Let’s be real for just a second here: Girls are regularly taught to be weak, not strong. Yeah, you can make exceptions. You can make arguments and point to some examples as though those make up for an entire history full of sexism and mansplaining. But when you look at all of history, girls have been told to be nothing more than delicate, polite, and quiet. And just because there’s been some push-back, doesn’t mean that that mindset doesn’t still exist today.
That’s why it’s so important that girls and young women see those like themselves being strong, independent, and valuing themselves. It’s also just as important for boys and young men to see those qualities in their female peers. A lot of that starts with books. Reading about strong girls being strong can bring so much to how these future adults see the world.
The word strong can mean so much here. It doesn’t mean you’re inhuman. It doesn’t mean you’re perfect or that you don’t feel. It means that you can persist, believe in yourself, and try your best. When kids and teens read about girls their age who are strong, it gives them the power to be confident in themselves. It gives them the courage to value who they are.
Knowing how important this all is, we asked eight children’s authors why they think writing about strong girls is important. Here’s what they had to say:
Stacy McAnulty
Author of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl
"It’s about time books caught up. Strong girls aren’t a new breed. They’ve existed and thrived for generations, but in stories, they’ve often been relegated to, at best, the sidekick and at worst, a prize. It’s about time we’ve given readers (both girls and boys) books about real, strong females."
Booki Vivat
"Growing up, I was always drawn to stories with interesting, complex female characters. I looked to those girls to help shape who I was and who I wanted to become. When I started writing, that was the kind of girl I wanted to write about. In the Frazzled series, Abbie Wu goes into middle school feeling overwhelmed and underprepared. What she learns is that, even in her angst and uncertainty, she has ideas and a voice and a right to be seen. It's important for young readers to understand that their thoughts and feelings matter. There is a lot of power in seeing a girl trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs—on her own terms and in her own way."
Abby Cooper
"It's important to me to write about girls who are learning how to be confident, learning how to love themselves and stand up for themselves and use the power they have inside. Kids can be really hard on themselves, girls in particular. As an author, I want to remind girls how much their voices matter, and how, even through moments of self-doubt, they can accomplish amazing things."
Karina Yan Glaser
Author of The Vanderbeekers Series
"By writing strong girls into my stories, I hope to show my own daughters as well as the girls who read my books that they can trust their own voice and know their own power."
Carol Weston
"I’ve been Dear Carol at Girls’ Life for nearly 25 years, and am all too aware that many girls don’t start out sure-footed and resilient. But, if they read novels in which other girls overcome insecurities and obstacles, it can help them find their own power and strengths. “Finding your voice” is a theme that comes up throughout my work. In Ava and Pip, Ava feels invisible in her own family because her sister Pip is so shy that the parents are always worrying about her—and overlooking our heroine. But, Ava figures out how to help her sister find her voice—and in doing so, finds her own. In Speed of Life, Sofia, 14, is trying to cope with her mother’s death. You can’t rush grief, but one year later, and many twists later, Sofia realizes that while she will always miss her mom, she’s going to be okay. I’m now working on my ninth novel. It’s about a real Spanish princess who didn’t have much control over her life but whose spirit is indomitable. In short, yes, I think it’s great when girls can read about real girls who dig deep and end up finding their own superpowers. Here’s to strong girls in life and in fiction!"
Tae Keller
Author of The Science of Breakable Things
"Being strong is sharing your voice, even when it's scary."
Jen Calonita
Author of the Royal Academy Rebels Series
"As a writer, I always think back to how much I loved Meg Murry and the way she fought for her family in A Wrinkle in Time. When I create female characters, I always wonder how they would hold up against Meg. I think she'd approve of Devin, my reluctant princess in my new Royal Academy Rebels series. Devin doesn't start out strong – if anything, she tries to run away from doing the right thing because being twelve is sometimes hard enough – but when faced with adversity, she stands up for what's right with the help of her new friends. If that's not an example of being strong, I don't know what is."
Liara Tamani
"For so long, we’ve taught girls to value their beauty, kindness, generosity, and compassion, but not their strength. And it has influenced how they see themselves and what they think is possible for their lives. Girls are strong in so many ways. They need to be taught to value that strength. When girls see themselves as being independent and outspoken and brave, when they see themselves as being strong⎯in mind, in heart, and in body⎯ they realize they are capable of anything."
To learn more about these authors, as well as others, make sure to check out the books section of our page!
Maryann Kuhn says
When I was growing up it was Nancy Drew. How far we have come - thank goodness! The power of the book should go beyond genders - the message is simple and complex. However, we need to highlight girls to overcome the stereotypical that has been for so many years. Thanks Veronica for bringing these authors to light.