I Have Some Questions for You
By: Rebecca Makkai

Recommended by: James Hill, Executive Director
“Makkai’s newest title meets at the intersection of academia, podcasting, and personal history. The protagonist returns to her former private high school as a successful podcaster to teach a 2-week class on the form. The trip also dredges up a past unsolved murder of a classmate. If you’ve read any of Makkai’s previous novels (I highly recommend The Great Believers), then you know she’s an excellent writer skilled at in-depth character development with an eye for detail and events that make the story feel lived, not just read.”

I’m Glad My Mom Died
By: Jennette McCurdy

Recommended by: Laura Erwin, Youth Services Assistant
“Darkly humorous, vulnerable, and compelling. Her story deals with issues of complicated grief, loss, eating disorders, Hollywood abusers, alcoholism, dysfunctional families, therapy, and growing up. I love to read stories (fiction or nonfiction) about women facing real-life problems and not always being perfect or good in how they handle what is thrown at them. Even if you’re not a fan of the actor/familiar with her work, I think this book will still be interesting and emotionally resonant to most folks.”

Disrupt-Her: A Manifesto for the Modern Woman
By: Miki Agrawal

Recommended by: Sheena Brown, Enrichment Clerk
“It is a unique mix of memoir and self-help. Miki Agrawal is an entrepreneur and writer who started businesses that make some of the most taboo subjects in our society (using the bathroom and menstruating) more approachable and better for us! Her journey and her perspective are so inspiring. This book is funny, actionable, and really struck a cord. Years after reading it, I am still thinking about it! It is an empowering look at a woman who is showing up in the world on her own terms. Agrawal also provides legit advice on how you can pry yourself off auto-pilot and chart your own unique course.”

The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight For Freedom, and The Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear
By: Kate Moore

Recommended by: Courtney Lewis, Communications & Marketing Manager
“If you want to get yourself riled up, read the story of Elizabeth Packard, a wife and mother whose husband claimed she was insane simply because he felt threatened by her intellect and independence and sticking up for herself. Since women’s rights were limited during this time, he had her committed for three years in an insane asylum. Her trial, Packard vs. Packard went on to prove she was wrongfully accused of insanity. She founded the Anti-Insane Asylum Society, campaigning for divorced women to retain custody of their children. Author Kate Moore does an excellent job of weaving you through her life and story and how much she endured and how thankful women in the present day are for people like Elizabeth who stood up for themselves when everyone felt against them.”

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
By: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Recommended by: Stacy Knipp, Enrichment Clerk
“This book says so much in a few powerful words! It’s a quick read with practical advice, which is accompanied by examples. The author wrote the book as a response to a friend who wanted to know how to raise her baby to become a strong, confident, capable adult. All people who are or may in the future become caregivers to children, both girls and boys, will benefit from this advice. All people who care about equality can and should put these suggestions into practice today. My favorite suggestion: ‘Teach [them] about difference. Make difference ordinary. Make difference normal. Teach [them] not to attach value to difference. And the reason for this is not to be fair or to be nice, but merely to be human and practical. Because difference is the reality of our world. And by teaching her about difference, you are equipping her to survive in a diverse world.’”

Mary Wears What She Wants
By: Keith Negley

Recommended by: Stacy Knipp, Enrichment Clerk
“This fictionalized story is loosely inspired by the life of a historical person who defied silly rules. A caregiver and child can see and tell this story by looking at and talking about the illustrations. And for children who are ready to listen to text and follow along with the illustrations, the text is not overwhelming. While this book does greatly simplify the problems and consequences of the historical Mary Walker’s life choices, I think it’s a great way to help lower grades children begin to understand that not everything in life is either right or wrong, that life is complicated sometimes.”