15 Empowering Reads to Celebrate Women's History Month All Year Round

There was a time when the majority of books published and assigned in schools centered around male protagonists, but that's no longer the case. Today, there are countless middle grade and young adult books that highlight strong female protagonists, both in fiction and nonfiction.

Below is a selection of books written by and about women and girls, recommended by middle and high school ELA teachers, that you can add to your classroom library. These titles are ideal for showcasing during Women's History Month in March and on International Women's Day, celebrated on March 8. Below each book you'll find the Instagram handle of the person recommending the book.

1. Black Girl You Are An Atlas by Renée Watson and Ekua Holmes

Recommended by @secondaryurbanlegends

2. The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman

Recommended by @theliterarymaven

3. The Radium Girls (Young Readers Edition) by Kate Moore

Recommended by @greenlivingaudioworm

4. Rad American Women A-Z by Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl 

Recommended by @simplynovel

5. She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton

Recommended by @kasey_kiehl

6. Internment by Samira Ahmed

Recommended by @mochasandmarkbooks

7. Muzoon: A Syrian Refugee Speaks Out by Muzoon Almellehan with Wendy Pearlman 

Recommended by @ocbeachteacher

8. Dear Medusa by Olivia A Cole 

Recommended by @MrsReganReads

9. Our Stories, Our Voices: 21 YA Authors Get Real About Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in America

Recommended by @SamanthaInSecondary

10. House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros 

Recommended by @loveteachbless

11. Planting Stories: Life of a Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre by Anika Aldamuy Denise and Paola Escobar

Recommended by @TheLiteracyJunky

12. Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson and Ellen Hagan

Recommended by @Elaeveryday

13. Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers by Michelle Obama

Recommended by @thenextgenlibrarian

14. Rebel Girls Lead: 25 Tales of Powerful Women

Recommended by @Thediversebookworm

15. The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert

Recommended by @diversebooksgiveaway