realms Daine discovers her mysterious parentage. And as these secrets of her past are revealed so is the treacherous way back to Tortall. So they embark on an extraordinary journey home, where the fate of all Tortall rests with Daine and her wild magic.
Book
Wise Child
by Monica Furlong
In a remote Scottish village, nine-year-old Wise Child is taken in by Juniper, a healer and sorceress. Then Wise Childâs mother, Maeve, a black witch, reappears. In choosing between Maeve and Juniper, Wise Child discovers the extent of her supernatural powersâand her true loyalties.
Book
Juniper
by Monica Furlong
In this highly acclaimed prequel to the award-winning Wise Child young Princess Juniper returns to her Cornish palace and discovers that her power-mad aunt is using black magic to usurp the throne. And only Juniper can stop her. "A rich, deeply colored novel of a young girl's coming of age".--School Library Journal.
Book
The Claidi Collection
by Tanith Lee
Contains the three books of the Claidi Journals: Wolf tower, Wolf star and Wolf queen.
Book
His Dark Materials
by Philip Pullman
Lyra Belacqua tries to prevent kidnapped children from becoming the subject of gruesome experiments, helps Will Parry search for his father, and finds that she and Will are caught in a battle between the forces of the Authority and those gathered by her uncle, Lord Asriel.
Book
These is My Words
by Nancy E. Turner
A novel, told in diary form, of a pioneer woman's experiences in territorial Arizona. Includes discussion questions at the end.
Book
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
by Betty Smith
The American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the century. This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.
Book
Firebirds Rising
by Sharyn November
A collection of sixteen short science fiction and fantasy stories by award-winning authors.
Book
The City of Ember
by Jeanne DuPrau
Ember is the only light in a dark world. But when its lamps begin to flicker, two friends must race to escape the dark. This highly acclaimed adventure series is a modern-day classicâwith over 4 MILLION copies sold! The city of Ember was built as a last refuge for the human race. Two hundred years later, the great lamps that light the city are beginning to dim. When Lina finds part of an ancient message, sheâs sure it holds a secret that will save the city. Now, she and her friend Doon must race to figure out the clues to keep the lights on. If they succeed, they will have to convince everyone to follow them into danger. But if they fail? The lights will burn out and the darkness will close in forever. Nominated to 28 State Award Lists! An American Library Association Notable Childrenâs Book A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Selection A Kirkus Reviews Editorsâ Choice A Child Magazine Best Childrenâs Book A Mark Twain Award Winner A William Allen White Childrenâs Book Award Winner âA realistic post-apocalyptic world. DuPrauâs book leaves Doon and Lina on the verge of undiscovered country and readers wanting more.â âUSA Today âAn electric debut.â âPublishers Weekly, Starred âWhile Ember is colorless and dark, the book itself is rich with description.â âVOYA, Starred âA harrowing journey into the unknown, and cryptic messages for readers to decipher.â âKirkus Reviews, Starred
Book
The People of Sparks
by Jeanne DuPrau
Just when the future looks bright for the people of Ember, a new darkness lurks. This highly acclaimed adventure series is a modern-day classicâwith over 4 MILLION copies sold! Lina and Doon have led the citizens of Ember to an exciting new world. Theyâve been given safe haven in a small village called Sparks, a place filled with color and life. But theyâre not out of danger yet. Although Sparks seems like the answer the long-suffering Emberites have been hoping for, tempers soon escalate. The villagers have never had to share their world before, and it only takes a tiny âsparkâ to ignite a battle between the two struggling groups. Lina and Doon will have to work together to avoid a disaster not only for their people, but also for the people of Sparks. Praise for the City of Ember books: Nominated to 28 State Award Lists! An American Library Association Notable Childrenâs Book A New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing Selection A Kirkus Reviews Editorsâ Choice A Child Magazine Best Childrenâs Book A Mark Twain Award Winner A William Allen White Childrenâs Book Award Winner âA realistic post-apocalyptic world. DuPrauâs book leaves Doon and Lina on the verge of undiscovered country and readers wanting more.â âUSA Today âAn electric debut.â âPublishers Weekly, Starred âWhile Ember is colorless and dark, the book itself is rich with description.â âVOYA, Starred
Book
East
by Edith Pattou
A young woman journeys to a distant castle on the back of a great white bear who is the victim of a cruel enchantment.
Book
The Whale Rider
by Witi Ihimaera
Eight-year-old Kahu, a member of the Maori tribe of New Zealand, fights to prove her love, her leadership, and her destiny when hundreds of whales beach themselves and threaten the future of the Maori tribe. Basis for the 2003 feature film.
Book
The Glass Castle
by Jeannette Walls
Now a major motion picture from Lionsgate starring Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, and Naomi Watts. MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS ON THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LIST The perennially bestselling, extraordinary, one-of-a-kind, ânothing short of spectacularâ (Entertainment Weekly) memoir from one of the worldâs most gifted storytellers. The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant. When sober, Jeannetteâs brilliant and charismatic father captured his childrenâs imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didnât want the responsibility of raising a family. The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another, and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered. The Glass Castle is truly astonishingâa memoir permeated by the intense love of a peculiar but loyal family.
Book
Julie of the Wolves
by Jean Craighead George
Lost on the Tundra To her small Eskimo village, she is known as Miyax; to her friend in San Francisco, she is Julie. When the village is no longer safe for her, Miyax runs away. But she soon finds herself lost in the Alaskan wilderness, without food, without even a compass to guide her. Slowly she is accepted by a pack of Arctic wolves, Mid she grows to love them as though they were family. With their help, and drawing on her father's teachings, Miyax struggles day by clay to survive. But the time comes when she must leave the wilderness and choose between the old ways an(] the new. Which will she choose? For she is Miyax of the Eskimos--but Julie of the Wolves. Faced with the prospect of a disagreeable arranged marriage or a journey acoss the barren Alaskan tundra, 13-year-old Miyax chooses the tundra. She finds herself caught between the traditional Eskimo ways and the modern ways of the whites. Miyax, or Julie as her pen pal Amy calls her, sets out alone to visit Amy in San Francisco, a world far away from Eskimo culture and the frozen land of Alaska. During her long and arduous journey, Miyax comes to appreciate the value of her Eskimo heritage, learns about herself, and wins the friednship of a pack of wolves. After learning the language of the wolves and slowly earning their trust, Julie becomes a member of the pack. Since its first publication, Julie of The Wolves,winner of thr 1973 Newbery Medal, has found its way into the hearts of millions of readers.
Book
The Changeling Sea
by Patricia A. McKillip
World Fantasy Award winner Patricia A. McKillip tells "an enchanting fantasy that is tinged with realism and romance." (School Library Journal) Since the day her father's fishing boat returned without him, Peri and her mother have mourned his loss. Her mother sinks into a deep depression and spends her days gazing out at the sea. Unable to control her anger and sadness any longer, Peri uses the small magic she knows to hex the sea. And suddenly into her drab life come the King's sonsâchangelings with strange ties to the underwater kingdomâa young magician, and, finally, love. "McKillip is a master storyteller; her tale rings true as if it were being told from memory."âKirkus Reviews, pointer review
Book
Bird by Bird
by Anne Lamott
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ⢠An essential volume for generations of writers young and old. The twenty-fifth anniversary edition of this modern classic will continue to spark creative minds for years to come. Anne Lamott is "a warm, generous, and hilarious guide through the writerâs world and its treacherous swamps" (Los Angeles Times). âSuperb writing adviceâŚ. Hilarious, helpful, and provocative.â âThe New York Times Book Review For a quarter century, more than a million readersâscribes and scribblers of all ages and abilitiesâhave been inspired by Anne Lamottâs hilarious, big-hearted, homespun advice. Advice that begins with the simple words of wisdom passed down from Anneâs fatherâalso a writerâin the iconic passage that gives the book its title: âThirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that heâd had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brotherâs shoulder, and said, âBird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.ââ
Book
Paper Moon
by Joe David Brown
Eleven-year-old Addie and her father are a pair of swindlers who make their way around the Southern states during the Depression bilking people out of their hard-earned money.