Tag Archives: women's history

Review: Mia and Friends by Karlin Gray and Micheline Hess

Biography, Book Review and Content, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Middle Grade 8-12, Nonfiction, , , , , , ,
Mia & Friends by Karlin Gray and Micheline Hess

Mia and Friends: Mia Hamm and the Soccer Sisterhood that Changed History
Karlin Gray
Illustrated by Micheline Hess
First Second
Published May 21, 2024

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About Mia and Friends: Mia Hamm and the Soccer Sisterhood that Changed History

Based on the true story of soccer legend Mia Hamm, Mia and Friends follows a group of young women who made history at the 1999 Women’s World Cup!

Despite being named after a famous ballerina, little Mia Hamm never cared for pirouettes. Instead, she chased the ball: baseball, basketball, and especially soccer. Since she was often the only girl on her sports teams, she had a hard time making friends. But when fifteen-year-old Mia made the U.S. women’s national soccer team, everything changed. All around her, young women tackled and dribbled, passed and kicked, scored, and screamed. They were just like her—but even more skilled. For Mia to improve, she had to play up to the levels of Michelle Akers, Briana Scurry, Brandi Chastain, and so many others. She was determined not to let her team down.

My Review

This graphic novel-style book follows Mia Hamm’s life and experiences, focusing on her time as part of the US Women’s National Team. Hamm and her teammates triumphed at the World Cup and earned Olympic medals while celebrating one another and building genuine friendships with each other.

At the end of the book, a chapter explores the Legacy of Equal Work for Equal Pay. I found the facts and details explained here pretty enlightening. Essentially, the women’s team was more highly decorated but paid less and restricted to a smaller budget for things like travel and equipment. It took a long fight in which the players risked opportunities in order to gain fair treatment. The book flashes forward to a new generation of players, including Megan Rapinoe and Abby Wambach who’ve continued the fight for equality in sports.

The pages show the players’ love for soccer and the joy of playing sports. I love the high energy of the scenes showing games and the ones that show the strong bond between the players.

This is a really quick read, and it offers a lot of information in just over 100 pages. The author lists lots of resources for further reading or watching in the back, which I’m sure sports fans will be excited to peruse. Pass this to young soccer fans and anyone in the mood to learn more about the history of women in sports.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Representation
Mia, a white girl, is the main character. She’s part of a diverse soccer team.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
One panel shows a young woman holding up her hand and showing off an engagement ring while others congratulate her.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
References to soccer injuries.

This isn’t violent, but it is sad. Mia experiences the death of someone close to her. One panel shows her at the person’s hospital bedside and another shows her and her family at the funeral.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy by Misty Copeland

Biography, Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Middle Grade 8-12, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy
Misty Copeland
Illustrated by Salena Barnes
Aladdin
Published November 2, 2021

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Black Ballerinas

As a young girl living in a motel with her mother and her five siblings, Misty Copeland didn’t have a lot of exposure to ballet or prominent dancers. She was sixteen when she saw a black ballerina on a magazine cover for the first time. The experience emboldened Misty and told her that she wasn’t alone—and her dream wasn’t impossible.

In the years since, Misty has only learned more about the trailblazing women who made her own success possible by pushing back against repression and racism with their talent and tenacity. Misty brings these women’s stories to a new generation of readers and gives them the recognition they deserve.

With an introduction from Misty about the legacy these women have had on dance and on her career itself, this book delves into the lives and careers of women of color who fundamentally changed the landscape of American ballet from the early 20th century to today.

From New York Times bestselling and award-winning author and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland comes an illustrated nonfiction collection celebrating dancers of color who have influenced her on and off the stage.

My Review

One of the things I love about this book is that Misty Copeland talks about how she encountered the story of each dancer she profiles. Sometimes those stories include meeting her in person, and other times how she learned of their history and what it meant to her to discover it. Always, she includes biographical information about each woman and her career as a dancer as well as challenges she faced and how she responded to or overcame them.

At first I thought the book would simply be profiles of dancers of color, each page being a biography of a different dancer’s life. I think connecting them to Copeland’s personal experience really helped paint a picture of the dance world as a whole and how some things have evolved. It also showed areas where harmful prejudices still exist for dancers of color today, which is really important.

I loved the beautiful drawings of each dancer and the descriptions of their dance styles or the memorable roles they’ve played. I want to go back through the book and search for video clips of the dancers profiled in BLACK BALLERINAS so that I can hopefully see some of those incredible performances.

All in all, I highly recommend this book for dance fans and readers interested in women’s history.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 up.

Representation
This book tells the story of women of color and their careers in the professional dance world.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
None.

Violent Content
Some brief mentions of racism and colorism.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use, but which help support this blog.

16 Amazing Books to Read for Women’s History Month

Lists, News and Fun, Nonfiction, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , ,

March is Women’s History Month, and in honor of the rich history we have of amazing women, I wanted to share a list of books about female heroes you may or may not know about already. I usually focus on fiction here, but lately I’ve found myself drawn to many of these stories myself, and I wanted to share them. In my glorious plans, I had hoped to share this list early in the month, but it just did NOT work out that way for me.

You can also find this complete list on Bookshop, where you can browse and purchase books while helping to support indie bookstores.

Note: This post contains affiliate links which don’t cost anything for you to use, but help support this blog. All opinions my own.

16 Amazing Books to Read for Women’s History Month

Hannah Senesh: Her Life and Diary, the First Complete Edition by Hannah Senesh

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: I first learned about Hannah Senesh through a biography about her called So Young to Die. Her life story is amazing, and her poetry really moving. As a young woman, she volunteered on a mission to rescue fellow Jews from the Nazis during World War II.

Available June 15, 2021

Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law that Changed the Future of Girls in America by Karen Blumenthal

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads

What you need to know: Title IX is the law that made it illegal for discrimination based on gender in education programs that receive Federal assistance. Learn how it came to be and the fight to get the law passed so girls could have access to sports and other programs.

Published July 1, 2005

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls Vol 1: 100 Tales of Extraordinary Women by Elena Favilla and Francesca Cavallo

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What you need to know: Read stories of 100 amazing women from around the world accompanied by illustrations from 60 female artists.

Published December 1, 2016

The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor by Sonia Sotomayor

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What you need to know: The story of the first Latina and third woman appointed to the Supreme Court in her own words.

Published September 17, 2019

Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing by Ann Angel

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What you need to know: Tells the story of one of rock-and-roll’s most compelling female icons. Packed with photos and stories from friends and band mates. A must-read for music enthusiasts.

Published October 1, 2010

#notyourprincess: Voices of Native American Women edited by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale

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What you need to know: An eclectic combination of poetry, essays, interviews, and art that express what it’s like to be a Native American woman.

Published September 12, 2017

Hidden Figures (Young Readers’ Edition) by Margot Lee Shetterly

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What you need to know: Tells the story of four African-American women who played essential roles in the NASA space program.

Published November 29, 2016

A Thousand Sisters: The Heroic Airwomen of the Soviet Union in World War II by Elizabeth Wein

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What you need to know: In World War II, the Soviet Union became the first nation to allow women to fly combat missions. These are the stories of those fighters. Also, it’s written by the author of CODE NAME VERITY.

Published January 22, 2019

Radium Girls (Young Reader’s Edition): The Scary But True Story of the Poison that Made People Glow in the Dark by Kate Moore

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What you need to know: How women workers fought for change in regulations and nuclear research and saved lives.

Published July 1, 2020

Fly Girls: How Five Daring Women Defied All Odds and Made Aviation History by Keith O’Brien

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What you need to know: “The untold story of five women who fought to compete against men in high-stakes national air races in the 1920s and 30s — and won.” (from Goodreads.)

Published August 7, 2018

The Story of My Life by Hellen Keller

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What you need to know: The inspiring story of the first 22 years of Hellen Keller’s life in her own words.

First Published in 1902

Because I Was a Girl: True Stories for Girls of All Ages edited by Melissa de la Cruz

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What you need to know: True stories about challenges, obstacles, and opportunities these women faced due to their gender.

Published October 3, 2017

This is Your Time by Ruby Bridges

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What you need to know: Written as a letter from the iconic Civil Rights activist to today’s young readers as inspiration and a call to action.

Published November 10, 2020

Vote!: Women’s Fight for Access to the Ballot Box by Coral Celeste Frazer

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: Learn about the 70 year fight for women’s suffrage and how the success of those leaders led to today’s #MeToo, #YesAllWomen, and Black Lives Matter movements.

Published August 6, 2019

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb

Amazon | Barnes & Noble  | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: Malala believes all girls have a right to an education. She refused to be silenced, even after she’d been shot in the head by the Taliban. Here, she tells her inspiring, unforgettable story.

Published October 8, 2013

Irena’s Children (Young Readers’ Edition): A True Story of Courage by Tilar J. Mazzeo

Amazon | Barnes & Noble  | Book Depository | Indiebound | Goodreads | My Review

What you need to know: During World War II, Irena Sendler worked with an underground network to rescue 2,500 Jewish children from Nazi occupied Poland. I couldn’t put this book down.

Published September 27, 2016